Part 4: Into Battle

Meditations in Exodus: 26. Preliminary Battle Briefing

Ex 7:2 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

We observed chapter six as a summary time which we also said was a turning point and from now on the action really starts. At the beginning of chapter 5 the first approach had been made to Pharaoh, and it had not gone well. The result? Pharaoh had refused their first request for Israel to be let go and had then made life harder for the Hebrew slaves. But so far he has not seen God move, That is about to change! But first of all again the Lord has to instruct Moses. Over the years I have noticed that of there is something big to do, the Lord says it more than a couple of times. If you have received fresh direction for your life from the Lord, then you may expect Him to speak at least three times. Why? Because He knows we need reminding and constantly reassuring.

We need to say something at the beginning of this Part 4. Although this will be a portion of Scripture that will be very difficult to apply to our personal lives, it will reveal the folly of man and the grace of God as it appears so clearly nowhere else in the Bible. The warning that must come through must be against pride and against spiritual blindness. The revelation of God that comes through is of one who hesitates in bringing judgment on this foolish occult-driven, superstitious people and gives them opportunity after opportunity of coming to their senses and repenting. Hold on to this picture of God for it is quite amazing. Power, yes, grace even more so.

So it starts: “ Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.” (v.1) Actually, this is going to be a bit eerie because Moses is going to be there always but will remain silent while Aaron does the talking. Without doubt Moses will be the leader and Pharaoh will realise that but Aaron will be the one bring the word from his boss. Yes Moses is going to be the one who does the stuff and so he is going to be seen as the power broker to Pharaoh. If Pharaoh comes to revere one of them because of their power it will be Moses. Moes will get the instructions from God, pass them to Aaron who will them convey them to Pharaoh (v.2). That's the plan anyway.

Then comes a fourth warning of what will actually happen: “But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt , 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.” (v.3,4) Observe very carefully this order of events again; this is God's war strategy to bring judgment on this foolish king and his people:

•  I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and

•  though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt,

•  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. 

We have already touched on this before but it needs repeating if we are to fully understand it. Pharaoh has a hard heart to start with. That simply means he is proud and arrogant and set in his ways, the ways he thinks. When you push a hard hearted person they just get harder and so in that sense, God IS going to harden Pharaoh's heart. I would suggest that this hardness is made more acute by the use of occult activity in the land, which we'll soon see. Those who are involved in the occult, whether it is witchcraft, spiritist fortune telling or even freemasonry, always find it more difficult to comprehend the Gospel. The apostle Paul said of people generally, “ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2 Cor 4:4) there referring to Satan's activity. It is even more so when people have dabbled in his works in the occult.

So God will press Pharaoh and his heart will just get harder so, second, the Lord will multiply his signs and wonders in Egypt, the spectacular ‘plagues' but, third, because of his hard heart Pharaoh will not listen. It will be crass stupidity because it will be so obvious what is going on, but blind hard hearted people are crassly stupid. It's an aspect of Sin. So, fourth, those acts of disciplinary judgment (for that's all the early plagues are, seeking to bring changes in behaviour) will eventually turn into terminal judgments, ones where people are dying, so that fifth, the end result will be that Israel are freed and allowed out of the country.

But there is an even bigger and even more important end result to all this: “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.” (v.5) God's objective again and again revealed in Scripture is that he is revealed to His world. He wants His world to know Him and, wherever possible, to enter into a living relationship with Him. THAT is the end goal. There will be some Egyptians who will leave with Israel and there will some who will remain in Egypt but never be the same again; they will know the truth, that all their present gods are petty superstitions, and that there is just ONE all-mighty, all-powerful God, the Lord of all, and He alone is worthy of worship, not all these other foolish make-believe entities! That is where this is going eventually.

The to the success that is coming: “ Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.” (v.6) Awesome! Obedience releases the power of God or, to put it another way, it opens the way for God to come and move. And just in case you thought you couldn't do something like that, the record adds, “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” (v.7) Doing the will of God has nothing to do with age. Whatever He gives you to do, it doesn't matter how old you are, if you are obedient, he will bless that obedience and you will see great things happening.

Remember you and I cannot do miracles, only God can. We'll need to remind ourselves of this again and again for this is a primary lesson that is about to come out of what is about to take place. It is God who provides the plagues, not Moses. Moses and Aaron are only there to make it more clear for Pharaoh. Without them he would be so deaf as well as blind that he would not hear God, so Moses and Aaron become loudspeakers for God so that Pharaoh does hear.

So what have we seen in the first seven verses of chapter 7? We have seen the Lord, yet again, laying out the battle strategy. This is what WILL happen. The Lord knows and understands Pharaoh completely so He knows exactly what will happen, how Pharaoh will react and so what He will then go on to have to do. It's all about showing to the onlooking world the folly or stupidity of pride. Don't think you can outwit God. Never think you can beat Him in the chess game of life; you can't. Surrender NOW!

Meditations in Exodus: 27. The Battle of the Snakes

Ex 7:8,9 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "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."

The passage we are about to have a look at is without doubt one of the strangest or most weird in the Bible, I believe. To start from basics it either happened or it didn't. Sceptics and atheists would say it was just made up and so didn't happen, but you have to ask why should Moses bother to include it or make it up because it is fairly minor in effect when compared to the ten plagues that follow. So let's accept it happened, but why? Let's see if we can tease the truth out of the verses to come. I'm sure these are verses we may have read many times before but like many commentators pass over very quickly noting it happened but nothing more. So…..

