As God had told Moses, the LORD was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart. Reacting out of anger towards God’s request to, “Let my people go!” Pharaoh said, “Because you have too much time on your hands; so much, that you have time to go three days journey to sacrifice before the LORD, you have the time to gather the straw that you need to make the bricks for the city of Pharaoh. Now you must gather your own straw and the total number of bricks must not diminish!”
Of course this was an impossible task that led to short daily tallies which angered Pharaoh and he had the foremen severely beaten. Now the people turned against Moses, and he cried out to God and questions why he was sent to Pharaoh!.
Exodus 5:21-23 ESV and they said to them, "The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." (22) Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? (23) For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."
It is always hard to see the big picture when we are in the middle of the furnace of a fiery trial; especially when the big picture requires a vision that only comes from faith! Vision and faith are so vital to our walk with the LORD.
Proverbs 29:18 KJV Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Hebrews 11:1 & 6 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Moses was losing faith; so God speaks to Moses and restates the promises and the plan; but still doesn’t give him all of the details. God gives him the vision to once again share with the elders; but they won’t listen anymore. So God tells Moses to go back to Pharaoh; but he is afraid and tries again to negotiate with God to get out of this task that he has been chosen to complete. Once again God speaks to both Moses and Aaron.
Exodus 6:2-13 ESV God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. (3) I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (4) I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. (5) Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. (6) Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. (7) I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (8) I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'" (9) Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. (10) So the LORD said to Moses, (11) "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land." (12) But Moses said to the LORD, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?" (13) But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Moses is still not realizing that failure is not an option and that the LORD is not going to let him out of this task. He is trying God’s patience. This would be a difficult task for a young man, but Moses is eighty and Aaron is eighty three! God loves to do the impossible in our lives. With Moses, God continually has to prod him and push him into this role. Moses still is not fully accepting his call. Then God tells him that he, “Moses is like God to Pharaoh and Aaron shall be your prophet.
Exodus 7:1-3 ESV And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. (2) You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. (3) But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and had to perform the miracles to prove they were messengers of the LORD. Aaron cast down his staff and it turned into a snake and Pharaoh called his wise men, magicians and the sorcerers. They each cast down their staff, and each turned into a snake, but Aaron’s staff swallowed up the others. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened even more. The next day Moses would meet Pharaoh at the Nile River and Moses would turn the Nile, Egypt’s fresh water supply into blood and all of the fish would die and stink.
Exodus 7:10-13 ESV So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. (11) Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. (12) For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. (13) Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
This was all part of God’s plan. Pharaoh had to be humbled before God. One by one God was going to turn the gods of Egypt against the Egyptians; starting with the great and mighty Nile River. The Egyptians worshiped the Nile River. It was connected to all of their drinking water. All throughout Egypt people had to dig for water
THE TEN PLAGUES GOD SENDS ON EGYPT
1. Plague of Blood Exodus 7:14–25
Exodus 7:17-18, 21, 24-25 Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. (18) The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” (21) And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. (24) And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. (25) Seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.
2. Plague of Frogs: Exodus 7:25–8:11
Exodus 8:3 ESV The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. (6) So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
3. Plague of Gnats: Exodus 8:12–15
Exodus 8:16-17 ESV Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'" (17) And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.
4. Plague of Flies: Exodus 8:20–32
Exodus 8:20-21 ESV Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. (21) Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.
5. Plague of Against Livestock: Exodus 9:1–7
Exodus 9:1-7 ESV Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may serve me. (2) For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, (3) behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. (4) But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die."'" (5) And the LORD set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land." (6) And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. (7) And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
6. Plague of Festering Boils: Exodus 9:8–12
Exodus 9:8-12 ESV And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. (9) It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." (10) So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. (11) And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. (12) But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.
7. Plague of Hail : Exodus 9:13–35
Exodus 9:22-26 ESV Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt." (23) Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. (24) There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (25) The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. (26) Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.
8. Plague of Locusts: Exodus 10:1–20
Exodus 10:13-15 ESV So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. (14) The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. (15) They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
9. Plague of Darkness: Exodus 10:21–29
Exodus 10:22-24 ESV So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. (23) They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. (24) Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind."
10. Death of the Firstborn: Exodus 11:1–12:36
ONE LAST PLAGUE: THAT WILL FREE ISRAEL
Exodus 11:1-7 ESV The LORD said to Moses, "Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. (2) Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry." (3) And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.
4) So Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, (5) and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. (6) There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. (7) But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
God has always made known His Way. Jesus Christ is the WAY, TRUTH & LIFE.
John 14:6 KJV Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We have read about Noah who proclaimed the LORD and was scoffed by a world that was washed away in a flood for their hardness. Abraham and Isaac both carried the witness of the LORD. Then Jospeh and all of Israel carried on the witness. Each Pharaoh had access to the LORD. They could have turned to God. Today we live in a world that has a profound witness of over 1.5 Billion Christians professing Christ. But our world does not live what they profess.
When God opens your mind, it is your time for salvation! If you refuse to obey God; if you harden your heart against God; if you backslide into the world’s evils or just plain ignore the call of God; then God will harden your heart and it will be impossible to return to the LORD.
Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
It was not just Pharaoh who hardened his heart. All of Egypt could have repented and followed God. They saw, heard and tasted the testimony of God first hand; saw His mighty power. All of Egypt was humbled and destroyed by the plagues, but there is no record of revival in Egypt. They suffered and went down into destruction. God opens a door for only so long and then He sends delusions.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 ESV (10) and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (11) Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, (12) in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In a resent sermon by Evangelist Lee Stoneking about, “Do Not Fall Away,” he made these three statements about delusion and deception.
1. Deceived by man; you can be counseled
2. Deceived by the Devil; you can be delivered
3. Deceived by God (delusions); it is the end.
Truly we all need to take our salvation to heart. Internalize the WORD of God and stay in a close, personal relationship with the LORD!
Prayer: Father in Heaven, my dear LORD, thank you for truth. Your mighty works have been a witness to man since the Garden of Eden. Give me a soft and teachable heart. Keep me at one with you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Plagues-For-Ten-Gods
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
For further background on the ten plagues of Egypt check out this article that correlates the Egyptian god or goddess that was targeted by each plague. God toppled the pagan gods with each plague.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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