In this study we will take a look at the miracles that Yahweh performed on the Egyptians, when Israel was held in bondage, during this period in Exodus. We will see that those miracles were against the Egyptian deities or gods that they worshipped.
The story of Moses is not just the story of the freedom of a group of slaves from Egypt in the second millennium BCE. It is the blueprint of the Plan of Salvation of the world as seen from the structure laid down in the Bible.
Moses was the prototype of the Christ or Messiah. More importantly, the nation of Israel saw Moses as a prototype and the Bible record illustrates that point. Moses said: ‘And Yahweh said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.’ (Deut. 18:17-18,).
Let’s continue our study in Exodus Chapter 4 Verses 1. I also read from The Legends of the Old Testament and Book of The Gods.
Verses 1-9 Moses third difficulty: the Israelites may not believe his message from freedom
Verses 2-5 the first sign
Verses 6-8 the second sign
1 Why? Because their gods are wiser and more powerful than the Elohim of Moses.Some scholars claim that there is app. 2000 gods in Egyptian myth!
2 a rod = Jewish legend has woven marvelous tales around the Rod of Moses. It was probably only a shepherd’s crook. What a history, however, awaited it! It was to be stretched out, over the Red Sea, pointing a pathway through its depths; to smite the flinty rock; to win victory over the host of Amalek; to be known as the rod of Yahweh.
3 and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent = not in appearance only, but in reality, it was changed into a real living serpent;
Keep in mind that the word for serpent is ‘nachash’ meaning ‘shinning one’; it was the symbol of royal and divine power in the diadem worn by Pharaoh. The meaning of this miracle seems to be Pharaoh’s own power shall become an instrument of punishment and his enslaved enemy shall triumph.
Keep in mind this action by Yahweh was to show that He was more powerful then their serpent gods, Apophis or Apep, Mehen, Nehebkau.
Apophis ( Apepi, Apep )
Egyptian snake god and personified darkness, evil and the forces of chaos. Apophis was the eternal enemy of Ra and cosmic order. Each night he did battle with Ra on his journey through the underworld on the barque of the sun, and each night Ra triumphed to be reborn at dawn in the east.
Mehen
An Egyptian serpent god. He defends the solar barque during Ra's nightly passage through the underworld. Usually shown as a snake coiled about the barque.
Nehebkau (Nehebu-Kau, Nehebkhau)
Egyptian snake god of the underworld. Represented either as a serpent with human arms and legs or with a man's body, holding the eye of Horus.
4 put forth thy hand = snake charmers usually take hold of snakes by the neck to prevent them biting. It is much more dangerous to seize them by the tail. The living serpent becomes a staff by the will of Yahweh. Pharaoh can be overcome like the serpent.
Caught it = ‘khaw-zak'’ stiffened it. Same word as ‘hardened’ Pharaoh’s heart.
5 Signifying that He is not the Yahweh of the dead, but of the Living. Keep in mind that the Egyptians were probably aware of the works of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was to remind the Egyptians of the power of the Hebrew Yahweh over their gods of Egypt.
Have any questions? Feel free to email me, keitner2024@outlook.com