I confess I had never noticed one part of the above verses. The Lord anticipates Pharaoh is going to demand a miracle: “When Pharaoh says”. Although verse 10 doesn't tell us that that was what happened we must assume it was so. The bit about throwing down the staff, we encountered before when it first happened at the burning bush in Chapter 4 that we considered in Meditation 15. Now it is going to be Aaron who throws the staff down. But it is this disconcerting thing of Pharaoh expecting or demanding a miracle. Now there are two possibilities.

Possibility no.1 is that Pharaoh neither believes in gods of power nor miracles and just uses all the superstitious worship of gods to his own ends and so he says it out of unbelief as a means of blocking Moses. That doesn't seem to be very real. The superstitious beliefs of Egypt are well known as is the occult character of them. No, the second possibility seems more likely, that he is saying, “Very well Moses, you are introducing a new god to us, what can he do?” As we go on we'll see that the occult powers were very real and so maybe indeed he was challenging a power encounter.

So it happens as God said: “ 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.” (v.10) As we said, presumably Pharaoh makes the challenge and Aaron throws down the staff and it turns in a snake. Nasty! Presumably the snake doesn't do much and so Pharaoh's immediate response is to call for his occult-operating priests or magicians: “Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake.” (v.11,12)

Now it is at this point that commentators go all over the place. There are those, with a more materialistic bent, who suggest that these ‘magicians' or ‘sorcerers' were in fact clever snake handlers who by pressing the vein or nerve behind the snake's head could make the snake go rigid and appear like a staff in their hands, so when they threw them to the ground they regained control and appeared as the snake it was the whole time. Other commentators fluff around the alternative, that somehow they did literally copy Aaron's little party trick, as Pharaoh obviously saw it. This is why I say this must be one of the weirdest passages in scripture for, with the plague that follows which they copy, these are almost uniquely in the Bible the only times when occult power is manifest in such a tangible manner, and yet the hints are often there that such powers were possible.

It is often said that Satan, who must be behind these occult powers, can never do anything original, he can only copy what God does, and that is exactly what we have here, a copy-cat miracle. These wise men, sorcerers or magicians, call them what you will, did seem to have power of some occult sort. But then see what follows: “But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.” Oh, gross! I don't know how many of these other snakes there were but Aaron's snake goes round and gulps up all of them. Presumably his snake didn't get bigger and bigger and although we aren't told this, we must assume afterwards his snake went back into the form of his staff again. Were these things illusions? I haven't a clue, I cannot explain it, I'm just like all the other commentators. I don't know how it happened. However, as predicted, it didn't achieve the desired for effect: “Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.” (v.13)

So why this weird episode? Well there are some specific things we can note.

First , there is power, magic of some form some might say, there in Egypt which counterfeits the work of God. Isn't that what any false religion does? It counterfeits the true thing, and because it is counterfeit, it deceives and leads people to believe that which is false and that which is wrong. Magic, spells, incantations and manifestations appear to be common in ancient Egyptian literature.

Second, the point of the episode is to show that God's power is supreme over the occult powers manifested by the magicians. This is going to become manifestly obvious as the plagues progress and no objective observer would be able to deny that. All that follows is really all about power.

Third , Moses and Aaron were no doubt delighted by the scary outcome and I suspect Aaron was very wary when he had to pick up the snake, turning back into his staff. However I would guess that both he and Moses were greatly encouraged by the outcome; the Lord WAS there for them!

Fourth, it shows that Pharaoh's hardness is there from the outset and was not going to be easily moved. Nice magic trick boys, but I'm not impressed; I'm still Pharaoh.

We should also note, fifthly , that this was a miracle that had no effect beyond the spectacular. This is what distinguishes it simply as a preliminary warning of what is coming; the plagues caused widespread havoc. This simply caused a stir in the palace – but it no doubt did leave Pharaoh thinking and he is now paying attention – but that won't be good enough for an end result, but then the Lord knew that from the outset, so perhaps this was just to encourage Moses and Aaron more than anything else. The Lord delights to encourage His people.

So this was a ‘sign' for Pharaoh but people don't always take note of signs. That didn't put Jesus off doing them though. His miracles and the incredible number of healings he brought were signs for those with eyes to see. Signs and wonders were clearly part of his ministry (Acts 2:22) and he is the same Son of God today (Heb 13:8) so can he still bring that level of ministry though his body today, the Church?

Meditations in Exodus: 28. First Plague - Blood

Ex 7:14,15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. 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.

So now the battle really commences. The matter of the staff was merely a warm-up. For some reason Pharaoh (and no doubt his retinue) were going down to the Nile . Now earlier in the book the Princess had regularly gone down to bathe. Possibly Pharaoh did the same thing. Others have suggested that he went down to perform rites to welcome the Nile when, each year, it flooded and brought silt with it that then made the surrounding areas some of them most fertile in the land.

The Egyptians worshipped the Nile because when it flooded it extended agricultural life eight miles to either side of its banks. It not only brought irrigation for crops, but it also supplied its marshes for pasture and hunting wild game. It also contained a wealth of fish that was basic to the diet of the Egyptian and so in a variety of ways it truly brought life to the otherwise desert-covered land.

Now we need to bear in mind that m any of Egypt 's gods were also associated either directly or indirectly with the Nile and its productivity. For instance, the great Khnum, (the water god and potter god of creation), was considered the guardian of the Nile sources, a life bringer. Another of the gods, possibly one of the greatest, was Osiris, who was the god of the underworld. Now listen - the Egyptians believed that the river Nile was his bloodstream. Now take note of what follows.

