Fickle People – Steadfast God Exodus Fickle People – Steadfast God Lesson 4 – The Plagues

Migdol Marah Elim 3 1 250 miles 2 4 200 miles

The Plagues: 1-9 Exodus 4:27-10:29 Key players Moses Pharaoh Aaron Elders of Israel Israelites Pharaoh Pharaoh’s priests/advisors Egyptians Interesting how attitudes change when things get hard… Joyous 4:29-31 Hateful 5:4-23, esp 5:21 5:22-23 What did Moses expect? Despondent 6:9-13

The Nine Water into blood (Ex 7:14-25) Frogs (Ex 8:1-15) Gnats (Ex 8:16-19) Insects (Ex 8:20-32) Livestock die-off (Ex 9:1-7) Boils (Ex 9:8-12) Hail (Ex 9:13-35) Locusts (Ex 10:1-20) Darkness (Ex 10:21-29)

The Nine Water into blood (Ex 7:14-25) Frogs (Ex 8:1-15) Pharaoh told Israel “set apart” Water into blood (Ex 7:14-25) Frogs (Ex 8:1-15) Gnats (Ex 8:16-19) Insects (Ex 8:20-32) Livestock die-off (Ex 9:1-7) Boils (9:8-12) Hail (9:13-35) Locusts (10:1-20) Darkness (10:21-29) You, your X 8:22-23 9:4, 6 9:26 10:23 Egyptians

The Nine: Timing and Cause? Blood Frogs Gnats Insects Livestock Boils Hail Locusts Darkness

The Nine: Timing and Cause? Blood Frogs Flooding of the Nile Gnats Insects Algae, polluted water, dead fish Livestock Flood waters recede leaving drying fields Insect bites transmit anthrax Boils Skin anthrax afflicts humans Hail Locusts Flax/ Barley Darkness Wheat/ Spelt Winds bring sandstorm Late Summer Early Fall Late Autumn Jan / Feb Mar / Apr

God and the Plagues Natural or Supernatural? Miraculous event? Exploitation of a natural event? Divine intensification of natural event? The timing of it all, the flow of natural events… Perceptions of those involved Attribution of causation How do such things affect how we view, interpret, explain the handiwork of God? How do we think about God's involvement today? What constitutes a ‘miracle’ or God’s intervention?

Pharaoh's Hardened heart Ex 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7, 9:12, 9:34, 10:20, 10:27 Ex 7:14 (God has a weird sense of humor?) Why? 7:3-5, 9:15-16, 10:1-2 What insight to be gained from people experiencing something so intense only to forget about it immediately after it passes What of the ability of people to endure hardship? What potential 'lessons' were missed by the Israelites?

What's the point to the story of the plagues? God’s absolute power God’s authority over His creation Range of things affected: Weather Physical elements (water, dirt, etc.) Animals Bugs Plants Humans Mind/psychological element Livelihood Socio-economic status

Exodus: Fickle People—Steadfast God July 12 – Overview July 19—Joseph to Moses: Consequences of a Steadfast Faith July 26—Moses: Prepared for the Task Aug 2—The Plagues, 1-9 Aug 9—The Tenth Plague (Part 1) Aug 16—The Tenth Plague (Part 2) Aug 23—Exodus from Egypt Aug 30—Songs and Prayers Sep 6—Mount Sinai Sep 13—Priesthood and Tabernacle (Part 1) Sep 20—Priesthood and Tabernacle (Part 2) Sep 27—A Mighty Culmination…and Beginning Bonus – Odd things