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The Special Rod of Moses בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה



Moses did some pretty amazing miracles for Pharaoh to convince him to let the Children of Israel go. Pharaoh had asserted, as was the Egyptian tradition, that he was God. Moses came to Pharaoh and asked if the Israelites could leave their work to go worship the Hebrew God. Pharaoh was skeptical. Who was the Hebrew God? Everyone in Egypt worshipped Pharaoh.


Moses was sent by God to “redeem with a stretched out arm and with great judgements.” Exo 6:6 Moses’ brother, Aaron, was assigned to act as his spokesperson since Moses had a speech impediment. Pharaoh’s initial response to Moses’ request was to increase the workload of the Israelites without reducing the quota. The Israelites, after being beaten for not accomplishing the work, came to Moses and asked him to “judge” the situation. Exo 5:21 So Moses took the matter to the Lord.


Moses returned to Pharaoh’s court with a special rod. A normal rod is called “Mat-teh” מַטֶּה, however, Moses was using a “Bam-mat-teh” spelled בַּמַּטֶּה֙ . This word is only used in the Old Testament in this story. No one else ever used a special rod. So what made Moses’ rod so special. The Hebrew language can give us a clue.


Hebrew is a language that can be used to tell a story, while giving pronunciation marks and it also has special meaning in the individual letters. So when the word “Mat-teh” which is known to be a rod is now written “Bam-mat-teh,” what is the language telling us about the rod? The letter Beis is added in front of “Mat-teh.” Beis is the Hebrew letter meaning two or duality. Moses and Aaron were a team of two in dealing with Pharaoh. The special rod was being used to differentiate between God and Pharoah’s false priesthood. The Beis indicates that there were two powers at odds here just like good and evil often are at odds with each other. The special rod did things that Pharaoh’s priests tried to imitate. Pharaoh was inclined to believe his own priest rather than Moses when they said, “this is the finger of God.” Exo 8:19


Every miracle that Moses and Aaron did was a witness of the true God. Pharaoh was stubborn and did not want to believe any of it. Every time Moses got the plague reversed, Pharaoh went back on his word and refused to let the people go. The plagues continue to increase in their severity. It all comes to a head when Moses promises that the first born son of all Egyptians will die.


With this plague, the Israelites have to decide whom they believe. If they believe Moses, they are instructed to put blood on the door posts. If they don’t, they risk the same fate as the Egyptians. Up to this point, it’s all about witnessing to Pharaoh that God is the One True God. However, now everyone is drawn into the drama with the final plague.


Good and evil are at odds. Two claim to have God on their side. Moses and Aaron are two of the despised Hebrews. Pharaoh is the king and ruler of all. Yet in the moment of truth, at the midnight hour, the first-born children die. The Egyptians urge the Hebrews to leave. The Hebrews make haste and the Lord leads them. Exo 13:18 Every first born of the Hebrews is “sanctified” in that moment. Exo 13:2


Have you experienced a moment of truth? Do you know which side you favor God or the wisdom of men? This set of miracles convinced some and not others. Does it give you pause or do you discount it all? The time of decision is now. God has promised to return in a glorious second coming. Find out for yourself if God is real.


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