The Lord in our present verses instructs Moses and Aaron to go and meet Pharaoh in the morning and meet him on the banks of the Nile (note, the Lord knows exactly what Pharaoh will be doing). They are not to demand release of Israel – they have already done that – but reiterate that that is what they have done and then tell him exactly what they are about to do, strike the Nile with Moses' staff and turn it to blood (v.16-18) and it will be so bad that “the fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.' " (v.18) It is important that Pharaoh hears it before it happens so that there is no question as to why it happens – it is God!!!!

But actually this ‘plague' or disaster is to stretch much further than just the Nile: “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." (v.19) This they do and exactly that happens (v.20,21)

  Then the story takes on an element of farce: “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.” (v.22) Now presumably they took buckets of water already around the palace and by occult means turned the water into blood – pretty stupid really because they were removing the last of the clean water for drinking!

  Pharaoh is unmoved, just as the Lord said he would, but consider the intellectual and emotional turmoil that must be going on in the minds of the superstitious Egyptians. Remember what we said: they believed the great Khnum was considered the guardian of the Nile sources, a life bringer, and that that the river Nile was the bloodstream of the greatest of their gods, Osiris, who was the god of the underworld. Suddenly it IS blood and it is flowing down to the sea. Is the literal lifeblood of this all-important ‘god' being drained away, and is it the cause of Khnum? Is there a war among the gods, are they angry with Egypt , is Osiris about the die? And that is apart from the practical catastrophe of there being no clean drinking or washing water – ANYWHERE in the land. And how has this come about? Moses and Aaron! Or at least ‘their god'.

  At which point the superstitious Egyptian, hearing what has happened may be weeping in anguish, not only at the loss of water but at the loss of their very gods who they have relied upon. It is as if this crusader has come with his magic staff and stabbed the very heart of Osiris by his magic powers. Or perhaps there is indeed another god who is all-powerful and has come to slay their gods and challenge the very heart of their beliefs about their gods who have up until now provided water for them and thus irrigation and life in a variety of forms. The very heart of their basic economy has just been threatened – and Pharaoh is too stubborn to do anything about it.

In many ways this first plague is one of the worst, threatening everything about the life of Egypt . As we'll go on to see, other plagues follow on or flow from this one but don't be deceived, they are not merely natural outworkings, they are the disciplinary judgment of God. This judgment has struck not only at Pharaoh's pride, and not only at the very economy of the land, but at the very belief system grounded in superstitious fear that held these Egyptians slaves. That's funny, it was the Israelites who were supposed to be the slaves wasn't it? Well now the fear has been multiplied but it is very mixed and confused. Ours gods, their God, what is happening, what is going to happen, how will all this end?

It might be useful to conclude by reminding ourselves that the intent of these first ‘plagues' is not to kill but to discipline – to bring change of behaviour. The Lord later says through one of His prophets, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezek 18:23) and “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezek 18:32) Be careful when you hear people attributing God as the cause of a death. He certainly does on occasion but mostly not. His desire is to bring life not final judgment, deliverance rather than death wherever it is possible. Thank Him for that.

Meditations in Exodus: 29. Second Plague - Frogs

Ex 8:1,2 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. If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs

So Pharaoh refused the staff demonstration and then the water into blood; very well, let's notch it up a step. Challenge Pharaoh again to let my people go and if he refuses, spell out the next plague so there will be absolutely no doubt about it: “ If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole coun try with frogs. 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. The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials.' " (v.2-4)

Note first of all the comprehensiveness of this plague – the whole of the country – and if you think that excludes you, Pharaoh, think again. They will come into your palace and there will be so many of them they will even get into your bedrooms and they will be everywhere, even in the kitchens; nobody will miss out on this! Perhaps Pharaoh just had in mind a few frogs and hadn't taken in the full extent of what was being said. We're often like Pharaoh and only take in a part of what the Lord says. They will come out of the Nile, but not just the Nile: “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 .' " (v.5) Wherever there was water (and remember it had turned to blood) frogs will appear, all over the land. “So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt , and the frogs came up and covered the land. ” (v.6) This is not just a few frogs, this will be thousands and thousands of frogs.

Now comes something slightly bizarre: “But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt .” You've got to be joking! They just make it worse. I have no idea how they added to the plague across the land but obviously they were able to do something that just makes Pharaoh think it is still man-controlled power, but the magnitude of it is so great that he cannot escape frogs under his heel and so appears to relent: “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." (v.8) Wow! Can we believe this? Read on!

What follows is clever: “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." (v.9) Note this. Moses will pray but so that Pharaoh can't make the excuse of coincidence, Pharaoh can choose the time when Moses prays. Not only that, Moses' prayer will deal with all the frogs across the land except those in the Nile . Very specific! “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.” (v.10) Do you get what is going on? Pharaoh is being given no loopholes, there will be absolutely no room to say, I didn't understand. To rub it in, Moses adds, “The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile ." (v.11) So twice he's heard it!

  So Moses prays (v.12) and the frogs died: “ The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields. They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them.” (v.13,14) Some might say the frogs were dying of dehydration but it is beyond coincidence that they start dying as Moses cries out to the Lord – AND the ones at the Nile remain alive presumably. How vile the land must have smelt with rotting frogs, thousands and thousands of them, in rotting heaps. What do you do with rotting frogs???? “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.” (v.15) As the Lord said; Pharaoh has back-pedaled.

