1. Exodus 7:1–11:10 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How do the Egyptians react to the plagues?

Exodus 7:1–11:10 (ESV)

1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

Pharaoh refuses to listen. We read that after almost every plague. He does, however, start to negotiate, and more and more he is making concessions to Moses (see Exodus 10:7–11, Exodus 10:24).

After the tenth plague, Pharaoh ends his resistance (Exodus 12:31–32), but regrets it a short while later (Exodus 14:5).

The Pharaoh’s magicians know how to duplicate the first plagues, but that does not work anymore with the third plague. They recognize the power of God in the plague, saying: This is the finger of God (Exodus 8:19). And after the fifth plague they cannot stand before Moses anymore (Exodus 9:11), after which we do not read about them anymore.

Many of Pharaoh’s servants have no regard for God (see Exodus 9:21, Exodus 9:30). But some of the servants are filled with awe for the Lord  (Exodus 9:20; Exodus 10:7).

Moses is highly regarded among the people of Egypt and among Pharaoh’s servants (Exodus 11:3). Possibly that is because of the plagues (see Exodus 12:36). The Egyptians give presents to the Israelites as they depart. They want them to leave as soon as possible, before more calamities are poured out over them (Exodus 12:33, Exodus 12:35–36).