But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that I can show my power against Egypt and bring out my armies—my people, the Israelites—from Egypt through great acts of judgment.
God is telling Moses that Pharaoh's refusal to listen will give God the opportunity to display His mighty power and rescue His people through dramatic interventions.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes as God is preparing Moses for his mission to demand Israel's freedom from Egyptian slavery. God is forewarning Moses that Pharaoh will be stubborn and resist, which will set the stage for the ten plagues that will demonstrate God's supreme power over Egypt and its gods. The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for approximately 400 years at this point.
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