Very well, so much for the facts of what happened, but what were the people of Egypt left feeling? Others have written, ‘ To the Egyptians, the   frog   was a symbol of life and fertility, since millions of them were born after the annual   inundation   of the   Nile , which brought fertility to the otherwise barren lands. Consequently, in Egyptian mythology , there began to be a frog- goddess , who represented fertility, referred to as   Heqet . To the Egyptian the frog represented fruitfulness, blessing and the assurance of a harvest. The goddess Heqet, a frog, was the wife of the great god Khnum (the water god and potter god of creation). She was the symbol of resurrection and the emblem of fertility and assisted in childbirth.'

That's what they believed before this happened. They had been blessed when they saw a frog, a constant reminder of these beliefs, that the goddess would bless them and enable the women to be fertile, and the farmers be fruitful. Now? Now the sight of a dead frog evokes a sense of loathing. One frog is all right, tens of thousands of dead frogs is revolting. It is almost as if the Lord had said, very well, frogs are important to you, have some more, and more and more – now at your Pharaoh's request, dead frogs, stinking frogs, vile frogs. One can't but help feel that all of this would undermine any previous ‘nice' thoughts about this goddess. Is also proves that ‘someone' is considerably more powerful that they had thought her.

A simple question to ponder. Do we place our reliance in modern science, modern medicine and modern technology and need a crisis to realise that God is supreme and all-powerful? Perhaps a deeper question: have you ever noticed that sometimes when we are being foolish in wanting something that is not healthy for our spiritual well-being and insist on it, the gives more and more of it so that we become fed up with it? That is just another measure of His grace as He gently deals with us.

Meditations in Exodus: 30. Third Plague - Gnats

Ex 8:16 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."

Each plague brings something different (apart from the nature of the plague itself). Perhaps to tabulate it would help even though this is only the third plague:

Put in that form we see that what takes place now is quite different from what has gone before. With the blood warning there was a reference back to having called for Israel to be released and with the frogs warning there is a specific call to let them go. However, this plague comes without such a call. The previous two plagues also came with a specific warning with a specific explanation of what would happen. With this plague there is no such warning or explanation; the Lord just tells Moses and Aaron to do it. With the two previous plagues the magicians appeared to be able to copy the plague in some measure at least, but now they appear powerless. Indeed, they acknowledge, “ This is the finger of God." (v.19) Whereas the frogs had so impacted Pharaoh that he had temporarily relented, with this plague he simply digs his heels in and would not listen to them.

So why this particular plague in this particular form? And why were the magicians unable to duplicate it? Perhaps the clue is in Pharaoh's previous response. Is it the Lord's way of giving him a slap across the wrist, as if to say if you say you'll do something, don't break your word? With no warning and no explanation, it comes as a short sharp shock, an unpleasant continuation of the plagues but with no reference to Pharaoh. The fact that the magicians cannot imitate this plague also suggests this is the Lord's way of shutting Pharaoh and his magicians out of the negotiating process. There is a sense here of the Lord excluding Pharaoh from the process.

But what was it like? Well some suggest that tick is a better word than gnats and ticks do convey the picture of tiny insect, almost like dust. When “ 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," (v.16) it does almost seem as if the Lord is turning dust into these ticks and this is confirmed in the next verse: “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 .” (v.17) Again it was the enormous number of ticks appearing all over Egypt that would so unpleasant, causing irritation and unpleasantness.

Historians are uncertain as to what god or gods this plague was directed against but some suggest it was against Geb, the great god of the earth. The Egyptians gave offerings to Geb for the bounty of the soil—yet it was from “the dust of the soil” that this plague originated which certainly raises questions and doubts as to whether their god is angry with them or whether he is being controlled or overrun by one greater then him.

Another suggestion has been that the priests in Egypt were noted for their physical purity, performing daily physical cleansing rites and so in the presence of these ever pervading insects it was almost impossible for the now-polluted priesthood to operate and similarly ‘worshippers' would equally find it difficult to perform worshipful rituals directed towards their gods while having to constantly fight off these armies of ticks. So, not only was this a short sharp shock for Pharaoh, it also added to the general chaos in the land that would effectively bring to a grinding halt all religious processes being carried out. Neat!

Having pondered these things over the years, I have observed that when the Lord wants or sees we need discipline then He allows or even specifically brings things into our lives that bring a halt to some facet of our lives. Whether it be by adverse circumstances or illness, the same outcome follows – we are pulled up in life and come to a standstill, either in one specific aspect of our lives or in our lives as a whole. The object of the disciplinary process is to cause a halt to actions that are leading towards harm and which, therefore, need to be stopped if we are to be saved. God's discipline is a sign of His love and goodness. Never forget that!

Meditations in Exodus: 31. Fourth Plague - Flies

Ex 8:20,21 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. 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.

In the previous meditation we said that each plague brings something different (apart from the nature of the plague itself). This one brings something else new (which actually raises a question about the previous ones). Now first of all, one of the things we aren't told mostly is how much times passes between each plague, although at the end of chapter 7 we were told a week passed between the Nile turning to blood and the Lord starting on bringing the plague of frogs. Some have suggested months occur between them but I am not sure if that is because Moses and Aaron want to avoid the possibility of ongoing plagues being seen as ‘natural' things rather than supernatural things.

