The Plagues

Are we offended by a sovereign God?

As many times as I’ve read Exodus, this was the first time I realized that God essentially declared war on Egypt.

When the Lord gets done with the ninth plague - much less the final one - Egypt is desolate.

What had been a rich and prosperous, extremely powerful nation

Was not much more than a wasteland.

I envision the scene worse than the scene from Gone With The Wind where Scarlet returns to Tara

And all of the houses are damaged, some burned to the ground

All of the livestock - All of the crops are gone - totally consumed by the invading army.

That’s how Egypt was - Egypt was devastated.

And Pharaoh’s response: Exodus 10:28 “Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.””

“Get away from me Moses.

“Never come back or I’ll kill you.”

It’s really a pretty powerful story.

But - we’ve heard it so many times - all the way from VBS until now - and it’s become - a story

We know it, we’ve heard it - the Nile turn to blood

Pharaoh find frogs in his bed

The Egyptians get welts all over their bodies from the no-see-um gnats biting them.

With the plaque of flies, when they eat their food includes a mouthful of flies.

Most of their horses, donkeys, camels, cattle and goats just drop dead one day for no apparent reason

The Egyptians cry and wail as every man, woman and child in Egypt

EXCEPT the Israelites

Every last one is covered in painful, festering boils.

The skies are filled with thunder and lightning,

It rains in buckets and gigantic hail stones crash from the sky

So many so fast so large that any animal or man caught out in it would be killed by it.

Envision in your minds eye so many locusts swarming across the sky that it looked like the alien spaceship in “Independence Day.”

Eating every green plant that wasn’t destroyed by the hailstorm.

And once they were gone - the sun goes down and doesn’t come back up for three days.

Yahweh told Moses it was a “darkness that could be felt.”

We know that God did that, and yet

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said in one of his sermons, “Men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne.”

Have you seen the posts on Facebook that “explain” one or more of the plagues.

Every year the Nile turns red.

That runs the frogs out.

Frogs die and gnats and flies come.

Frogs carry anthrax which stays alive in the soil.

The livestock eats the anthrax infected grass so they die.

People get the anthrax spores on their skin and that causes boils.

Storms come - locusts were regular occurences.

And darkness - an unusually heavy cloud cover can do that.

People hypothesize that the Lord used these natural phenomena - that nothing was really supernatural.

In fact, there is a group of scholars that seize on the uncertainty of the translation of the word “Red” to say the Israelites crossed the “Reed Sea” - it’s a real place

Instead of the Red Sea.

Still a feat - but not really supernatural.

We have trouble with supernatural.

But the real problem for us are 8 little words, Exodus 9:12 “But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh...”

That doesn’t sound fair.

How is it fair for God to harden someone’s heart to bring all of this calamity on them?

And that’s where Spurgeon says: “Men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne.”

As much as I’d love to read this entire narrative, reading over two chapters might be a bit much.

So turn in your Bibles to Exodus 9:13-17 and Exodus 10:1-2.

Kids, today is a going to be a difficult lesson for us.

We have painted on our walls in the kids area, “Jesus wants to be your friend forever.”

And there is nothing theologically wrong with that and it’s a good message for little kids.

But as when you quit being a little kid, its necessary to get a more complete picture of God.

He’s not your buddy.

He’s not your pal.

He is sovereign God who created the world with a word

And at the end of time, He will conquer the world with a word.

He is absolutely in charge of everything, including you and me

And He has a right to do whatever He chooses to do - and that’s a hard pill to swallow sometimes.

So listen closely and see what God requires of us.

The three words you are listening to to help you follow along in your worship guide are fear, earth and Jesus.

If you all have your Bibles open, Hear now the word of the Lord from the book of Exodus.

Exodus 9:13–17 ESV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.

Exodus 10:1–2 ESV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

All of the plagues have one purpose; display for all to see the sovereignty of God

Yes, all of the plagues were supernatural.

There are no natural explanations for the magnitude of the plagues.

