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Exodus 7 · Grade 5

The Hardened Heart

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Read and Think

Exodus 7 begins the ten plagues, God's judgments on Egypt. God states His purpose plainly: The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh. The plagues are a contest between Yahweh and the gods of Egypt (12:12). The first plague strikes the Nile, Egypt's lifeline. Ironically, the river where Hebrew baby boys had been thrown now runs with blood.

The theme of Pharaoh's hardened heart runs through these chapters. Sometimes the text says Pharaoh hardened his own heart (8:15), sometimes his heart was hardened, and sometimes God hardened it (9:12). Both are true: Pharaoh freely and repeatedly refused God, and God, in judgment, confirmed Pharaoh in the choice he had made. Romans 9:17 cites this to show God's sovereignty.

Egypt's magicians imitate the first signs with their enchantments, but they are limited. They can make more blood, but they cannot remove it. Aaron's rod swallowing theirs foreshadows the outcome of the whole contest. Satan's counterfeits may imitate, but they cannot overcome God. Moses and Aaron show the right response: As Yahweh commanded them, so they did.

Show What You Know

  1. What was the purpose of the plagues?

  2. What irony is there in the first plague?

  3. How do the two sides of Pharaoh's hardening fit together?

  4. What were the magicians' limits?

  5. How did Moses and Aaron respond to God?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godheartriver
  1. states His purpose plainly: The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh.
  2. Ironically, the where Hebrew baby boys had been thrown now runs with blood.
  3. Sometimes the text says Pharaoh hardened his own (8:15), sometimes his heart was hardened, and sometimes God hardened it (9:12).

Think About It

  1. In the New Testament, Hebrews 3:15 warns us not to harden our hearts when we hear God's voice. How can you keep a soft heart toward God?

  2. How does God's power over false gods encourage you?

Memory Verse

The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring the children of Israel out from among them.”

Exodus 7:5 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you respond well when someone corrects you?
  • How can you help others know who God is?
  • How can you obey even when you do not see results?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.