The Exodus 2 – Israel in Egypt – the 10 Plagues

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The Exodus 2 – Israel in Egypt – the 10 Plagues

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Exodus 5-12


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NOTE: Due to technical computing issues, I am unable at this time to provide a pdf of the below outline.  If I am able to resolve the issues, I will post the outline.  Thank you.  TT
NOTE 2: Next week (10/17), there will be no prerecorded lessons or outlines, as my family will be out of town.  We anticipate returning 10/24.  Thank you and have a happy holiday season.  TT

Sunday, December 10, 2023 pm

 

JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE (21)

Tonight we continue our journey through the Bible, highlighting the 17 periods of Bible history.  Currently, we are in the midst of the 5th Bible period – The exodus from Egypt.  In our last lesson, we addressed the plight of the people and the early life and calling of Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt.  Today, we continue our study by examining Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh.    We find in this text the 10 plagues which will drive Pharaoh to his knees and eventually he will let the children of Israel go.

 

  1. The text
    1. Moses’ first encounter with Pharaoh – he meets with Pharaoh and declares to let God’s people go. Pharaoh refuses and counters by making the task of Israel’s slavery more difficult.  As a result, the people become more miserable and blame Moses and Aaron for making their life that way (5:20-21).
    2. Moses returns to the LORD and asks why He had brought troubles to the Israelites. Notice the Lord’s response – Exodus 6:1-7.   Notice in vs. 7 the LORD declares, “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.”
    3. His 2nd encounter, Pharaoh asks for a miracle. Aaron casts down his rod and it becomes    The Egyptian magicians are able to do the same thing.  However, the serpent from Aaron’s rod devoured the other rods.  God shows His superiority to others.
    4. His 3rd encounter resulted in water being turned to blood (7:14-25) – the first plague. The text indicates that water everywhere turned to blood – the rivers, ponds, pools of water and even in their containers.  They scrambled to find fresh water by digging (they had to engage in laborious work just to survive).
    5. The 2nd plague – frogs (8:1-15) – the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate this (8:7). But it was terrible enough that Pharaoh calls Moses  & Aaron and asks the to entreat the LORD to stope the plague and he would let the people go sacrifice.  But after there was relief, Pharaoh changes his mind hardening his heart.
    6. The 3rd plague – lice throughout the land of Egypt (8:16-19). The magicians could NOT duplicate this and told Pharaoh that this was the hand of YWHW at work.  Pharoah agrees to let the go, but hardens his heart again
    7. The 4th plague – flies (8:20-32). This time a distinction is made between Egypt and the land of Goshen where the Israelites were.  Flies corrupted the land of Egypt and were everywhere, including in their houses.  The separation shows that God is with His people.    Pharaoh calls Moses and says he will let them offer sacrifices to God in the land.  Moses refuses, we must go into the wilderness.  Pharaoh says he will let them go “but not very far” and asks Moses to intercede for him.  But after the flies are gone, Pharaoh again hardened his heart.
    8. The 5th plague – livestock diseased (9:1-12). The LORD warned that he would disease all their livestock – cattle, horses, donkeys, oxen, camels and sheep. Again a distinction was declared.  All the animals of Egypt died but not one that belonged to Israel.  Pharaoh hardens his heart.
    9. The 6th plague – boils (9:8-12). Sores boke out on man and beast, including the magicians so that they could not even stand before Pharaoh.  But “the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh.”.
    10. The 7th plague – hail (9:13-35). Like the other plagues, the hail was announced and they were warned to take their servants and cattle indoors.  20 notes that “those who feared the LORD” complied.  Those who did not were devastated.  Pharaoh calls for Moses and said, “I have sinned this time.  The LORD is righteous and my people and I are wicked.”  He asks Moses to entreat YHWH and said he would permit the people to go and sacrifice.  Half the annual crops of Egypt were destroyed by the hail.  When it ceased, again Pharaoh hardened his heart.
    11. The 8th plague – locust (10:1-20). NOTE vs. 2 – the LORD again tells Moses to go to Pharaoh but notes that they would be repeating these things to their children and grandchildren so that they would know the LORD.  Again before Pharaoh he is warned what will happen.  Note vs. 7 – Pharaoh’s servants plead with him to let the men go because Egypt had been destroyed.  Pharaoh calls for Moses & Aaron again and says the men could go (not their families).  Moses said that was unacceptable because ALL were to go.  They were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.  The locust came the next day and utterly devoured everything green.  Pharaoh again calls for Moses and declares “I have sinned” and asks him to entreat the LORD to forgive and take away “this death” (vs. 16-17).  When the locust were gone, again Pharaoh hardened his heart.
    12. The 9th plague – darkness (10:21-29). Think darkness covered the land of Egypt for 3 days “that could be felt”.  But in the land of Goshen it was light.  Pharaoh calls Moses again and tells him the people can go but they were to leave their livestock (possessions) behind.  Moses refused the compromise – we take EVERYTHING with us!  Pharaoh becomes angry and say, “You will see my face no more.”  Moses agreed and said he would not see Pharaoh again.
    13. The 10th plage is announced and the Passover is instituted (11:1-12:28).  The 10th plague is announced to the people that about midnight, the LORD would go throughout Egypt and put to death all the firstborn – both human and animals.  THEN they would let the people go – in fact, they would drive them out of the land.  But first, they were to make preparations with a young lamb or goat without blemish.  They were to slay that animal in a prescribed way and eat it as a family.  They were to take some of its blood and put it on the doorposts and lintel of their homes.  As the angel of death passed through the land, when he saw blood on the door posts, he would bypass that house.  We also note in 12:1-2 that this would be the beginning of their calendar.  This was also the first Passover, a feast that was to be observed every year for 7 days.  All leaven was to be removed from their house to commemorate how they had to leave in haste and God delivered them.
