Pharaoh – The Ruler of Egypt Who Opposed Moses

Did you know the Pharaoh Mummy is present in the Cairo Museum with some evidence?

In 1881, a mummy was discovered and it was the mummy of Pharaoh who was the enemy of Moses. His body is covered with salt. Scientists proved that his death was caused by drowning in salted water. This scientific statement has proven the story of Moses and Pharaoh and their journey in the Red Sea.

Introduction

Pharaoh was a very cruel ruler. He oppressed the Israelites a lot. Pharaoh is remembered for a lesson because he was a very stubborn ruler. He always ruled with cruelty and kept the Israelites as slaves. Moses tried hard to save the Israelites from his punishment, but he did not allow them to be free under any circumstances. Pharaoh is mentioned in the Bible, Torah and Quran.

Verse

“Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)

Verse

“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.” (Exodus 14:4)

Feeling less Heart of Pharaoh

Pharaoh was a very selfish and cruel person. He did not believe in God and called himself God. Pharaoh called himself a great king and said that I am God. I have the authorities; I can do whatever I want. So bow before me. We can feel the beginning of Pharaoh’s cruelty when someone told him that a boy would be born among the Israelites who would stand against Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh issued an order that any boy born in Egypt will be killed. But Moses‘ mother saved Moses from Pharaoh’s oppression with great difficulty. Moses was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses pleaded with him to free the Israelites and stop the oppression, but Pharaoh did not listen and said, “I do not believe in any God.” He was a very hard-hearted person and because of this stubbornness, God sent down punishment on his people.

Verse

“Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.” (Exodus 7:13)

Verse

“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.” (Exodus 9:12)

Ten Egypt’s Plagues Due to Pharaoh

Pharaoh thought himself to be God, so God reminded him of his position. When Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites and continued to persecute them, Moses pleaded with God to do something. That is why Pharaoh and his people were punished. God filled the Nile River with blood and sent plagues with mosquitoes, locusts, boils, hail and various diseases. The grain that people kept started spoiling. In addition, frogs, locusts and flies spread from place to place.

Verse

“This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’” (Exodus 7:17-18)

Verse

“Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree.” (Exodus 9:25)

Conflict Between Pharaoh and Moses

After these punishments, Pharaoh used to ask Moses to pray. When the punishment was stopped by Moses’ prayer, Pharaoh used to start his oppression again. There were many fights between Pharaoh and Moses. Pharaoh teased him and oppressed the Israelites. Moses tried hard to convince Pharaoh that God is one and we should worship Him. Moses showed him many miracles, but still Pharaoh did not believe. God had given Moses many unique miracles, as his hand used to glow and his staff turned into a snake. But according to Pharaoh, it was not a miracle, but magic. Despite the efforts of Moses, Pharaoh did not give up his stubbornness.

Verse

“So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.” (Exodus 7:10)

Verse

The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19)

Final Plague And Pharaoh Diplomacy

God sent a final punishment on Pharaoh and his people. This punishment was such that every person’s eldest son would die. Pharaoh was very surprised by this punishment. He gave permission to Moses without thinking. Israel can be freed and you can take them away. Moses took the Israelites and left. Then he realized that he had made a mistake. Pharaoh neglected his intention and followed Moses with his army. When the news of Pharaoh’s arrival was heard by the Israelites, they were very scared. Moses assured that the righteous people always succeed and oppression always ends. When Moses and the Israelites were on their way, the Red Sea came in front of them.

Now they could not even turn back because Pharaoh’s army was behind and the Red Sea was in front of them. Then Moses did not understand anything. He requested God. God told him that your staff has a lot of power. Hit the stick on the ground. Moses did the same thing. When Moses struck his staff on the ground, the Red sea was divided into two parts. Moses took the Israelites and walked across the dry land. When Pharaoh came with his army following Moses they found the Red sea in two pieces. He was sure that Moses and his people had gone through this route. So he also followed this route with his army. Since Moses and the Israelites had reached their destination. So God brought the Red Navy together. The result was that Pharaoh and his army drowned in it and died.

Verse

“At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.” (Exodus 12:29)

Verse

“The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (Exodus 14:28)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Pharaoh’s life is a terrible story for us. From his life, we get to understand that we should always bow before God and be humble. God does not like stubbornness and pride. Pharaoh was a man who suffered a lot but still died dishonored. God gave him many chances but he always chose cruelty and stubbornness. The result of this arrogance was that he died in a tragic way along with his army.

Verse

“But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:15)

Verse

“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” (Hebrews 11:29)