26���
���� The Pastor's Class
The Plagues of Egypt
Exodus 5
- 11
The
burning bush experience was for Moses like none other. It was this encounter
that turned a historical God into a personal God. It was at the burning bush
that God revealed his name to Moses. It was the name Yahweh. A name that
to this day is too sacred to even be spoken by many devout Jews.
God
had prepared Moses for a special mission and all the excuses in the world would
not change that. Even though Moses truly felt inadequate God gave him
confidence by revealing to him miracles that he could perform and by giving to
him Aaron to act as his spokesperson.
Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites
and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed
the signs before the people and they believed. And when they heard that the
Lord was concerned about them and has seen their misery, they bowed down and
worshiped. Ex. 4: 29 - 31
Summary of Chapters 5 - 6
Upon God's instructions
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and requested that the Hebrews be allowed to
take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord.
Although Egyptians were polytheistic the Pharaoh had never heard of the Lord of
whom Moses and Aaron spoke.
The request angered the
Pharaoh and saw it as a ploy to take the Hebrews from their work. In
retaliation he instructed the foreman in charge of the people to no longer
supply straw for the brick making. The Hebrews would have to gather their own
straw and still continue to meet quota.
With this added
responsibility the Israelites were no longer able to meet their brick quota and
thus the Israelite foremen appointed to be over them were taken and beaten.
They immediately appealed to Pharaoh but he would not budge. They then began to
complain to Moses and Aaron who in turn complained to the Lord.
"O Lord, why have
you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I
went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people,
and you have not rescued your people at all. Ex. 5: 22 - 23
The Lord reminded Moses
that it would be by His mighty hand that that the Israelites would be released.
God also reminded Moses that he had not forgotten about the covenant that he
had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God sent Moses back with
a message of encouragement to the Israelites. God would indeed free them and
they would be his special people. He would lead them into the land that he had
promised Father Abraham and it would be their possession. However, the Israelites
remained discouraged because of the cruelty of their bondage.
Once again the Lord sends
Moses back to speak with Pharaoh but Moses complains "If the Israelites
will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with
faltering lips?"
Exodus 7: 1- 7
Then the LORD said to
Moses, �See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will
be your prophet.� 2 You are to say
everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the
Israelites go out of his country.� 3 But
I will harden Pharaoh�s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and
wonders in Egypt,� 4 he will not listen
to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I
will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.� 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the
LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of
it.�
6 Moses and Aaron did
just as the LORD commanded them.� 7 Moses
was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
1.�
What does the text mean when it says "I will harden Pharaoh's
heart?
There are eighteen references to the hardening of Pharaoh�s heart.
Nine times it is attributed to God�s actions, first in prophecy (Ex 4:21; 7:3;
14:4), then (in actual occurrence) only after Pharaoh already had hardened his
own heart numerous times during the plagues (Ex 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:8),
and finally in a summary statement (Ex 10:1). That Pharaoh first of all
hardened his own heart, or that his heart grew hard is stated nine times also
(Ex 7:13 [as correctly translated in ASV, RSV, NASB, NIV], 7:14, 22; 8:15, 19,
32; 9:7, 34, 35). A moral problem has been supposed here by some who teach that
God was responsible for what he did to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh should not have
been punished because he had no control over God hardening his heart.
First, it should be carefully noted that Pharaoh first set his own
stubborn will against God, and only after that is it recorded that �God
hardened� his heart. Second, even God�s activity in hardening does not
need to be interpreted as some direct action (although it could be); it could
be accomplished through the circumstances of life, namely the plagues, which
Pharaoh repeatedly ignored. Third, it was customary in Hebrew thought to
attribute all phenomena to God, even the open or barren womb (Gen 29:31; I Sam
1:5) and the accidental killing of a man (Ex 21:13). Fourth, this
passage has nothing at all to do with the personal salvation of Pharaoh. This
is not even contemplated. Pharaoh was already a wicked character, carrying out
a cruel policy of killing and enslaving the Hebrews. He had determined to set
his own mind and will against God by his own intellectual responses to the
circumstances around him. It is also a fact, however, that each response
against God�s will results in a weakened conscience and lessens the ability of
an individual to respond correctly the next time. Pharaoh placed himself in
such an obstinate, unretractable position that he willed not to act in any
other way. He certainly was not forced into any of his actions, but did all he
did willfully and deliberately. For excellent treatments of this problem see
Haines, Exodus in The Wesleyan Bible Commentary (Vol. I), pp. 183�185; Davis,
Moses and the Gods of Egypt, pp. 69�71; and Mickelsen, Romans in The Wycliffe
Bible Commentary, pp. 1211�1212.
Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael
Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible commentary [computer file],
electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.
