Moses is the first human god (elohim) in Scripture, the first man to grow up to the fuller image of Yahweh. He is god in relation to his mouth, his brother Aaron (Exodus 4:16) and also to Pharaoh (7:1). Elohim implies power, and Moses is going to be god to Pharaoh throughout the plague sequence, using the rod of Yahweh to destroy Egypt. Being God also means coming to the rescue: Yahweh comes to Israel’s aid while they’re in bondage, and Moses the god is his agent in that rescue.

As Toby pointed out, Psalm 82 makes the same point: The gods are mere men because they fail to rescue the weak, needy, and fatherless. The gods who rule Israel (Exodus 21:6; 22:7-8) are supposed to do the same. Yahweh sets the pattern, but Moses is the model human god, the ruler and deliverer that all Israel’s judges are to mimic. Jesus quotes Psalm 82 to the same effect; He has just delivered a man blind from birth, and the Jews want to stone Him. Jesus protests that He has done good works, and the Jews say that they are stoning Him for claiming to be God. Jesus answers by quoting Psalm 82. Jesus has proven Himself to be a god by leading a man from darkness to light, from Egypt to the promised land, just as Psalm 82 says (John 10:31-39).

Read the rest at: Peter J. Leithart » Blog Archive » Deification.