Daily Lesson for Monday 21st of July 2025

Nine times in Exodus the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is ascribed to God (Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:3; Exodus 9:12; Exodus 10:1,20,27; Exodus 11:10; Exodus 14:4,8; see also Romans 9:17-18). Another nine times Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart (Exodus 7:13-14,22; Exodus 8:15,19,32; Exodus 9:7,34-35).

Who hardened the king’s heart—God, or Pharaoh himself?

Image © Educational Concepts Collection at Goodsalt.com

It is significant that in the Exodus story of the ten plagues, in each of the first five plagues, Pharaoh alone was the agent of his heart hardening. Thus, he initiated the hardening of his own heart. From the sixth plague on, however, the biblical text states that it was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12). What all this means is that God strengthened or deepened Pharaoh’s own choice, his willful action, as God had told Moses He would do (Exodus 4:21).

In other words, God sent plagues to help Pharaoh repent and to free him from the darkness and error of his mind. God did not create fresh evil in Pharaoh’s heart; instead, He simply gave Pharaoh over to his own malign impulses. He left him without God’s restraining grace and thus abandoned him to his own wickedness (see Romans 1:24-32).

Pharaoh had his free will—he could choose for or against God—and he decided against.

The lessons are obvious. We have been given the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, obedience or disobedience. From Lucifer in heaven, to Adam and Eve in Eden, to Pharaoh in Egypt, and to us today—wherever we abide, we choose either life or death (Deuteronomy 30:19).

An analogy: imagine sunshine that beats on butter and clay. Butter melts but clay hardens. The heat of the sun is the same in both cases, but there are two different reactions to the heat, and two different results. The effect depends on the material. In the case of Pharaoh, one may say that it depended upon the attitudes of his heart toward God and His people.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-04-who-hardened-pharaohs-heart/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 20th of July 2025

The upcoming battles were going to be between the living God and the Egyptian “gods.” What made things worse was that Pharaoh considered himself to be one of those gods.

Image © S. M. Davis at Goodsalt.com

The Lord did not fight against the Egyptians, or even Egypt per se, but against their deities (the Egyptians venerated more than 1,500 gods and goddesses). The biblical text is explicit: “On all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord” (Exodus 12:12, ESV). Later, it is once again emphasized, this time when Israel’s journey from Egypt was recounted: “The Lord had brought judgment on their gods” (Numbers 33:4, NIV).

An example of this judgment on their gods was well demonstrated by the miracle of the rod turning into a serpent (Exodus 7:9-12). In Egypt, the Uraeus goddess Wadjet was personified by a cobra and represented sovereign power over lower Egypt. The symbol of a cobra appeared in Pharaoh’s crown, a sign of his power, deity, royalty, and divine authority, because this goddess would spit venom at Pharaoh’s enemies. The Egyptians also believed that the sacred serpent would guide the Pharaoh to his afterlife.

When Aaron’s staff became a snake and ate all the other serpents before the king, the supremacy of the living God over Egyptian magic and sorcery was manifested. Not only was the emblem of Pharaoh’s might conquered, but Aaron and Moses clutched it in their hands (Exodus 7:12,15). The initial confrontation demonstrated God’s power and lordship over Egypt. Moses, as God’s representative, had greater authority and power than did the “god” Pharaoh himself.

It is also significant that the ancient Egyptians considered a snake god, Nehebkau (“he who harnesses the spirits”), to be sacred, adored, and worshiped. According to their mythology, this serpent god had great power because he swallowed seven cobras. Thus, God communicated to the Egyptians that He, not the serpent god, has sovereign power and authority. After such a powerful confrontation, they were able to understand this message immediately and distinctly.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-04-god-vs-gods/

Exodus points us to a wonderful conclusion with the Israelites being bound for the Promised Land, hence our theme hymn for the quarter being 
We Are Bound For The Promised Land – Hymn 620. 

Such a sadness in the book of Exodus to see that the heart of Pharaoh continues to grow harder and harder towards God and His people. It is a pity that Pharaoh did not
Hark! The Voice of Jesus (and God) 
Calling – Hymn 359, just as God called Moses, and then Aaron, to step forward. 

We are reminded on Sunday that “the upcoming battles were going to be between the living God and the Egyptian ‘gods’ “, with Moses needing to see 
Hymn 264 – O For That Flame Of Living Fire (verse 4). 

“Pharoah had his free will—he could choose for or against God”. We have that choice today as well, and I say 
Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice – Hymn 273. 

The idolatry of the Egyptian people had wiped out God as The Creator and instead worshipped all those things God had created. May we choose to believe and trust and God 
For Beauty Of Meadows.- Hymn 640. 

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others. 

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/4-the-plagues-singing-with-inspiration/

Key Thought : This week we encounter the God of miracles and the signs and wonders He performs, as well as the plagues as Divine judgment upon Egypt,
July 26, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 7:3,13,14,22.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What lessons are here in the first confrontation between the God of the Hebrews and the gods of Egypt?
3. Personal Application: What freewill choices are you going to make this week? If you know what the right choice is, how can you prepare to make it? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Doesn’t the Bible say God hardened Pharoah’s heart? Does this mean that God causes people to do either the right or the wrong thing in their lives? That He predestines people to be saved or to be lost, to do good or evil?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 7:14-8:19.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What happened in these plagues?
3. Personal Application: Is there a danger in our lives by rejecting God’s Spirit continually and making things worse in our lives? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What is so attractive about idol worship? Why was it so difficult for the Egyptians to break from idolatry, even after they saw the devastation it brought upon them?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 8:27-9:12

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does this account teach about however great may be the manifestations of God’s power, mankind still have the free will to reject Him?
3. Personal Application: Pharoah had rational evidence to make a right choice. It was a heart problem. What does this tell us about we must guard our hearts? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What is an idol> How do we make our own gods and bow doen before them? Why does God stand so vehemently against iodolatry?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Exodus 9:13-10:29.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How successful are these plagues in getting Pharoah to change his mind?
3. Personal Application: What is it in our hearts that causes us to stubbornly refuse all of God’s promptings to repent and follow Him? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/4-the-plagues-teaching-plan/

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 19th of July 2025

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Exodus 7:8-25; Exodus 8:1-32; Exodus 9:1-35; Exodus 10:1-29; Numbers 33:4; Romans 1:24-32; Psalms 104:27-28; Isaiah 28:2,12-17; Isaiah 44:9-10,12-17.

Memory Text:

“So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses” (Exodus 9:35, NKJV).

A farmer was trying to get his donkey to move; the beast wouldn’t budge. So, the farmer took a thick branch and walloped it. He again spoke to the donkey, who then started moving.

When someone asked the farmer why that worked, he replied, “Well, first you have to get its attention.”

Putting aside whatever issue one might raise about cruelty to animals, there is a point to be made here, especially in the context of the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Moses has been given his marching orders and goes to Pharaoh with God’s famous words, shalach et ami, which is, “Let My people go!”

Pharaoh, however, does not want to let God’s people go. The Scriptures never explicitly explain why Pharaoh was so reluctant, despite the military threat that the Egyptians feared the Hebrews could pose (see Exodus 1:10). Most likely, as is often the case with slavery, it was pure economics. They were cheap labor, and so he didn’t want to lose whatever economic advantages these slaves gave him. Thus, he was going to need some persuasion not only to get his attention but also to change his mind.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 26.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-04-the-plagues/