I believe the Lord often does use the natural, or does do things in a natural order, so I have no problem thinking that with the death of the frogs their natural tendency to keep down the fly population was removed. Even more, piles of rotting frogs would also attract more and more flies. All of that may be true but there are two things that mitigate against this being a ‘natural phenomena'. First, the Lord specifically spoke what He was going to do and the swarms of flies only appear after He has spoken. Second, and this is the big difference for this plague, the flies were limited to the area of the Egyptians and NOT in Goshen , the area of the Israelites.

Again this takes place as Pharaoh goes down to the Nile : “ 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.” (v.20) There he brings the challenge yet again to let His people go. Pharaoh obviously seeks to maintain his composure and his routines in the face of these catastrophes. Then comes the specific warning: “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.” (v.21) There is no guesswork or chance about these plagues. They are clearly laid out by the Lord BEFORE they actually happen.

If that wasn't powerful enough, then comes the distinction between Egypt and God's people: “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. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.” (v.22,23) This will be truly miraculous, even more than the very acts of the plagues generally.

God's word is fulfilled and we are told there were, “Dense swarms of flies” so that “the land was ruined by the flies.” (v.24) Pharaoh appears to capitulate but limits it: “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.” (v.25) Moses rejects this (v.26) and insists, “We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us." (v.27) Pharaoh half relents: “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." (v.28)

Moses is learning to be a negotiator: “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." (v.29) Pharaoh appears not to answer but Moses leaves and prays (v.30) and we read, “The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.” (v.31,32) Well we knew Pharaoh would do it but he heaps guilt upon himself. He is a liar as well as a despot. There really is no mistaking that this is a work of God.

A question: how had Israel coped with the previous plagues because this was the first one that had avoided them? The water into blood had been unpleasant and the arrival of frogs even more so. The arrival of gnats yet even more so, and it is only now that Israel are spared the present one. Perhaps it was that the Lord wanted the Israelites, as they would become, to be fully aware of all that He is doing on their behalf. Now the next plague arrives but without touching them, there may be a rising of hope and a clarifying that there is no mistaking that this is a miracle which is being worked for their benefit.

How about the superstitious element of this plague? Well Egyptian mythology suggests that the fly gave protection against disease or misfortune and stone amulets in the form of flies have been found from before this time. Flies were also depicted on various artefacts in religious rituals used, it is thought, to protect the owner from harm. The fact that flies now appear in such horrible swarms must turn any superstitious belief to revulsion. Having a few flies buzzing around a house is bad enough, having swarm is terrible but having hundreds of thousands of them is both revolting and horrifying and such number almost certainly would have brought any outside work to a halt.

This again reminds us that these plagues are not only revolting and not only undermining the superstitious beliefs of the nation, but they also undermined the economy of the nation. Thus emotionally, spiritually and economically these plagues undermined the nation. Don't just think of them as merely unpleasant; they have much greater and more long lasting effects than that. This is God at work bringing major changes to this people. By the end of all of this their thinking about their gods will have been revolutionised and their pride will have been brought down and they will be a humbled people.

When God's wisdom is applied to bring discipline to a people or a person, it will have long lasting effect and is always designed to halt a person's or a people's downward moral spiral and cultural downward spiral and bring them back to a recognition that this world belongs to its Creator who knows how everything – including humans – works best. A final question: I wonder how often the Lord seeks to correct us in His love for us, and we stubbornly fail to realise what is happening? Do we need the Lord to come again and again to help straighten us out?

Meditations in Exodus: 32. Fifth Plague - Livestock

Ex 9:2 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

Previously we have noted that each of these plagues have an economic effect upon the country as well as a spiritual effect. The Lord is about the turn the temperature up, so to speak, and if we thought the previous plagues harmed the economy, this one is going to utterly devastate it. It starts out with, yet again, a direct call to let Israel go: “ 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." (v.1) This is the fourth call to let Israel go (see 5:1, 8:1, 8:20, 9:1). Twice He had brought judgment without a call (blood & gnats) and now three times warned before a plague (frogs, flies and now livestock). It is the one and only thing the Lord asks of Pharaoh but to Pharaoh it is a sign of loosing control over this slave people.

The penalty that is coming is specifically linked to this demand : “If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back…..” (v.2) You will be punished for your refusal to let them go; it is that simple. Then, as previously, comes a very specific description of what will happen. Each time, with the exception of the gnats, there is given this very clear description of what is about to happen: “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.” (v.3) Pharaoh could never say he didn't know.

Then, for the second time, the Lord makes it clear that this plague will only strike the Egyptians and not His own people: “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.'” (v.4) There is now a double strength, we might call it, to these plagues; first the plague itself, but then, second, the fact that the plague will halt at the boundary of the land where the Hebrews lived. But to that there is added a third thing: “The LORD set a time and said, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land." And the next day the LORD did it.” (v.5,6a) The specific timing of when the plague will strike must make this even more scary as they waited for the time to run out.

And then it comes: “All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 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." (v.6b,7) The timing of it, the nature of it, and the limitation of it to exclude the Hebrews, all these things screamed out, “this is not a coincidence, this is an act of God!”

If you hadn't seen it before, surely it must be coming through loud and clear – this man's pride is just crass stupidity. The fact that Pharaoh can keep on resisting God shows the shear folly of Sin. Blood, frogs, gnats, flies and now the death of all their livestock, this is putting the country into bankruptcy, and all because a king will not give way to God.

