He was informed that the monarch would not yield until God should visit judgments upon Egypt and bring out Israel by the signal manifestation of His power. Before the infliction of each plague, Moses was to describe its nature and effects, that the king might save himself from it if he chose. Every punishment rejected would be followed by one more severe, until his proud heart would be humbled, and he would acknowledge the Maker of heaven and earth as the true and living God. The Lord would give the Egyptians an opportunity to see how vain was the wisdom of their mighty men, how feeble the power of their gods, when opposed to the commands of Jehovah. He would punish the people of Egypt for their idolatry and silence their boasting of the blessings received from their senseless deities. God would glorify His own name, that other nations might hear of His power and tremble at His mighty acts, and that His people might be led to turn from their idolatry and render Him pure worship.

Han fik at vide, at monarken ikke ville give efter, før Gud nedkaldte straffedomme over Ægypten og førte Israel ud ved en enestående åbenbarelse af sin magt. Før hver plage skulle Moses beskrive dens natur og virkning, så at kongen kunne undgå den, hvis han ville. Straffen ville blive strengere og strengere for hvert afslag, indtil hans stolte hjerte blev ydmyget, og han anerkendte himmelens og jordens skaber som den sande, levende Gud. Herren ville give ægypterne anledning til at se, hvor lidt deres store mænds visdom og deres guders magt formåede, når de satte sig op imod Guds befalinger. Han ville straffe Ægyptens folk for deres afgudsdyrkelse og få deres pral med de velsignelser, de havde modtaget af deres livløse guder, til at forstumme. Gud ville forherlige sit navn, for at andre folk kunne høre om hans magt og skælve for hans mægtige gerninger, og for at hans folk kunne tilskyndes til at opgive deres afgudsdyrkelse og tjene ham alene.