Yes, the annual red water in the Nile drove the frogs out of the water onto the river banks.

Never did it drive them into people’s beds and ovens and makes piles in the streets when they died.

The magnitude of these plagues were extraordinary.

It was as if an invading army had marched through Egypt and devastated everything.

Which is exactly what had occured, except it was an army of one - Yahweh, Sovereign Lord of all creation.

What is sovereignty?

Sovereignty is to have rule or dominion over something - to have total control.

Regardless of whether those thing wants to be ruled or not.

Pharaoh was stubborn - he was a powerful, arrogant man who did not want to be mastered by anyone.

So in the face of the best evidence of God’s rule and authority, Pharaoh chose to be stubborn and not accept it.

But then the text says: “But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh...”

The Lord Himself got to a point where He made Pharaoh stubborn so he would not believe.

And the Lord did it so that all creation for all time and eternity would recognize and worship Yahweh as the creator God of the universe.

That certainly makes us uncomfortable - but remember this from earlier in the service?

Romans 9:20–21 ESV

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

This is where I am supposed to soften this up to make it easier to swallow

But I’m of a mind we’ve been softening things up too much for too long.

God has a right to do what He will whenever He wants to with whomever He will.

What gives the Lord the right to claim that sovereignty?

It’s a simple answer: Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

He created all that is.

It is his possession.

The apostle Paul quotes King David in 1 Corinthians 10:26

1 Corinthians 10:26 ESV

For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

Moses told Pharaoh the reason for the plagues is for Pharaoh to know that the earth is the Lords.

Exodus 9:29 “Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there wil be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.”

The Lord created the earth.

Every speck and every atom.

He didn’t ask for anyone’s permission.

He is sovereign, He is in total control and will be for all time.

We may not want to allow God to be God on his throne, but our allowance is as feeble as Pharaoh’s

It doesn’t matter.

You can rail against God, deny God, curse God, ignore God and try to rearrange God’s laws but it will not stand.

God will do what He does “so that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.”

How do we see the Lord displaying His sovereignty?

In Egypt, we see it in the Lord’s total devastation of the country.

The Lord’s goal was to humiliate Pharaoh.

And that’s totally in character for the Lord.

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

How does James tell us to act before the Lord?

James 4:10 ESV

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

You remember what Pharaoh said, right?

“Who is this Yahweh? I know no Yahweh!”

Doesn’t sound very humble.

The Lord humiliates the proud, but he exalts the humble.

Instead of us accusing God of injustice because He hardened Pharaoh’s hearts, we should be crying out with praise.

We are a chosen race, is that not what the scripture says?

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

He called us out of darkness because He has chosen us, as sinful as we were, as weak as we were, and He made us His own.

Instead of accusing Yahweh of injustice, we should stand in fear of the Lord.

What is our response to a sovereign God?

Look at Exodus 9:30 “But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.””

We’ve watered this down until it’s unrecognizable.

Fear doesn’t compute when we say Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

We paint this picture of this soft, white robe clad smiling Jesus sidling up beside us telling us that it’s OK that our latest sin has made us miserable.

But that is a hell inspired picture of our Savior.

Fear of the Lord means four things.

First, to fear the Lord means we revere Him and stand in awe

We are comfortable with this one.

For years I was taught that the fear of the Lord meant I was to have reverence for Him.

Reverence - deep respect and deep regard.

The Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched in 1977.

It’s been flying through space for almost 48 years.

It’s currently just over 15 billion miles from earth.

It takes over 22 hours for it’s radio signal traveling at the speed of light to reach the earth.

It’s currently traveling 38,210 miles per hour.

And God is there.

Jeremiah 23:24 ESV

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

He set the stars in place.

He keeps all things in order by the force of His will.

He gives life to the infant and assigns the aged to their ultimate destination.

He is greatly to be praised.

Yes, we are have reverence for Him.

Second, to fear the Lord means we appreciate His supremacy and greatness

There will come a day, it may be in my lifetime, when the Lord proves Himself supreme in this country.

We are already seeing revivals on some campuses.

