Ten Plagues of Egypt

Ten Plagues of Egypt Context: The plagues that God put on the Egyptian nation are contextually implanted in the intense story of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt to the promised land. Joseph: Historically the Exodus culminates 400 years of voluntary settlement tuned captivity by Jacob and the brothers of Joseph, having been sold by His brothers, was sold again in Egypt. There, he endured difficult times for about ten years until God given gift of interpreting dreams placed Joseph at the right hand of the King, Joseph’s position: In this position, Joseph’s godliness, business acumen, position and reputation allowed Egypt to become the 400 years home of Israel. Joseph’s bones: Joseph, knowing Israel’s stay in Egypt was temporary, distinguished himself, when, “By faith, Joseph made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones”. Heb. 11:22 Israel’s 400 year captivity: Following the death of Joseph, Israel endured captivity and about 400 years in apparent silence by God. God @ work: However, God was at work, and in the process of preparing Moses and the Israelites. “By faith, Moses…for he was looking to the reward.” Heb 11:24-26 History: Viewing history through the eyes of Israel

Ten Plagues of Egypt Initial Signs Burning Bush God talking 3. Staff / Snake 4. Leprous Hand 5. H2O / Blood

Ten Plagues of Egypt Exodus 7 : 14 – 10 : 29 #1 Water to Blood #2 Frogs #3 Lice / Gnats #4 Flies #5 Cattle #6 Boils #7 Hail #8 Locusts #9 Darkness #10 Death of first born

Ten Plagues of Egypt 1. Water to Blood: Exodus7:19 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 2. Frogs 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: 8:3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading troughs: 8:4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 3. Gnats 8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 4. Flies 8:21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 5. Livestock Diseased 9:3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Ten Plagues of Egypt 6. Boils 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9:9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 7. Thunder and Hail 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 8. Locusts 10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: 10:5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field. 9. Darkness 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 10:22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days 10. Death of the Firstborn 11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 11:5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Ten Plagues of Egypt Plague Forewarning Time of warning Instruction formula Bothersome! 1. Blood 2. Frogs / H20 3. Gnats / Dust Yes None “in the morning” “Station yourself” “ Go to Pharaoh” Painful/Death 4. Flies / Air 5. Livestock 6. Boils “Go to Pharaoh” Destruction/Death 7. Hail 8. Locusts 9. Darkness Death 10. Death of firstborn Notes: Ecosystems: H20, Dust, Air Each series of three plagues has a similar pattern. Plagues 1 and 10 deal with Blood, as does Jesus.

Ten Plagues of Egypt Exodus 7 : 14 – 10 : 29 Snake X Nile Frogs Gnats Magicians reproduce plague Magicians or court beg Pharaoh begs / capitulates Pharaoh hardens heart Pharaoh's heart is / becomes hard God hardens Pharaoh’s heart Distinction between Israel and Egypt Early morning con-frontation Con-frontation in palace Aaron’s staff Moses’ Snake X Nile Frogs Gnats Flies Livestock Death Boils Hail Locusts Darkness Firstborn Life & Death

Ten Plagues of Egypt Purpose of 10 Plagues God’s self revelation Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you, so My wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” Ex 9-16, 11:9 Bring judgment on God’s of Egypt “…and I will bring judgment on all the God’s of Egypt, I am the Lord.” Ex 12:12 Free Israelites “…let My people go…” Lasting testimony “…that you may tell your children and grandchildren…may know that I am the Lord.” Ex 10:2

Ten Plagues of Egypt Lessons/ Conclusions Prophecy of Pharaoh’s Son / Temporal vs. Eternal: In the beginning, God told Pharaoh that he would kill his son, which he did in the 10th plague. Pharaoh knew the outcome; he just didn’t believe it In a sense, we know the end from the beginning. We know everything is spiritual. We may live for temporal/eternal II Cor 4:16 – 18 II Cor 7:10 I Cor 3:12 – 15 Participation in Deliverance. God mandated Israel’s participation in His deliverance - God may require our participation in deliverance - God never does for a man, what he can do for himself

Ten Plagues of Egypt Lessons/ Conclusions Election: Election is truly a sign of God’s mercy. Egypt to this day rails against the Jews. In spite of the story of the Exodus, today’s Egyptians do not turn to the God of Moses & Aaron, just as Pharaoh did not. Nor do most people of the world. Nor would we. Fear of Man: Moses outgrew his fear of man. “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” Ex 10 : 28 This is what Moses was afraid of in the beginning. Moses has changed. He no longer fears Pharaoh, and retorts back, “just as you say, I will never appear before you again.” Ex 10 : 29 Moses has changed. The exhibitions of the powers of God have been lost an Pharaoh, but not on Moses. Additionally, “Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposal to the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people”. Ex 11 : 3 Moses pronounced the 10th Plague, “Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh”. Ex 11 : 8B

Ten Plagues of Egypt Lessons & Conclusions - Blood – none > important; 1st & 10th Blood - 2nd Chances: God may give chances & 2nd chances / may not - Saying NO to God is likely to become a pattern – and the stakes usually get higher; starting down a path of sin often takes us further than we ever intended; Example: David / Pharaoh - Big Sin: We don’t commit huge sin all of a sudden - Sin in Vacuum: We don’t sin in a vacuum. All Egypt paid for the sine of Pharaoh. - Leaders are especially culpable - God / Suffering: God takes notice of the suffering of his people (audience of 1)

Ten Plagues of Egypt Lessons & Conclusions Special Calling: Special calling of God does not necessarily cushion us from the trials, pains, weakness and temptations of life - It just may mean that people watch us go through it - Suffering is often a blessing – Moses learned shepherding - John McCain change from “flyboy” to man of his country. - Make the most of opportunities of know God and learn about the ways of God – especially in times of revelation & suffering. - “Israel saw the acts of God, but Moses knew His ways”. Moses was a student of God. Get to know the ways of God!

Ten Plagues of Egypt Lessons & Conclusions - Death of the Firstborn: Final plague had to do with the efficacy of shed blood being required for deliverance form death, redemption being bought and fellowship w/ God and his people being bought with blood. - Following deliverance, “redemption” and blood related to the moment of Exodus, the law was given, requiring a lifestyle of blood sacrifices which resulted in “atonement”, a covering for sin, all of which foreshadowed the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, resulting in “propitiation”, a payment in full for sin not just covering.