SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 10
BIBLE VERSES:
“So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses. (Exodus 10:10-11)
“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, 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. 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. 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. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 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. 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 person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’” (Exodus 10:13-19)
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” 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; 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. Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.” (Exodus 10:22-26)
THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS (vs. 1-20)
Moses went to Pharaoh and told him that if he would not let the people go, God was going to bring locust into Egypt. They will cover the country and devour everything in their fields. Pharaoh’s officials urged Pharaoh to let the people go because Egypt was in ruined. So Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him the they can go but only let the men go. All the women and children and flocks must remain. And Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.
So, the Lord sent locust and every area of the country covered all the ground. They devoured all that was growing in the fields with nothing green remained in all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and confessed his sins. He requested them to take the deadly plague away. Moses prayed to the Lord and the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. But Pharaoh still hardened his heart and would not let the Israelites go.
THE PLAGUE OF DARKNESS (vs. 21-29)
Then the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand toward the sky and total darkness covered all Egypt for 3 days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the place where they lived.
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and allowed them to go but they must leave their flocks and herds behind. Moses disagreed because they needed to have sacrifices and burnt offering to present to the Lord. He had to use some livestock in worshiping the Lord. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and told Moses: “Get out of y sight. Make sure yo do not appear before me again. They day you see my face, you will die (vs. 27-28). Moses replied: “I will never appear before you!” (v. 29)
THOUGHTS:
Pharaoh’s confession of sin was not sincere. His motive was to stop the plagues. True repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of life.
Pharaoh wanted Moses to compromise with these conditions: (1)- Only the men go. Leave your women and children (vs. 11). (2)- Leave your flock and herds behind (v. 24). But Moses stood firm to God’s command and did not compromise. He was firm that the family – women and children should go together with the head of the family. He also disagreed to leave their herds and livestock as they were needed when they will offer sacrifices to the Lord. We should not give in to pacify the world because God demands total obedience and complete separation.
THE PLAGUES SHOWED EGYPTIANS HOW POWERLESS THEIR OWN GODS WERE: (By Warren Wiersbe)
- Hapi – the god of the Nile River could not prevent the water from turning into blood.
- Hathor – the cow-goddess was helpless as Egyptian livestock died in droves.
- Amon-Re – the sun god could not stop an entire darkness from cering the land for 3 days.
This shows that the Egyptians had numerous gods but they were all useless. But our God is a living personal being, the only true God and the only God who deserves to be worshiped.