Georgia Baptists are reporting 90% more baptisms over last year.

Young people are hungry for the Lord.

Our own students ask deep questions showing that they are reading and thinking deeply about the Lord.

The Lord showed Pharaoh his supremacy and His greatness.

He will do no less in this time as well.

If you look back on your life and see the hand of God all in it

How much more will we all see His hand on this earth?

If the Lord has delivered you from guilt and shame and grief and hurt and selfishness and arrogance and pride,

If He did these good things for you, do you think He has quit?

No, the Lord will put His greatness on display for the world to see.

The powers and principalities we fight against know that when we invoke the name of Jesus

His supreme name delivers us.

Third, to fear the Lord means we fear the consequences of disobedience

Now listen, yes grace.

And yes, Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

But also there is this, Hebrews 12:6

Hebrews 12:6 ESV

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Sometimes Christians wonder why their life is in the dumper - I’ve got news.

The Lord disciplines the one he loves.

And He will discipline you whatever degree it takes to get you back on track.

He’s not afraid of you.

He’s doesn’t need your permission.

You can’t resist the Lord’s discipline.

If you are actively sinning, I’m telling you right now, you need to be afraid.

Jesus Himself says, “Revelation 3:19

Revelation 3:19 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Be zealous and repent.

It is a wise person who fears the consequences of disobedience.

Jesus’ love is not all rainbows and unicorns.

Your sins are not cute.

He doesn’t coo and chuckle like we do when little Buffy and Jody says a cuss word they don’t understand.

Shame on us for taking sin so lightly.

No wonder people aren’t being saved in droves - we’ve made the consequences of sin more like a warm bath

Than an eternity in the lake of fire.

Yes, fear the Lord in the sense of frightened fear.

If you are actively involved in sin and you belong to Jesus.

Luke 12:2–3 ESV

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

That should terrify us and drive us to our knees.

Repent

Hebrews 10:31 ESV

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Fourth, the fear of the Lord means we do not treat him lightly

This is why constantly telling people that “Jesus wants to be my friend forever” bugs me so badly.

He’s not not my buddy - he’s not my pal.

Yes, Jesus said that He calls us friends

But there is a difference between friendship and taking somebody for granted.

He’s not my buddy.

I’m not going to go out and pop a cold one with my dude.

He’s the Lord.

We ought to be ashamed that we’ve made him a milquetoast wuss.

The Lord did everything He did to Egypt so we can do this Exodus 10:2

Exodus 10:2 (ESV)

and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am Yahweh.”

The good news is, the Lord knows where you are and what you are doing.

If you are His, if you are a Christ follower and are called by His name but you are dabbling in sin

Please know this for a fact, you are a marked man or woman.

Your Father in heaven loves you and will not let you stay on the path of destruction.

He will make your sin ravage you and take you to places you didn’t want to go.

And your shame will overwhelm you until you turn to him and cry, “Abba, Father, forgive me.”

“I’ve come home.”

When you do, you will be home - you’ll be restored and you’ll be made new.

And if you aren’t a Christ follower - listen, you may be living the life of luxury and ease.

You may be a good person who has done good things.

You may have a great reputation and you think your good outweighs your bad

But listen closely, your good will never be good enough.

And when you die, and you surely will, the soul God requires of you will be tossed into the lake of fire for eternity.

There will never be an end to your anguish and you’ll rail at God about how good you were.

And He won’t even hear a whisper - it won’t change a thing.

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...”

You should be afraid.

You should feel shame and guilt because you have rejected the Lord God of the universe.

You should fall at the feet of Jesus

Begging the one who died for your sins and was raised so you could have new life

You should be begging Him to forgive you and begging Him to let you follow Him forever.

You need Jesus.

We are going to pray and then sing.

While we sing, if you want to follow Jesus, come talk to me.

If you simply need to make a special prayer, come to the altar.

Maybe you’ve got a loved one who is on their way to hell - the altar would be a great place to pray.

You never know when the Lord will require their soul.

Let’s pray.