And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.
The farewell closes the meetings after the plague of darkness over Egypt, which was not only loss of light but heavy, oppressive air that made breathing difficult, while the Hebrews had light in their dwellings and pure air. Pharaoh and his idolatrous priests opposed the request to the last, while the Egyptian people desired that the Hebrews be permitted to leave. The verse belongs to that darkness and to the events leading to the final plague.
It marks the end of Pharaoh's step-by-step bargaining under the plagues, in which he was very slow to yield to the God of heaven, yielding a little under grievous affliction and taking back what he granted when it was removed. He persisted in rebellion even after Egypt was ruined and yielded no more than the dreadful visitations compelled. Moses and Aaron told him beforehand the nature and effect of each plague that would follow refusal to let Israel go, and every plague came exactly as told, yet he would not yield. First he granted only permission to sacrifice in Egypt, then that the men alone should go, then after the locusts nearly destroyed Egypt that children and wives might go also but not the cattle. When Moses insisted that not a hoof of cattle be left behind, that boldness annoyed Pharaoh's haughty pride into action.
In the final interview Pharaoh barred Moses from coming into his presence again on pain of death if he appeared before him again. Moses agreed that Pharaoh had spoken correctly and that he would see Pharaoh's face again no more and would not appear before him again. After Pharaoh threatened to kill him if he appeared again, Moses said he would not see Pharaoh's face again. Moses answered with firm, calm courage and remained unafraid because his confidence rested in God. He had watched the wonderful works of God until his faith had grown strong and his confidence unshaken, and he relied on the power of God who could preserve his servants.
Pharaoh hardened his heart against the LORD and dared to threaten Moses and Aaron with death despite all the signs and mighty wonders he had witnessed. In blindness he did not realize he was contending not only against Moses and Aaron but against the mighty Jehovah, Maker of the heavens and of the earth, who could save or destroy and would preserve the lives of his chosen servants even if he had to slay the king of Egypt. Had Pharaoh not hardened himself in rebellion he would have been humbled by the power of the living God. Moses had obtained the favor of the people and was regarded as a very wonderful man whom the king would not dare to harm. God was fitting and qualifying Moses to stand at the head of the armies of Israel and lead them from Egypt as a shepherd of his people, and elevated above fear by firm trust Moses stood fearlessly.
The verse stands between the darkness and the final, most severe plague: it marks the end of the exchange before the last plague and the institution of the Passover on the night that was so terrible to the Egyptians and so glorious to the people of God. After this break Moses told Pharaoh and the people of Egypt and the Israelites and the people of God the nature and effect of the coming plague in which the angel of God would slay the firstborn. In one account the farewell follows the announcement of the final plague, with Pharaoh ordering Moses away after Moses has announced it. The agreement did not end his mission, for God gave him one more message for the rebellious king, and Moses firmly walked into Pharaoh's presence again and stood fearlessly before him to declare the word of the Lord despite the threat that seeing his face meant death.
The farewell closes the meetings after the plague of darkness over Egypt, which was not only loss of light but heavy, oppressive air that made breathing difficult, while the Hebrews had light in their dwellings and pure air. Pharaoh and his idolatrous priests opposed the request to the last, while the Egyptian people desired that the Hebrews be permitted to leave. The verse belongs to that darkness and to the events leading to the final plague.
It marks the end of Pharaoh's step-by-step bargaining under the plagues, in which he was very slow to yield to the God of heaven, yielding a little under grievous affliction and taking back what he granted when it was removed. He persisted in rebellion even after Egypt was ruined and yielded no more than the dreadful visitations compelled. Moses and Aaron told him beforehand the nature and effect of each plague that would follow refusal to let Israel go, and every plague came exactly as told, yet he would not yield. First he granted only permission to sacrifice in Egypt, then that the men alone should go, then after the locusts nearly destroyed Egypt that children and wives might go also but not the cattle. When Moses insisted that not a hoof of cattle be left behind, that boldness annoyed Pharaoh's haughty pride into action.
In the final interview Pharaoh barred Moses from coming into his presence again on pain of death if he appeared before him again. Moses agreed that Pharaoh had spoken correctly and that he would see Pharaoh's face again no more and would not appear before him again. After Pharaoh threatened to kill him if he appeared again, Moses said he would not see Pharaoh's face again. Moses answered with firm, calm courage and remained unafraid because his confidence rested in God. He had watched the wonderful works of God until his faith had grown strong and his confidence unshaken, and he relied on the power of God who could preserve his servants.
Pharaoh hardened his heart against the LORD and dared to threaten Moses and Aaron with death despite all the signs and mighty wonders he had witnessed. In blindness he did not realize he was contending not only against Moses and Aaron but against the mighty Jehovah, Maker of the heavens and of the earth, who could save or destroy and would preserve the lives of his chosen servants even if he had to slay the king of Egypt. Had Pharaoh not hardened himself in rebellion he would have been humbled by the power of the living God. Moses had obtained the favor of the people and was regarded as a very wonderful man whom the king would not dare to harm. God was fitting and qualifying Moses to stand at the head of the armies of Israel and lead them from Egypt as a shepherd of his people, and elevated above fear by firm trust Moses stood fearlessly.
The verse stands between the darkness and the final, most severe plague: it marks the end of the exchange before the last plague and the institution of the Passover on the night that was so terrible to the Egyptians and so glorious to the people of God. After this break Moses told Pharaoh and the people of Egypt and the Israelites and the people of God the nature and effect of the coming plague in which the angel of God would slay the firstborn. In one account the farewell follows the announcement of the final plague, with Pharaoh ordering Moses away after Moses has announced it. The agreement did not end his mission, for God gave him one more message for the rebellious king, and Moses firmly walked into Pharaoh's presence again and stood fearlessly before him to declare the word of the Lord despite the threat that seeing his face meant death.