Exodus 7 – 9

Exodus 7 – 9

It’s seems that yesterday, I ended without discussing Exodus 6.

When Moses protested to God, God spoke back, telling Moses what He would do to Pharaoh. God tells Moses that when He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was as El-Shaddai—God Almighty, but He did not reveal Himself as Yahweh – the Lord. He wants Moses to tell the people that God remembers His covenant with them and promises to:

• “Free you from your oppression”
• “Rescue you from your slavery in Egypt”
• “Redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment”
• “Claim you as my own people”
• “Be your God”

The people were so discouraged they refused to listen. When God told Moses to go talk to Pharaoh, Moses wasn’t much better. He told God what a clumsy speaker He was and couldn’t understand why God would think Pharaoh would listen to him. But He does listen and obey God.

In chapter 7, God tells Moses what is about to happen. For example, He tells Moses He will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so He can multiply signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, that He will bring down His fist on Egypt, and bring out the Israelites.

Pharaoh’s sorcerers must have had some pretty powerful magic; they were able to replicate turning the staff into a serpent, although Moses’s staff swallowed up theirs.

Plague # 1 – Water to Blood

Then the so-called 10 plagues begin when Moses turns the water of the Nile to blood. Pharaoh’s sorcerers are able to turn water to blood also. Pharaoh’s heart remains hard.

Plague # 2 – Frogs Everywhere

After seven days, the Lord sends Moses back to Pharaoh; Aaron raises his staff and unleashes a plague of frogs. Pharaoh’s sorcerers are able to do the same. Pharaoh’s heart remains hard.

One must ask: if the sorcerers were able to turn water to blood and produce frogs, why couldn’t they make them go away?

In any case, Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron and begs them to take the frogs away. He says he will let the people go so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord. I imagine Moses had Pharaoh set a specific time for this to stop so he couldn’t later say it just happened naturally. Moses holds up his part of the bargain and the frogs that were not in the Nile all died. Pharaoh again becomes stubborn and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron.

Plague # 3 – Swarms of Gnats

Moses doesn’t warn Pharaoh before the next plague. While I might have been able to stand walking with frogs underfoot, this next plague would have sent me to the funny farm: swarms of gnats. The magicians could not replicate this plague. Imagine: “the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.” But Pharaoh’s heart remains hard.

Plague # 4 – Plague of Flies

God tells Moses to once again confront Pharaoh, “early in the morning as he goes down to the river.” The difference in this plague is that the flies will invade the homes of Egyptians, but not those in Goshen where the Israelites live. “Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.”

Pharaoh eventually tells Moses and Aaron to go ahead and offer sacrifices, but to do it there in Egypt. Moses tells Pharaoh the Egyptians detest the sacrifices the Israelites offer and will stone them if they do it there. Pharaoh gives in, telling them not to go too far away. Note that he also asks them to pray for him.

Now, this had to be affecting Pharaoh pretty dramatically. He was just as plagued by all of these things as his people were. And everyone looked at him as if he were god. He was losing credibility.

You guessed it: as soon as the flies are gone, Pharaoh hardens his heart and refuses to let the people go.

Plague # 5 – Dead Livestock

Things are getting pretty serious now. God sends Moses back to Pharaoh to warn him that the next day, the Lord will strike his livestock (horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats), but again would not touch any of the livestock belonging to the Israelites. Pharaoh again hardens his heart and refuses to let the people go.

Plague # 6 – Festering Boils

Prior to this plague, the people may have been disgusted by some of the plagues, but now it was going to be up-front and personal. Festering boils were going to break out on the Egyptians, but not on the Israelites. The Lord hardens Pharaoh’s hear and he refuses to let them go.

Plague # 7 – Hail

Ever been in a hailstorm? It’s downright scary. It’s usually accompanied by thunder and sometimes by lightning. The Lord warns Pharaoh that there will be a hailstorm “more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt.” Pharaoh’s officials believed it when they were told to bring in their people, livestock, and plants for the hail would destroy it.

Note: Weren’t all the livestock already dead? Hadn’t they been killed in the fifth plague? It has been suggested in some commentaries the text didn’t mean that “all” of the cattle died, but that all of the cattle that died belonged to the Egyptians.

As a result of this hailstorm, Egypt is in ruins, except for Goshen. Pharaoh admits his sin and begs Moses to pray for the terrifying thunder and hail to stop. “We’ve had enough,” Pharaoh says.

You know, God showed great mercy to the Egyptians. Although the flax and barley was ruined by the hail, the wheat and emmer wheat were not because they had not sprouted.

Once again, Pharaoh sees the plague has stopped and again hardens his stubborn heart and refuses to let the people go just as God predicted.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 10 – 12.

Today, I took care of the strawberries I started dehydrating yesterday. I have also organized a lot of stuff, though I doubt you could tell it by looking at my house.

My big toe doesn’t hurt quite as much as it did yesterday so I guess it’s getting better.

Until next time…