Exodus 7: 8 - 13
8 The LORD said to Moses
and Aaron,� 9 �When Pharaoh says to you,
�Perform a miracle,� then say to Aaron, �Take your staff and throw it down
before Pharaoh,� and it will become a snake.�
10 So Moses and Aaron
went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down
in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.� 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and
sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret
arts:� 12 Each one threw down his staff
and it became a snake. But Aaron�s staff swallowed up their staffs.� 13 Yet Pharaoh�s heart became hard and he would
not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
2.�
How were Pharaoh's men able to duplicate the miracle that Moses and
Aaron performed?
�Remember in the beginning
of this chapter the Lord said to Moses, "See I have med you like God to
Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. The Lord was allowing
Moses to stand as if he were God before Pharaoh. The irony is that Pharaoh who
recognized many gods and even considered himself as god-like would not
recognize the authority of the one true living God.
The miracle that Moses performed was a true miracle. However, it
was not one that could not be imitated by slight of hand. The text does not say
how much time was given for these magicians to duplicate this miracle. Perhaps
it was a trick that they already knew.
Exodus 7: 14 - 24:
The Plague of Blood
14 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Pharaoh�s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.� 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes
out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your
hand the staff that was changed into a snake.�
16 Then say to him, �The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to
say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert. But
until now you have not listened.� 17 This
is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff
that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed
into blood.� 18 The fish in the Nile will
die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its
water.��
19 The LORD said to
Moses, �Tell Aaron, �Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters
of Egypt�over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the
reservoirs��and they will turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in Egypt,
even in the wooden buckets and stone jars.�
20 Moses and Aaron did
just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh
and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was
changed into blood.� 21 The fish in the
Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its
water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.
22 But the Egyptian
magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh�s heart became
hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.� 23 Instead, he turned and went into his
palace, and did not take even this to heart.�
24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water,
because they could not drink the water of the river.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
Many
people have tried to make the case that all of the plagues of Egypt were
unusual but natural occurrences. Whether or not these events could have
happened naturally or not is not the point. The point is that they were orchestrated
by God in such a way as to reveal his power to both the Israelites and the
Egyptians. The God of creation can and does use the elements of His creation to
perform miracles.
The
Nile River was the backbone of the economy of Egypt. The people were totally
dependent upon it for growing their crops, their water, and transportation.
Historical writing suggests that Pharaoh went down to the Nile every morning to
worship the god of the Nile.
This
first miracle affected not only the river but water everywhere. Even the water
in cisterns or buckets or troughs was affected.
Some
have suggested that this was the result of a particular algae or micro-organism
that contaminated the water. However, the bible says that the water was turned
to blood and the results were devastating.
Exodus 7:25 - 8-14:
The Plague of Frogs
25 Seven days passed
after the LORD struck the Nile.� 1 Then
the LORD said to Moses, �Go to Pharaoh and say to him,
�This is what the LORD
says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.� 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will plague
your whole country with frogs.� 3 The
Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom
and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and
into your ovens and kneading troughs.� 4
The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials.��
8 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Tell Aaron, �Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and
canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.��
6 So Aaron stretched out
his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the
land.� 7 But the magicians did the same
things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.
8 Pharaoh summoned Moses
and Aaron and said, �Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my
people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.�
9 Moses said to Pharaoh,
�I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your
officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs,
except for those that remain in the Nile.�
10 �Tomorrow,� Pharaoh
said.
Moses replied, �It will
be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.� 11 The frogs will leave you and your houses,
your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.�
�12 After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses
cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh.� 13 And the LORD did what Moses asked. The
frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields.� 14 They were piled into heaps, and the land
reeked of them.� 15 But when Pharaoh saw
that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and
Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
3.�
What was Pharaoh's reaction to the frogs?
� The eco-system is a
marvelous thing. God has a plan and purpose for everything He created. However,
when this system is out of balance it can be devastating. Frogs are normally
cute little reptiles that mind their own business and are very useful in many ways.
I guess you could say that Pharaoh had too much of a good thing. Pharaoh said
"Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people."
Notice that Pharaoh's magicians were also able to duplicate this miracle of
making frogs appear. Apparently though they were not successful in making them
go away. For this it would take the power of God.
Exodus * 16 - 19:
The Plague of Gnats
�
16 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Tell Aaron, �Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,�
and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.�� 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched
out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon
men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.� 18 But when the magicians tried to produce
gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and
animals.
19 The magicians said to
Pharaoh, �This is the finger of God.� But Pharaoh�s heart was hard and he would
not listen, just as the LORD had said.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
4.�
How is this plague different from the first two?
This is the first of the "Unannounced plagues". Pharaoh
was told in advance about the first two but he was not told of this
plague.� Notice also that this plague was
not duplicated by the magicians. The magicians now believed that this must be
the work of God.
