Exodus 7:16

16 and say unto him, The LORD, the God of the Hebrews has sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness; and, behold, until now thou hast not desired to hear.

Exodus 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him
Upon meeting him:

the Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee;
still appearing in the character of the ambassador of Jehovah, the God of the children of Israel:

saying, let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness;
the demand is once more renewed, before any punishment is inflicted for refusal, that the patience and forbearance of God might be the more visible, and his judgments appear the more righteous when inflicted, as well as Pharaoh be left more inexcusable. The reason of the demand is observed,

that they may serve me;
keep a feast, and sacrifice to him, as is before expressed, and the place where is pointed at:

in the wilderness;
at Sinai, in Arabia, where were the mountains of Sinai and Horeb; but the time of their service is not here expressed, as elsewhere, namely, three days:

and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear;
and obey the voice of the Lord, upbraiding him with his disobedience, and the hardness of his heart; but signifying it was not now too late, though it was advisable to be quick, or the blow would be given, and the plagues inflicted.

Exodus 7:16 In-Context

14 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is become grievous, for he refuses to let the people go.
15 Go unto Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink before him and take in thy hand the rod which was turned to a serpent
16 and say unto him, The LORD, the God of the Hebrews has sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness; and, behold, until now thou hast not desired to hear.
17 Thus hath the LORD said, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD; behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink the water of the river.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010