The Bible Recap: Day 032 (Exodus 7–9) – Year 8

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: February 1, 2026
Main Theme:
Today’s episode walks through Exodus 7–9, focusing on God’s sovereignty, the purpose behind the plagues sent to Egypt, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, and what this reveals about God’s character and patience.

Episode Overview

Tara-Leigh Cobble explores the story of Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, and the escalation of plagues in Egypt. She examines why God says he will harden Pharaoh’s heart, what the plagues signify beyond punishment, and what listeners can learn about God’s patience and intentions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

God’s Sovereignty and Heart Change

• [00:01] Tara-Leigh opens by acknowledging God tells Moses and Aaron in advance that Pharaoh won’t listen because “God is going to harden Pharaoh’s heart.”
  • “That’s a pretty tough order.” – Tara-Leigh Cobble [00:05]
• She encourages listeners not to jump quickly to assumptions about God’s motives and to simply note that:
  • “He can change hearts.” [00:17]
• God repeats, through these acts, his desire that “Israel will know that he is the Lord.”
  • Tara-Leigh explains that knowing isn’t only mental assent, but “has more to do with a person’s posture in response to that truth.” [00:27]
  • “He wants them to believe it in their bones… and wants their lives to reflect it.” [00:33]

The Purpose of the Plagues

• Multipurpose Message:
  • The plagues teach Israel who their God is, but are also for Egypt: “For them to know that he is the Lord.” [00:41]
• Rebellion vs. Yielding:
  • Tara-Leigh points out that knowledge of God doesn’t always produce obedience, referencing “the sons of God… including the one called Satan the accuser… They insisted on their own way.” [00:47]
• Display and Counterfeit:
  • Moses and Aaron perform signs, imitated by Pharaoh’s magicians:
    • “The enemy loves to counterfeit God’s work, but the enemy can’t stop God’s work. Their snake staffs were swallowed up by Aaron’s.” [01:18]
  • Pharaoh’s heart “was hardened, as the Lord had said.” [01:25]

Plagues Targeting Egyptian Gods

• Tara-Leigh frames the 10 plagues as direct affronts to Egypt’s false gods:
  • “They weren’t just about inducing pain. Each plague was a direct attack on one or more of the false gods worshiped by the Egyptians…” [01:32]
• “The plagues also serve to reveal that Yahweh is greater than Pharaoh, who was revered as a god in Egypt. This whole series of events shows how all of Egypt’s false gods failed them.” [01:44]

Specific Plagues and Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

• Water to Blood: The magicians “could do the same thing. So again, Pharaoh was unmoved.”
• Frogs:
  • Magicians duplicate the frogs, but “they can only make things worse.” [01:58]
  • “Oh, God sent a bunch of frogs… No, we can’t magically make them disappear, but we can add more. Nobody needs that, you guys.” [02:09]
• False Surrender: Pharaoh promises to yield but breaks his word as soon as the plague ends.
  • “Pharaoh hardened his heart. It’s the same story with the gnats.” [02:17]
• Gnats and Flies:
  • God distinguishes between Egyptians (“your people”) and Israelites (“my people”) [02:24], noting his exclusive covenant relationship.
  • For the first time, a plague (flies) bypasses the land of Goshen, where Israelites live. Still, “Pharaoh hardens his heart.” [02:47]
• Livestock, Boils, and Hail:
  • Hail is “the first plague where human lives are threatened.” God warns Pharaoh how to protect his people, but “he hardened his heart.” [03:02]
  • “Pharaoh responds differently to various plagues, but his heart is always hard.” [03:10]
  • Even when Pharaoh asks Moses to pray for him, “he never repents.” [03:22]
  • Tara-Leigh notes, “Sometimes people who don’t know or love God still ask him for help when they’re in dire straits.” [03:19]

God’s Patience and Ultimate Purpose

• ‘God Shot’ Insight:
  • Tara-Leigh sees “God’s patience” in Exodus 9:15–16:
    • “By now, I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose, I have raised you up: to show you my power, so that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” [03:38]
    • “God has patience toward sinners, and step by step, he’s working out his plan.” [03:44]
• Relatable Frustration:
  • She empathizes with how frustrating God’s patience must have been for Moses, the Israelites—even the Egyptians:
    • “They were probably like, ‘Let them go already, Pharaoh!’ I’m far less patient with God than He is with everything.” [03:52]
    • “I’m always trying to rush his plan, but I want to learn to trust that he’s taking the steps necessary to make his name proclaimed in all the earth.” [03:59]
• Finding Joy in Waiting:
  • “He’s with me in the struggle and the waiting… there can be joy even in those moments, because he’s where the joy is.” [04:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Divine Sovereignty:
  • “He can change hearts.” – Tara-Leigh Cobble [00:17]
• On Knowledge of God:
  • “God wants them to believe it in their bones, not just acknowledge it as a fact.” [00:33]
• On Counterfeit Miracles:
  • “The enemy loves to counterfeit God’s work, but the enemy can’t stop God’s work.” [01:18]
• On God’s Patient Purpose:
  • “For this purpose, I have raised you up to show you my power so that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” – Reading Exodus 9:16 [03:40]
• On Joy Amid Struggle:
  • “He’s with me in the struggle and the waiting, which means there can be joy even in those moments, because he’s where the joy is.” [04:13]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:01: God’s sovereignty and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart
• 01:18: Pharaoh’s magicians imitate signs; God’s true power revealed
• 01:32: Plagues as targeted assaults on Egyptian gods
• 02:24: God distinguishes between Egypt and Israel during the flies plague
• 03:38: “God shot” – God’s patience as highlighted in Exodus 9:15–16
• 04:13: Reflecting on finding joy and trust in God’s timing

Conclusion:

Tara-Leigh’s recap invites listeners to consider how God orchestrates events for a greater purpose, even when the process feels slow or mystifying. Through the story of the plagues and Pharaoh’s resistant heart, we see God’s relentless pursuit of his people, his sovereignty over all powers, and his deep patience and mercy. Tara-Leigh encourages listeners to trust God’s timing and recognize his presence—and joy—in every step of the journey.