1. Facing Pharaoh- verse 1
In God’s wisdom and mercy the opening request is very mild and only involves freedom of worship. What could be more reasonable? The Lord’s restrained approach served to reveal the sinful and high handed attitude of Pharaoh. As a believer in many gods he could have at least shown respect to Israel’s God. As is often the case the true God is the only one truly despised.

2. The Impiety of Pharaoh- verse 2
Pharaoh was not denying the existence of Jehovah or even the assertion that He had spoken. Rather he judges the Lord by the lowly state of His people. Surely Pharaoh’s gods are so much more powerful than Jehovah that obedience is not necessary. Should Pharaoh fear the God of slaves?
Who is Jehovah? Before God finishes, Pharaoh learned the answer to this question. The plagues were actually judgments on the gods of Egypt. One day the world will again learn the answer to this question (Isaiah 2:11).

3. God’s Strange Ways- verses 3-4
In light of Proverbs 21:1 why did God not give immediate deliverance to Israel? The answer should help us to understand God’s ways in our own life.
a. To create a situation where more of His power is revealed to the covenant nation (Exodus 15:1-11).
b. To reveal more of His love to His people (Isaiah 43:1-4, 21).
c. To teach us patience in all ages.
d. To prove that His power must prevail against Satan’s devices.
e. To warn us of being led astray by false miracles as Pharaoh was by his magicians (Revelation 17:8, II Thessalonians 2:9).
f. To expose the hardness and blindness of man’s heart.

4. A Cruel Response- verses 5-14
In God’s plan things often get worse before they get better. He places His people in positions of desperation but never of despair.

5. Faltering Faith- verses 15-21
The Israelites were in a bad case but their unbelief was still sinful. This shows the need of trials to increase faith.
When we have obeyed God let us never be surprised when hardship comes. Desperation drives us to God. Despair is to give up on God.

6. Moses Wavers- verses 32-33
While it is easy to empathize with Moses yet he cannot be justified. In upbraiding the Lord he only shows that he has forgotten God’s word (Exodus 3:19-20). God warns us of trials yet we act as though we were not warned when they do come (I Peter 4:12-13).