Our problem, sometimes, is that we cannot grasp the stupidity of sin. We see it here and we wonder, but in the book of Revelation it is even worse: “ They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” (Rev 16:9) And it keeps on: “Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” (Rev 16:10,11) As terrible as the conditions were, the people will still refuse to repent and turn back to God. Pride, arrogance, sin, call it what you will, it is crazy that people, in the face of the most terrible plagues, will refuse to turn back to God and cry out to Him for help.

The apostle John wrote, “whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.” (1 Jn 2:11) Spiritual ‘darkness' is sin and that sin blinds the human being from seeing what is going on and the foolishness and futility of it. The apostle Paul wrote, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2 Cor 4:4) Satan has conned the unbelieving world to believe lies and one of them is, “I can stand out against these things, no one is going to tell me what to do,” or, “I can get away with this, it will be all right.” Deception, lies, folly. Expressions or outworkings of sin. Perhaps one of the most worrying verses in the Bible is, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure .” (Jer 17:9) If it were not for the love, grace and mercy of God, you and I who are Christians would still be blind. For some reason, beyond the realm of boasting, we surrendered and He took away our blindness, but Pharaoh dug in and refused and refused. How terrible. How crazy!

But what about the gods and superstitions being attacked by this plague? Well, a large number of bulls and cows were considered sacred, and many areas in Egypt chose them as their emblems. Hathor, the goddess of love, beauty and joy, was represented by a cow, and was often depicted as a cow suckling the Pharaoh, giving him divine nourishment. There was also Khnum, the ram-god, and Mnevis, a sacred bull, who was also worshiped and was associated with the god Ra. Remember we read, “ “All the livestock of the Egyptians died.” Such deaths encompassing all the livestock were a direct challenge to beliefs about deities within the category of livestock. As we said at the beginning, these plagues had economic effects, now devastating economic effects, and perhaps the attack on their spirituality-superstitions was as equally devastating.

Have we ever given thought, I wonder, to the ways that God brings discipline into our lives. It is perhaps a subject we prefer to shy away from but the New Testament says, “the Lord disciplines those he loves.” (Heb 12:6) Different forms of discipline put pressure on different aspects of our lives. We have noted physical discomfort, economic loss, spiritual upset as at least three of the ways these plagues so far will have impacted Egypt . Do we realise the Lord still disciplines in ways that have these same effects today. Ask Him to open your eyes to be aware of what is going on around you – in your own life, in the lives of others around you, and in the nation at large. Become a believer!

Meditations in Exodus: 33. Sixth Plague - Boils

Ex 9:8,9 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. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt , and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land."

As we have been working our way through these plagues we have been attempting to note the things that were common to each plague and then things that were different with each plague. We need to update our table:

Put like this we can see that the plague of boils is similar to the plague of gnats in that there is no call to let Israel go and no specific warning to Pharaoh (although the Lord explains to Moses what will happen) and there is no relenting from Pharaoh (indeed for the first time it is put that the Lord hardened his heart). Did it affect Israel ? We are not told but the fact that Moses tossed the dust over Egypt suggests not over Israel . Let's note what happened verse by verse.

“ 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.” (v.8) The furnace in question would have been the brick kilns that that Hebrews had to use as slaves in the brickfields of Egypt . That which had been used to oppress the Hebrews was now being used to oppress the Egyptians. Moses is simply told to throw the soot in the air in Pharaoh's presence. Why? “It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt , and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land." (v.9)

Note two amazing things here. First this small amount of dust will multiply and spread right across that mighty land. Second, it would cause boils or some other form of skin irritation to break out on man and beast throughout the land. This happens (v.10) but, somewhat humorously, “The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.” (v.11) They appear to have given up trying to copy the plagues after the frogs but now they get a mention (as still being there with Pharaoh) because they too are covered with boils.

As we noted above, the hardening this time is attributed for the first time to the Lord: “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses” (v.12) Note the progress: “Pharaoh's heart became hard,” (7:13,22). “ he hardened his heart,” (8:15), “he hardened his heart,” (8:19), “ Pharaoh hardened his heart”, (8:32), “ Yet his heart was unyielding,” (9:7) “ the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart” (9:12) We noted earlier in these studies that the Lord hardens an already hard heart. The fact that there were five previous references to Pharaoh hardening his heart before we now find the Lord hardening his heart, seems to suggest that on this last occasion it is as if the Lord is pushing particularly hard against Pharaoh's will to harden him even more. Perhaps the simplest explanation is that this latest plague is so personal that it even comes on Pharaoh's body and this angers him even more.

This plague, we noted, came without the customary call to let Israel go and without the explanation of what would happen, thus when Moses throws dust in the air and boils break out, it comes, as with the gnats, as a sharp shock, as if the Lord says, ‘Very well, you wouldn't even temporarily relent in the face of the loss of all your livestock, it seems I am wasting my words on you, so let's make it really personal and in your face' (literally!!!). This is a conflict that is getting harsher and harsher but all it seems to do is make Pharaoh more and more resolute against God – and we'll see why in the next meditation.

However, there is a clue to a secondary issue in our verses today. Remember we read, “The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.” (v.11) The magicians were part of the ‘religious' or cultic setup of the day and so it appears that when Pharaoh called for them they could not come and stand before Moses and do their arts because they too were so afflicted by these boils that it incapacitated them. If it did that for them, it would do that for all the priests of Egypt as well. The whole religious establishment was brought to a grinding halt!

