And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
The word god in Exodus 7:1 describes Moses's role and authority in relation to Pharaoh, not that Moses himself was divine. Moses was appointed as God's authoritative representative to speak only what God commanded, and Aaron his brother was appointed as Moses's prophet to convey those words to Pharaoh. This appointment answered Moses's fear and discouragement that Pharaoh would not listen to him.
Moses and Aaron were sent back to go before Pharaoh and demand Israel's release. Before Pharaoh they were to demand the king's attention and rebuke his cruelty and oppression. Pharaoh would not consent until God brought judgment on Egypt, displaying signs and judgments and delivering Israel by His power, with each rejected punishment followed by a more severe one.
Through bringing Israel out of Egypt, God would make the Egyptians know that He is the LORD, showing Himself as the living, all-powerful Maker superior to Egypt's gods. In that same deliverance He would punish Egyptian idolatry, make His power known among the nations, and lead Israel to worship Him alone. Unlike Moses and Aaron's divine command to appear before Pharaoh, Paul had no comparable command to appear before Nero, but confined to his dwelling could speak only to those who came to him.
The word god in Exodus 7:1 describes Moses's role and authority in relation to Pharaoh, not that Moses himself was divine. Moses was appointed as God's authoritative representative to speak only what God commanded, and Aaron his brother was appointed as Moses's prophet to convey those words to Pharaoh. This appointment answered Moses's fear and discouragement that Pharaoh would not listen to him.
Moses and Aaron were sent back to go before Pharaoh and demand Israel's release. Before Pharaoh they were to demand the king's attention and rebuke his cruelty and oppression. Pharaoh would not consent until God brought judgment on Egypt, displaying signs and judgments and delivering Israel by His power, with each rejected punishment followed by a more severe one.
Through bringing Israel out of Egypt, God would make the Egyptians know that He is the LORD, showing Himself as the living, all-powerful Maker superior to Egypt's gods. In that same deliverance He would punish Egyptian idolatry, make His power known among the nations, and lead Israel to worship Him alone. Unlike Moses and Aaron's divine command to appear before Pharaoh, Paul had no comparable command to appear before Nero, but confined to his dwelling could speak only to those who came to him.