Why did the Pharaoh have to negotiate with Moses when he was causing the plagues instead of killing him?

Answer 1

It's easy for most people to forget [or simply 'not believe'] that this account is "True" ["...Thy Word is TRUTH." - John 17:17]. And as such, forget to put oneself in the place of Pharaoh, who, besides being the king of an empire, was also a FATHER... and the GRANDFATHER OF MOSES; if only by his daughter's adoption of Moses [Ex.2:10].

Father's love their children, dearly... and their children's children even more so, if that's possible.

Most folks don't stop to think that Moses grew up under the nose of Pharaoh, his advisers and educators. To Pharaoh, Moses was "his own beloved flesh and blood SON." And if and when your children rebel against you... you don't just kill them. You go through the full range of human emotions; from anger, to sympathy over their misguided ways, to sorrow over the heartache they are causing the family to endure.

Nor was this the only aspect of what was going on.

Kings, emperors, presidents and leaders of governments throughout history have always had their "advisers"... military generals, magicians, astrologers, prophets. And these governments of man throughout history have reacted to the machinations and influences of the "spirit realm" -- invisible beings and forces that are not detectible through the five physical senses, that are nonetheless as real as the invisible laws of nature; the wind and gravity.

Isaiah foretells the fall of Babylon with the words: "'Come, Babylon, unconquered one, sit in the dust. For your days of glory, pomp, and honor have ended...'" (Isa.47:1 NLT New Living Translation)

"So disaster will overtake you suddenly, and you won't be able to CHARM IT AWAY. Calamity will fall upon you, and you won't be able to buy your way out. A catastrophe will arise so fast that you won't known what hit you. CALL OUT YOUR DEMON HORDES YOU HAVE WORSHIPED ALL THESE YEARS. Ask them to help you strike terror into the hearts of people once again. You have more than enough ADVISERS, ASTROLOGERS, and STARGAZERS. Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds..." (verses 11-13).

This is what Pharaoh had to "do battle" with his "misguided grandson, Moses." Jannes and Jambres.

"...Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his court, and it became a snake. Then Pharaoh CALLED HIS WISE MEN AND MAGICIANS, and they did the same thing WITH THEIR SECRET ARTS. Their staffs became snakes, too! But then Aaron's snake swallowed up their snakes." (Ex.7:10-12 NLT)

The "Exodus" account in The Bible is not just a "story." It was and is a very special orchestration of events by man's Creator, to demonstrate His Power... and also to establish the first of the future stages of His plan for mankind's Salvation from the invisible demon forces here on earth, at work under the very noses of the slumbering, deceived spirits of men.

God Almighty was establishing the DEFINING, LIBERATING MOMENT that the Israelites would take with them out of Egypt... and that they would be commanded to REMEMBER throughout their generations. THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR GOD's DELIVERANCE OF THEM FROM BONDAGE!

"I AM the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." (Ex.20:2-3 KJV)

The LORD God [the Creator and WORD, who would later become Jesus Christ - see John 1:1-3] was establishing the PASSOVER memorial and observance that would be this "chosen" people's REASON FOR BEING throughout the future generations. And this "first" Passover was to be their LORD's reason for coming to them in the flesh centuries later -- to DIE for His creation, man, created in His image -- to FULFILL this prophetic account FOR REAL, IN THE FLESH, through the SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF for them and all of mankind; to redeem them back from the slavery to sin [disobedience to God's Commandments - I John 3:4] and its penalty of DEATH into which the first two people created sold themselves and all of their future generations.

Many reasons exist as to why Pharaoh "negotiated" with Moses throughout this recorded account. For Pharaoh, it was probably as simple as: "he loved his grandson, Moses."

But, for the Almighty Creator God who orchestrated the whole thing by "stepping into the affairs of mankind" to establish the "phases of His plan of Salvation for mankind" -- His special protection was being maintained over Moses and Aaron. Which meant softening Pharaoh's heart in case, for some reason, demon forces might have influenced Pharaoh to think to take the lives of Moses and Aaron.

Answer 2

If the pharaoh had killed Moses, the story would have ended there. Imagine if every book you bought ended with the hero being killed in the first chapter. For a discussion on Moses in history and tradition, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/theology/moses-in-history-and-tradition