Don't lose perspective in what is going on. Again and again the Lord has made His wishes clear – let my people go – and time and time again He spelt out what was about to happen. Every single plague brought a new dimension to the conflict, getting gradually harder and harder. It is almost as if the Lord is reluctant to put the pressure on, but He has made known to Moses from the start that He knew this is how Pharaoh would react. Ultimately this is not for Pharaoh's benefit, it is for ours.

As we have progressed through these plagues I have become more and more certain that here is an area of teaching that the modern church backs away from, that the God of love who we so often proclaim, also shows His love for us by disciplining us (His church as well as the world around us) and His objective is to pull us up and get us to look honestly at who we are, what we are doing and what is happening to us. I am convinced that in so many ways, we the Church fall short of God's god intentions for us and therefore there are mishaps, upsets etc., etc., that occur in our lives and they are designed by the Lord's love, to halt us in our tracks. We can either repent now or when He comes in revival power or on the Last Day. Again, ask Him to open your eyes to see how we fall short of His plans for us, and what is happening to help us face up to these things.

Meditations in Exodus: 34. Seventh Plague - Hail

Ex 9:18 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.

Let's update our table:

There are a number of similarities but also some major differences in the coming of this particular plague. First there IS a call to let Israel go (v.14) and there IS a warning of what will happen (v.18,19). But then note the differences.

First there is a major emphasis after the call to let Israel go, that puts everything in perspective: “ 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.” (v.14) This plague is going to be utterly devastating. But then the Lord makes it even more obvious what is going on: “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.” (v.15) Pharaoh, don't you realise you silly little man that God could have just swatted you away as you might swat a fly. The Lord could have sent a plague that would wipe out every man, woman and child in Egypt , and it is only His mercy and grace that has prevented that happening. But there is more to it than that: “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.” (v.16) You think you are all powerful but actually the truth is that I am using you to display to the rest of my world my power, as well as the folly of the sin of pride.

Now look at the extent of what is coming: “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.” (v.17,18) But then comes a word of wisdom that is meant to help Egypt come to its senses: “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.' " (v.19) What is amazing about this is that the Lord could have sent this hail without any warning and so every living creature not under cover would have died, but He gives them a chance to avoid that.

This adds support to the idea that there was a reasonable period between plagues because the Lord talks about livestock here but their livestock had completely perished two plagues back! One must assume that they had bought fresh animals from neighbouring countries. What then follows shows that some people at least were starting to take notice of the Lord: “Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. But those who ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field.” (v.20,21)

And then the plague comes. The Lord tells Moses to stretch out his staff (v.22) and the hail fell, and a full blown storm ensues: “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.” (v.23,24) It was utterly devastating: “Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields--both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree,” (v.25) except, “The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen , where the Israelites were.” (v.26)

Then we go through the same old ritual: Pharaoh relents (v.27,28), Moses prays (v.33) but not before challenging Pharaoh that he knows he will back track (v.29,30), and then Pharaoh changed his mind (v.34,35). At this point Pharaoh' pride is the equivalent of lunacy. After all these plagues, after the loss of livestock from plague and now by hail, the accuracy of description, prayer and plague, and the fact that the plagues now miss Goshen, the only person who cannot see the truth has to be mad! However we have spoken of spiritual blindness before and the truth is that wherever there is heavy occult involvement, there is major spiritual blindness. Perhaps this is part of the problem in the occult-heavy, overly superstitious and deceived land.

The battle that is going on is one of discipline which is all about seeking to bring about change of behaviour. We have seen again and again how these plagues undermine the very superstitious beliefs in their gods by these Egyptians and what is so incredible is the grace of God that holds back again and again, giving full warning of the consequences of not heeding His call to let His people go. Even more in this last plague, He says what He will do but gives the people opportunity to get all their livestock under cover. Never ever say that God was harsh in bringing these plagues. Everything about the way they came denies that!

Perhaps one of the dangers in the Lord's discipline, if we put it like that, is His mercy and grace that gives second chances. In so doing the foolish might think the discipline is easy off and therefore they may think they can hold out that bit longer and can actually resist the Lord. Merely because we cannot see Him, pride thinks we can resist Him. That is folly and is wrong. The Lord IS blessing us on one hand while seeking to correct us on the other hand. Don't just focus on His blessings, but see the bigger picture and realise there are things He wants to change in His modern church, and if we fail to heed these things, be prepared to see men and ministries fall.

Meditations in Exodus: 35. Eighth Plague - Locusts

Ex 10:4,5 If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. 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.

As we move on to the eighth plague there is a distinct change of approach. As the Lord comes to Moses before this one, He puts it in the context of the big picture of history: “ 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 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." (v.1,2) Now that is surely not all the Lord said because when Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh they proceed as before as we'll see in a moment.

But what the Lord IS doing here is saying to Moses, ‘Understand that all that is happening is because of me and (implied) I told you all this before we started out on it.' It is easy to focus on the detail of what was happening but forget exactly why it was happening. The Lord reiterates that HE has hardened Pharaoh's heart so that HE can perform these miracles in the land, miracles of judgment, and the result will be that the Hebrews will have a story to tell their children and their grandchildren in the years, decades and centuries to come, as to how HE did all these things. They will remember that HE is the Lord. This story of the Exodus is without doubt THE major story of the Old Testament (seconded by the Exile perhaps) and was at the heart of their national identity.

