Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1-7)

1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. [This is largely a repeat of 4:14-16 in case we forgot the plan for how Moses and Aaron will work together. The difference is that Aaron will speak to Pharaoh instead of the people. The goal is not merely to get God’s people to accept God’s plan but to get Pharaoh to do God’s will.] 3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders [another new piece of information about humiliating Egypt and her gods] in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. [They have been fairly warned about Pharaoh’s recalcitrance. Why will he not listen?] Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts [armies or divisions in NIV], my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” [Before it was the Israelites who would come to know and respect God. Now the Egyptians are added.] 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. [Why did God pick such old people?]