Moses' warning to Pharaoh is a pivotal narrative in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses to deliver a series of messages to the Egyptian ruler, demanding the release of the Israelites from bondage. This account is foundational to understanding the themes of divine authority, judgment, and deliverance that permeate the biblical text.

Context and Background

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for several centuries, and their cries for deliverance reached God, who remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24). God chose Moses, a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's household, to lead His people out of Egypt. After a theophany at the burning bush, where God revealed His name as "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14), Moses was commissioned to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites.

The Initial Encounter

Moses, accompanied by his brother Aaron, first approached Pharaoh with the divine command: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness'" (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh's response was dismissive and defiant: "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go" (Exodus 5:2). This initial encounter set the stage for a series of escalating confrontations between God and Pharaoh.

The Plagues as Warnings

God, through Moses, sent a series of ten plagues upon Egypt, each serving as a warning and demonstration of His power over the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh himself. The plagues included turning the Nile into blood, infestations of frogs, gnats, and flies, the death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7-12). Each plague was a direct challenge to the Egyptian pantheon and a call for Pharaoh to recognize the sovereignty of the God of Israel.

Pharaoh's Hardened Heart

Throughout the narrative, Pharaoh's heart is described as being hardened, both by his own stubbornness and by divine intervention (Exodus 7:13, 9:12). This hardening served to demonstrate God's power and to fulfill His purposes, as stated in Exodus 9:16 : "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

The Final Warning and the Passover

The final and most severe warning came with the announcement of the tenth plague—the death of the firstborn. Moses warned Pharaoh that at midnight, the LORD would pass through Egypt, and every firstborn son would die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the slave girl (Exodus 11:4-5). The Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, a sign for the LORD to "pass over" their homes and spare them from the plague (Exodus 12:13).

Pharaoh's Reluctant Release

After the devastating impact of the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:31-32). However, his subsequent pursuit of the Israelites led to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the ultimate destruction of the Egyptian army (Exodus 14).

Theological Significance

Moses' warning to Pharaoh underscores the themes of divine justice and mercy. It highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His power to deliver His people. The narrative serves as a testament to God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and His ability to bring about His purposes despite human resistance.