Exodus * 20 - 32:
The Plague of Flies
�
20 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the
water and say to him, �This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that
they may worship me.� 21 If you do not
let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on
your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of
flies, and even the ground where they are.
22 ��But on that day I
will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms
of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this
land.� 23 I will make a distinction
between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.��
24 And the LORD did this.
Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh�s palace and into the houses of his
officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.
25 Then Pharaoh summoned
Moses and Aaron and said, �Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.�
26 But Moses said, �That
would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be
detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in
their eyes, will they not stone us?� 27
We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the
LORD our God, as he commands us.�
28 Pharaoh said, �I will
let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must
not go very far. Now pray for me.�
�29 Moses answered, �As soon as I leave you, I
will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his
officials and his people. Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully
again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.�
30 Then Moses left
Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD,� 31 and
the LORD did what Moses asked: The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his
people; not a fly remained.� 32 But this
time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
5.�
How is this forth plague different from the first three?
The first three plagues were general plagues affecting everyone in
the land. This plague would not affect the people living in the land of Goshen
i.e. the Israelites.
These flies were a type known as "Dog Flies". These
flies bite people and even attach themselves to the eyelids. They are blood
suckers and their bite left the people swollen and disfigured. These flies were
known to cause blindness and even death. Whereas the first three plagues might
be considered a nuisance, this plague was potentially deadly.
Exodus 9: 1-7:
The Plague on Livestock
9 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Go to Pharaoh and say to him, �This is what the LORD, the God of the
Hebrews, says: �Let my people go, so that they may worship me.�� 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue
to hold them back,� 3 the hand of the
LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field�on your horses
and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats.� 4 But the LORD will make a distinction
between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging
to the Israelites will die.��
5 The LORD set a time and
said, �Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.�� 6 And the next day the LORD did it: All the
livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites
died.� 7 Pharaoh sent men to investigate
and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his
heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
6.�
How serious was this fifth plague?
This plague was a disease that affected livestock. Even though the
text suggests that "All the livestock of the Egyptians died" we
probably should not take that literally because the seventh plague, the plague
of hail, would also affect beasts.
Livestock to the Egyptians were considered sacred. This plague was
a direct affront to the sacred bull, Apis, of the god Ptah and the cow goddess
Hathor.
Again, this was a plague that affected only the cattle of the
Egyptians. Not one animal of the Israelites was affected.
�
Exodus 9: 8 - 12:
The Plague of Boils
�
8 Then the LORD said to
Moses and Aaron, �Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it
into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.�
9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering
boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land.�
10 So they took soot from
a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering
boils broke out on men and animals.� 11
The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on
them and on all the Egyptians.� 12 But
the LORD hardened Pharaoh�s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron,
just as the LORD had said to Moses.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
This
was an unannounced plague upon man and beast. The animals that were not
consumed by the last plague were infected with these painful boils.
7.�
How did this plague affect the magicians?
At first we noticed that the magicians were able to duplicate the
miracles of the Lord. One can only assume that they felt right smug in their
accomplishments. However, now things are much more serious. No one in their
right mind would attempt to duplicate a plague of boils. These magicians were
smitten with this plague. These boils covered their body and were so painful
that they were unable to stand. This was no slight of hand trick. This was the
hand of God.
Exodus (: 13 - 35:
The Plague of Hail
�
13 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, �This is
what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may
worship me,� 14 or this time I will send
the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your
people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.� 15 For by now I could have stretched out my
hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off
the earth.� 16 But I have raised you up
for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be
proclaimed in all the earth.� 17 You
still set yourself against my people and will not let them go.� 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will
send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was
founded till now.� 19 Give an order now
to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of
shelter, because the hail will fall on every man and animal that has not been
brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.��
20 Those officials of
Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their
livestock inside.� 21 But those who
ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field.
�22 Then the LORD said to Moses, �Stretch out
your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt�on men and
animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.�� 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward
the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the
ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt;� 24 hail fell and lightning flashed back and
forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a
nation.� 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck
everything in the fields�both men and animals; it beat down everything growing
in the fields and stripped every tree.�
26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the
Israelites were.
27 Then Pharaoh summoned
Moses and Aaron. �This time I have sinned,� he said to them. �The LORD is in
the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.� 28 Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough
thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don�t have to stay any longer.�
29 Moses replied, �When I
have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD.
The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the
earth is the LORD�s.� 30 But I know that
you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.�
31 (The flax and barley
were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom.� 32 The wheat and spelt, however, were not
destroyed, because they ripen later.)
33 Then Moses left
Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the LORD; the
thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.� 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail
and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their
hearts.� 35 So Pharaoh�s heart was hard
and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through
Moses.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
8.�
According to this text what is the purpose of this plague?
This plague was designed to show Pharaoh that God was unequaled in
might and power. There was none like Him in all the earth.
