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Moses didn't become powerful because he was born into royalty. Neither was He technically a "king" by title, but he was a prophet, leader, judge, and deliverer—functioning in a way that held greater authority than many kings. And yes, Moses did radiate the glory of God (Exodus 34:29–35) because he spent time in God’s presence. Moses spoke with God face to face.
The Word says in Exodus 33:11, “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
What a relationship. Moses didn't just seek God, but God sought out Moses. He needed Moses to free his people. What a powerful call. To be choses by God and told he has need of you.
In my opinion, what an honor! That light was literal and spiritual. And because of that he continued to seek God on the mountain while others were content to stay at the base.
Pharaoh was just a king — but he believed he was divine and a god. And because of that people acted accordingly. In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs were worshipped as gods on earth, intermediaries between the heavens and the people.
So when Moses, a Hebrew fugitive turned prophet, stood before him with a bold command from the Lord — “Let my people go” — Pharaoh’s response was probably expected, but I’m sure unexpected to Moses.
Unfortunately when God tells you to do something he never tells you how difficult it will be. I’m sure Moses thought Pharaoh would just release the people at God’s command. I wonder if there were any higher authorities Moses could call. He is fighting hard to get the people of God free. Meanwhile, Pharaoh feels like he does not have to answer questions to anyone for his actions.
Nevertheless over time became deeply personal for both of them. Pharaoh said things like, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2, ESV).
It makes you wonder—why didn’t the Israelites just walk away from Pharaoh? There were so many of them. Why were they so afraid of him? But when God gives specific instructions, obedience matters more than logic. Deliverance doesn’t come by numbers or boldness—it comes by following God’s voice. I can attest to that personally. They also had to discern who was really on their side.
But Pharaoh couldn’t "read the room." either. He couldn’t rightly decern the word of truth. He witnessed miracle after miracle — the Nile turning to blood (Exodus 7:20), frogs overrunning the land (Exodus 8:6), boils, hail, darkness, and even the death of the firstborn. Like who watches this kind of darkness and continue to hold on to something that is not theirs. It’s crazy, right.
Yet, time after time, Pharaoh called his astrologers and summoned his magicians to match the miracles. He tried to imitate Moses and the move of God instead of submitting to the will of God. You had them 40 years, dude it’s time to let go.
Pride will always lead people to compete with God rather than bow before Him. What idiot think they can compete with God.
So we see all this evil Pharaoh is doing and seemingly getting away with. It looks like evil is winning. And I’m starting to think God is this divine setup or intervention.
But here’s what’s sobering: God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. You see God is an exception movie producer. He wrote this one in a way in which we perceive evil is winning at first.
It wasn’t just Pharaoh being stubborn — it was God responding to his cruelty and arrogance. “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you…” (Exodus 7:3–4). Sometimes, when we refuse to heed the warnings of God, He will confirm us in our rebellion — not to destroy us immediately, but to display His justice publicly.
Pharaoh didn’t just mistreat the Israelites — he oppressed them for generations. His heart was calloused toward their cries. His wasn’t just momentary cruelty; it was a continuous bondage. His heart was so hardened—so calloused that even the cries of a suffering people couldn’t move him.
He did everything to strip them of dignity, crushed their spirit. He had the audacity to demand bricks without straw. He expected production without provision, labor without mercy, and obedience without freedom.
And when God heard their groaning, He didn’t just plan a quiet escape; He orchestrated a deliverance that would shake Egypt to its core. “I have surely seen the affliction of my people… and I have come down to deliver them…”(Exodus 3:7–8).
In the end, Pharaoh lost everything — his kingdom, his people, his army, and his pride — swallowed in the Red Sea. The same water that became a pathway of freedom for Israel became a grave for Egypt’s pride (Exodus 14:28).
What a historical moment and writer God is. But this isn’t just history — it’s a warning.
We see the same pattern throughout scripture:
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built… by my mighty power?” (Daniel 4:30), and God drove him into the wilderness like a wild beast until he declared: “those who walk in pride He is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).
Herod Agrippa, in Acts 12, allowed people to call him a god. “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” And because he did not give God the glory, “he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23).
The lesson is simple but sobering:
God will not share His glory.
God will not be mocked.
God will always rescue His people and humble the proud.
Let us never be like Pharaoh — unmoved by miracles, hardened by pride, and unwilling to surrender. Instead, may we be like Moses — obedient, even when we don’t understand the full picture — trusting that God fights for the humble, and He deals with those who exalt themselves.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
— James 4:6
