One Year Bible, Saturday January 29th - The Plagues on the Egyptians!
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The Plagues
God had told Moses that Pharaoh would resist every plague and harden his heart. The pattern for the plague is that Moses tells Pharaoh something the Lord will do if he doesn't not let the Israelites go and worship their God in the desert. The first plague was a plague of frogs which filled the land. Pharaoh begged Moses to tell God to stop the plague, which he did. But when the plague of the frogs stopped, Pharaoh changed his mind and wouldn't let the Israelites go.
Next came a plague of gnats. Though the magicians could mimic the plague of frogs. they could not do it with the gnats. The magicians concluded that it was the finger of God, but still Pharaoh refused to let them go. After that came the flies, but this time they filled the land of Egypt but were prevented to go to Goshen, where the Israelites lived. Pharaoh tells them it is okay to go to God, but to offer their sacrifices right here in Egypt. Moses lets Pharaoh know that the Egyptians detest the Hebrew sacrifices so Pharaoh.
Then, comes the plague of flies. Interestingly when Pharaoh promises to let them go to offer sacrifices to God, he says, "Pray for me!" But once again, after the Lord stops the plague, Pharaoh refused to let the Israelities go. One observation you might have here is the amazing patience God has with Pharaoh. You would think God would allow him to do this once or twice, but Pharaoh is clearly taking advantage of God's grace.
Next, the Lord sends a plague that kills all the Egyptian livestock, but the Israelites' livestock is untouched. Though Pharaoh saw the difference in the result of the plague, his heart remained hardened. Next, Moses took soot and threw it in the air in front of Pharaoh and his magicians, and the soot caused all the Egyptians people and animals alike. But it wasn't enough as Pharaoh resisted God once again.
The final plague in this chapter is a vicious hailstrom. Moses gets up early and tells Pharaoh that the God of Hebrews commands him to let his people go, or more severe plagues will come. It is interesting when God says,
"By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power[g] and to spread my fame throughout the earth."
God's patience had a purpose to glorify Himself. Never in all of history had Egypt seen such a devastating hailstorm. Moses even warned the people and some listenend and others had their livestock killed in the storm.
Pharaoh, ever the conniver says this time,
"Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong. 28 Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”
Though Pharaoh keeps resiting God, it seems like each time he has a slightly different reaction. But in the end he lies and will not let the people God go to worship the one, true God!. It reminds us of the passage the Lord is patient not wanting any to perish but have everlasting life.
"What Now" Study Questions:
Pharaoh waivers back and forth between submission and arrogance. This same battle rages within each of us. Submit yourself to the Lord and repent of the arrogance in your life. Where do you need to submit yourself to the Lord?
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