9.�
What is Pharaoh's reaction to this seventh plague?
After the worst hailstorm in the history of the world Pharaoh
finally says "enough." We might expect that it was not the hail alone
that did it. These plagues were having a cumulative effect upon Pharaoh. The
distress of this hailstorm caused Pharaoh to confess that he had sinned. This
may have been a confession of the head but it was certainly not one of the
heart.
Have you ever eaten something that made you deathly sick? Chances
are as you were bent over double in the bathroom you were also praying,
"Lord if you will just let me get better I promise I will never eat that
again. Most of the time those are prayers that are prayed in earnest but seldom
kept. Pharaoh was feeling the pain of the plagues but as soon as the skies
lightened and the sun cam out he was his old self again.
Exodus 10: 1 - 18:
The Plague of Locusts
Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his
officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them� 2 that you may tell your children and
grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my
signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.�
3 So Moses and Aaron went
to Pharaoh and said to him, �This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews,
says: �How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go,
so that they may worship me.� 4 If you
refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow.� 5 They will cover the face of the ground so
that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the
hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields.� 6 They will fill your houses and those of all
your officials and all the Egyptians�something neither your fathers nor your
forefathers have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.��
Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.
7 Pharaoh�s officials
said to him, �How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so
that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is
ruined?�
8 Then Moses and Aaron
were brought back to Pharaoh. �Go, worship the LORD your God,� he said. �But
just who will be going?�
9 Moses answered, �We
will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our
flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD.�
�10 Pharaoh said, �The LORD be with you�if I
let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on
evil.� 11 No! Have only the men go; and
worship the LORD, since that�s what you have been asking for.� Then Moses and
Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh�s presence.
12 And the LORD said to
Moses, �Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts will swarm over the
land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail.�
13 So Moses stretched out
his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all
that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts;� 14 they invaded all Egypt and settled down in
every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a
plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.� 15 They covered all the ground until it was
black. They devoured all that was left after the hail�everything growing in the
fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in
all the land of Egypt.
16 Pharaoh quickly
summoned Moses and Aaron and said, �I have sinned against the LORD your God and
against you.� 17 Now forgive my sin once
more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.�
18 Moses then left
Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.� 19 And
the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts
and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in
Egypt.� 20 But the LORD hardened
Pharaoh�s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
10.�
What is Pharaoh's response to this eighth plague?
This plague prompted Pharaoh to offer a compromise. He was willing
to release the men to worship but not the women and children. Pharaoh
understood that if he gave in completely he would lose his slave labor and they
would never return.
Partial obedience to what God is calling us to do is ultimately
disobedience. Possibly the most miserable people in the world are those who
attempt to straddle the fence when it comes to obeying God. A fence straddler enjoys
neither the pleasures of sin nor the blessings from God.
Exodus 10:21 - 29:
The Plague of Darkness
�
21 Then the LORD said to
Moses, �Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over
Egypt�darkness that can be felt.�� 22 So
Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all
Egypt for three days.� 23 No one could
see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had
light in the places where they lived.
24 Then Pharaoh summoned
Moses and said, �Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with
you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.�
25 But Moses said, �You
must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our
God.� 26 Our livestock too must go with
us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping
the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to
worship the LORD.�
27 But the LORD hardened
Pharaoh�s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.� 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, �Get out of my
sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you
will die.�
29 �Just as you say,�
Moses replied, �I will never appear before you again.�
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
11.�
How does this ninth plague compare with the others?
This is also a plague without warning. It was also a plague that
affected only the Egyptians for the Israelites had light in all the places they
occupied. How is this possible? How can it be pitch black at one place and be
daylight just a few miles away? Of course with God anything is possible but
notice that it was a darkness that could be felt. It is possible that there was
something in the atmosphere, a super thick fog that totally blocked the sun's
rays from reaching the ground where they were.
Whatever the cause it was a terrible, total darkness and once
again Pharaoh was ready to bargain. This time he would allow the women and
children to accompany the men but the livestock must stay.
Exodus 11: 1-10:
The Plague on the Firstborn
Now the LORD had said to
Moses, �I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he
will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out
completely.� 2 Tell the people that men
and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and
gold.�� 3 (The LORD made the Egyptians
favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in
Egypt by Pharaoh�s officials and by the people.)
4 So Moses said, �This is
what the LORD says: �About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.� 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from
the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of
the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as
well.� 6 There will be loud wailing
throughout Egypt�worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.� 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will
bark at any man or animal.� Then you will know that the LORD makes a
distinction between Egypt and Israel.� 8
All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying,
�Go, you and all the people who follow you!� After that I will leave.� Then
Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
9 The LORD had said to
Moses, �Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you�so that my wonders may be
multiplied in Egypt.�� 10 Moses and Aaron
performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh�s
heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
The New International
Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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