    14. The 10th plague occurs, and Israel is driven out with haste from the land (12:29-41). They took with them whatever they wanted from the Egyptians and left with everything.
  2. Lessons
    1. “I will take you as My people and I will be Your God.” Exodus 6:7.   Throughout this text, the LORD declares that Israel was His people.  This will be a theme throughout the OT and finding its ultimate fulfillment in us.  We are reminded that today, WE are His people!   Romans 8:15-17 – we are His adopted children.
    2. The 10 plagues demonstrate the power of God over the gods of Egypt.
      1. Egypt was a polytheistic nation. They worshipped many deities including the sun, the Nile and various creatures.  Studies have connected the 10 plagues to various deities that were prevalent in Egypt.  A few of the more familiar Egyptian deities include: Hapy who was known as the “spirit of the Nile”; Imhotep – god of medicine (boils); Isis (goddess of love and medicine); Horus (the sky god – hail & darkness); Ra (the sun god).  Also, as we have discovered in treasures, many of their gods were in the forms of various animals including cattle (disease of animals), beetles (insects), etc.   As we can see, God was declaring Himself OVER the gods of Egypt.
      2. Also throughout the text, continually the LORD declared His actions so that Pharaoh would know that He is LORD.  Consider also Exodus 12:12 as the LORD is explain the Passover He notes,  ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
      3. The truth we learn is there is only ONE TRUE God – 1 Timothy 2:5 declares there is only 1 God and 1 mediator between God and man; John 17:3 – as Jesus prayed, “that they may know You, the one true God.” Ephesians 4:6 – there is, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  While in this, we are not addressing the deity of Jesus (and the Holy Spirit), the point is that there are not many different God.   Throughout the Old Testament, God made declarations that He is the ONLY God.  WE see that manifested in the 10 plagues of Egypt.  He HAS demonstrated His power.
    3. Why did the first plagues have to happen among the Israelites?
      1. While the reasons are not explained in detail, there are considerations.
      2. Also note that beginning with the 4th plague, Exodus 8:22-23 as Moses speaks to Pharaoh the declaration is made, “I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”
      3. By Israel being part of the first 3 plagues, they saw the awesome power of God. It is also noted that in these plagues (water to blood, frogs and lice), there is powerful inconvenience, but not personal damage.  Beginning with the 4th plague, it started to affect lives and their livelihood.
      4. Furthermore, as noted in our last lesson, Israel needed incentive to leave Egypt so that God could fulfill His land & nation promises to Abraham and the patriarchs. It was time!
      5. Often, it is not until one has reached the depths of despair that they see the need to change and turn to God (or return to Him). I think of the prodigal son when he finally “came to himself”.  (Luke 15:17)
    4. Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart?
      1. There is always discussion about whether it was God or pharaoh who actually hardened his heart.
      2. While God certainly has the power to do such, there is nothing in the text that demands God removed Pharaoh’s freewill. Often the declaration is that “Pharaoh hardened his heart” – Exodus 7:13-14, 22-23, 8:15, 19, 32, 9:7, 34. (NOTE: Exodus 7:22 & 8:19 indicate the magicians contributed to his hardening).  Also more than once his hardening is described as sinning (Ex. 9:27, 34, etc.) The Lord hardening his heart is found in 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, 10:1, 11:10, etc.
      3. Concerning this consider: 1) God knows the hearts of man – he can know IF one will choose to obey Him or not. So should God use him to accomplish His purpose, it is not unreasonable.  2) God does not tempt man to sin (James 1:12-13); 3) There is an expression that says, “The same sun that melts butter hardens clay”.  The meaning is something can have different results in different circumstances.  Pharaoh had clearly demonstrated his rejection of God and thus it is possible for him to be acting of freewill and it still be said that God hardened his heart.  The though of YHWH could have repulsed him and in his stubbornness, he was NOT going to give in.  Even after the rest of Egypt was devastated, He was still his cruel, rebellious self.
      4. Today, many harden their hearts to the truth because they refuse to consider God or change their lifestyles. Others have been deceived by false teachers and are unwilling to be taught differently.  Recall John 12:42-43 which notes that even among the rulers many believed but did not confess him because of the Pharisees.
    5. Compromise in worship is unacceptable.
      1. We have addressed how our worship must be both from the heart and governed by truth. God’s pattern matters. It always has and always will.
      2. Pharaoh’s dealings with Moses is a good example of how some try to compromise.
      3. There is a progression with what Pharaoh offers – 1) Sacrifice in the land; 2) You can go, but don’t go very far; 3) Go, but leave your children & women here; 4) God but leave you livestock and possessions behind; several times offered compromises – sacrifice in the land, go – but not very far, let the men go, etc. None was acceptable to God.
      4. Many today are seeking compromise and they want to see how far you are willing to go. But the answer must ALWAYS be the same.  “I will not compromise God’s word”.  Think of the way Jesus answered Satan when tempting Him.
    6. When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
      1. There is a powerful lesson for us as the LORD instituted that first Passover. It was the properly sacrificed blood that caused the angel of death to pass over the homes of those who had complied.
      2. Similarly, the blood of Jesus is the catalyst that causes God to “pass over” our sins. Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:7-9, etc.   When we have complied to His will we can have confidence that because of the blood of Jesus our sins can be forgiven.
      3. It was God’s right to say He could spare the lives of those who put that blood on their door posts. Similarly, He has the right today to say HOW one can come in contact with the “blood of the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

 

And thus we have some thoughts on the plagues in Egypt and how they facilitated the exodus as Israel was led by Moses out of bondage.  Today, God has done His part to declare who He is and what we need to do to be delivered from the bondage of sin.   Have you heeded His voice?  Think about it!

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