They were who they were because the Lord had delivered them from Egypt . The prologue to the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai declares, “ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt , out of the land of slavery,” (Ex 20:2) but note it not only gives Israel identity, it also identifies the Lord as their deliverer. This formula is repeated by Moses in Deut 5:6, 6:12, 7:8, 8:14, 13:5,19, and then by Joshua in Josh 24:17, and then through a prophet in Judg 6:8 and then in a variety of forms through other prophets. There is this constant reminder that Israel owe their very existence to the Lord bringing about the Exodus.

So we find Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh with the same demand to let the people go, although it is not so much a demand here as an accusation of guilt: “ 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.” (v.3) Then comes the clear warning of just what will happen: “If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. 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. 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.' " (v.4-6) This is horrendous; the Lord is basically saying, ‘the locusts I will bring will clear away every living plant left in the land after the hail, you will have nothing left!' “ Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.” (v.6b) Note there is no arguing and no cajoling Pharaoh, the message is clear: you refuse again, as we know you will do and this IS going to happen. Goodbye!

What follows is fascinating: “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?” (v.7) Pharaoh's officials have come to a place of belief and so strong is it that they are no longer afraid to challenge this all-powerful despot. Their fear of what will happen overrides their fear of Pharaoh so, “Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go, worship the LORD your God," he said. "But just who will be going?" 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." (v.8,9) Pharaoh then haggles over just who can be allowed to go and eventually in exasperation, “Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.” (v.11) There may be a crumbling of resistance in the palace, but not in Pharaoh himself. But we are only part way through the story.

The Lord tells Moses to stretch out his hand (and staff) over the land (v.12) which he does and in the morning an east wind blew in the locusts (v.13) who “ 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. 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 .” (v.14,15)

Pharaoh's response is more specific than ever before: “Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me." (v.16,17) Moses prays, the Lord brings a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea , but still Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go. Nothing has changed, but time is running out. The land has been denuded of livestock, crops, trees, bushes and every living wildlife. The country is bankrupt, the people are in total disarray when it comes to their superstitious beliefs. What else can happen?

Next time you ‘dig your heels in' and act stubbornly and say – whether to God or to people – “No, I won't!” pause up and think on Pharaoh. When the Lord disciplines, He may not be as drastic with you as He was with Pharaoh who had world-wide fame, but He does not give up. If we continue to sin, if we appear to be getting away with it, understand it is God's grace giving you time to come to your senses. Don't presume on Him.

Meditations in Exodus: 36. Ninth Plague - Darkness

Ex 10:21 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.".

As we suggested at the end of the previous meditation there was really not a lot left to do against Egypt . The land had been utterly ravaged by hail and by locusts, the livestock had been wiped out by hail and plague and there was really nothing left. The people had been irritated by frogs, ticks and flies and then boils and those who remained outside had died from the hail. What is left to do? It is an amazing situation where virtually everything that can be done to Egypt has been done – and still the pride and folly of this king refuses to budge, even though many of his people (who responded before the hail) and many of his councillors (who responded before locusts) had already given in, in their hearts at least.

So then we come to what is called the ninth ‘plague' but catastrophe would be a better word to apply to it. Note that there is no call to Pharaoh to let God's people go and he is given no warning whatsoever as to what is about to happen. Very simply the Lord tells Moses what to do and what will follow: “ 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." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 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.” (v.21-23)

Many commentators suggest that this was brought about by a strong wind bringing an intense dust storm so that nothing could be seen for the three days that it lasted. This doesn't feel right to me, particularly as the Israelites had light wherever they were. There is no suggestion in the text of such a storm. I would suggest that it was more likely (IF we are suggesting some form of ‘natural' phenomena brought by the Lord) that it was simply a massive cloud bank that was so think, so dense and so comprehensive that no light from the sun could penetrate it in that time. Only breaks in the cloud or the edge of the cloud would provide light for the Israelites where they were.

Now there was no mention of doing this before Pharaoh but one has to assume that some of his councilors at least were around when Moses stretched out his hand to the sky, and then went and reported it to Pharaoh. A day passes, and then two and now it must be playing on Pharaoh's mind that this is not a temporary storm but is going to go on and on. This spurs him to take action by the third day: “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." (v.24) Pharaoh is reaching the end of his tether but will still not completely relinquish his hold on Israel , so he insists on the flocks and herds remaining behind. Without them Israel would not be able to last long.

Moses will not have this: “But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 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." (v.25,26) Hasn't Moses grown in stature and confidence since he first encountered Pharaoh! Yet still Pharaoh will not be moved. In fact this action and these words seem to anger and provoke him even more: “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go.” (v.27) But he has come to a point of no return and so, “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." "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again.” (v.28,29) The die is cast, the ‘negotiations' have come to an end. Whether Pharaoh thinks there is nothing more God can do, we don't know. In banning Moses from ever approaching him again, Pharaoh, without realizing it, has shut the door on God's grace.

Now let's repeat what we said at the beginning of this Part 4. Although this has been a portion of Scripture that has been very difficult to apply to our personal lives, it has revealed the folly of man and the grace of God that nowhere else in the Bible appears so clearly. The warning that must come through must be against pride and against spiritual blindness. The revelation of God that comes through is of one who hesitates in bringing judgment on this foolish occult-driven, superstitious people and gives them opportunity after opportunity of coming to their senses and repenting. Hold on to this picture of God for it is quite amazing. Power, yes, grace even more so.

It sounds trite and so obvious and yet it needs saying: never think you can outsmart God, never think you can outlast Him. If there is known and obvious sin in your life, repent of it. If He is being merciful to you in holding back His hand of discipline, realise that that is what it is. Realise with the apostle Peter, “ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9)