The One True God Exodus 7:14-10:29

Water to Blood Moses was to go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he went to the water (Exodus 7:14-25) –Keil and Delitzsch believe this is when he went to make his daily sacrifice to the god of water –Moses and Aaron were to demand the people be let go –Because Pharaoh would not listen to God, Moses was to strike the river with his rod –Water was turned into blood for 7 days, in the river, streams, pools and bowls of wood or stone –The fish died and a stench went up from the water –Magicians used deception to imitate –Egyptians dug all around to find drinking water

Frogs – Exodus 8:1-15 God commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh, likely in the palace, and tell him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.’” –Clyde Woods says there is some indication frogs were used in Egyptian religion as a symbol of life –Note: they came out of the Nile, which was worshiped as a source of good –The magicians imitated it in a small way, but the frogs God sent hopped into the Egyptians’ houses, ovens, bowls, cooking utensils and even on the people

The Impact on Pharaoh When he asked Moses to entreat the Lord to take away the plague of frogs, Pharaoh acknowledged God as the source –Moses asked Pharaoh to specify the time of the frogs’ departure, making it even more obvious God was in charge –Pharaoh chose the next day for the frogs to be gone and Moses said it would be done as Pharaoh said so he could know God was Lord The people piled the frogs into great piles of rotting flesh, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go

Lice – Exodus 8:16-19 The plague of lice, or small biting gnats, was unannounced It is significant that the gnats came out of the dust of the ground since, in Egypt, the soil was worshiped for its richness When the magicians could not imitate this plague, they were convinced the hand of God was involved, but Pharaoh again hardened his heart

Flies – Exodus 8:20-32 Moses met Pharaoh at the river to announce the plague of flies who pestered man and beast –Virtually all worship would have been halted –Israel spared the flies in the land of Goshen, which showed God was in control –The magicians, who had formerly recognized the hand of God, now had to see it was the God of Israel

Pharaoh Offered Compromises Pharaoh offered the compromise of letting Israel sacrifice in Egypt –Moses explained the sacrifices would be offensive to the Egyptians, especially because the animals offered were deemed sacred by them Pharaoh offered to let them go a little way –Moses took that offer to God after warning Pharaoh not to deal deceitfully with the Almighty anymore –Moses did entreat God to remove the flies –Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go

Cattle Disease – Exodus 9:1-7 Moses was again to go in to Pharaoh, likely to the palace, and ask him to let God’s people go If he refused, all the cattle of the fields belonging to the Egyptians would be diseased, while those of the Israelites would not God specified it would happen on the morrow All the livestock of the Egyptians died, while those of Israel did not Though he sent confirm the livestock of Israel was unharmed, Pharaoh still had a hard heart

Boils – Exodus 9:8-12 Moses stood before Pharaoh but made no announcement prior to spreading ashes from a furnace to initiate the sixth plague –The ashes produced boils on man and animals, likely those in the stables since those in the field were now dead The ashes of the furnace of the idol Typhon were thought to keep one safe from Typhon’s wrath when they fell on a person (Milligan) –Now the ash from a furnace caused boils

Hail and Fire – Exodus 9:13-35 Moses met Pharaoh early in the morning, likely at the river –Moses warned Pharaoh God was about to cause hail to fall unlike any ever seen –Pharaoh’s servants who feared God took their remaining animals into their houses –Everything left outside, plant or animal, was broken by the hail and fire falling from heaven –Many fruits and vegetables had idols devoted to them (Milligan) –Goshen was spared

Pharaoh Called for Moses Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron he had sinned –He saw God was righteous and would let the people go when the plague stopped Moses said he would spread his hands as soon as he left the city and God, the owner of the earth, would stop the plague Once it was stopped, Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go

The Purpose of the Plagues Exodus 10:1-2 As God was telling Moses to go in to Pharaoh, likely at the palace, he explained the purpose of the plagues God told Moses He had been using the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart as an opportunity to teach a lesson for all time –He wanted the children of Israel for generations to know the signs he had worked in Egypt –He wanted the children to know he was the Lord

Locusts – Exodus 10:3-20 The Almighty told Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go or he would bring a plague of locusts on the land of Egypt –Pharaoh’s servants suggested compromising with God, who they now recognized as Lord –They suggested Pharaoh let the men go offer sacrifices, asking him if he did not know Egypt was destroyed –However, God wanted all Israelites to go sacrifice, along with all they possessed

Pharaoh’s Refusal Pharaoh’s refusal brought a plague of locusts on the land that darkened the sky –Whatever was left in the fields was destroyed Pharaoh, again called for Moses and Aaron to come –He said he recognized his sin and wanted the plague to stop –However, when the plague was over, Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go

Darkness – Exodus 10:21-29 The ninth plague was unannounced The plague of darkness showed God’s power over the Egyptian gods of the stars, moon and sun Pharaoh called Moses in and offered God another compromise –He would let everyone go if they left their cattle and flocks behind –The rejection of this compromise caused Pharaoh to tell Moses to get out and not come back –He said Moses would never see his face again and Moses said he had spoken well