The Fourth Plague

Intro

YHWH vs SCARABS. The fourth judgment is the plague of flies.

These flies were most likely the sacred beetle or scarab as they were known in Egypt.

These scarabs, many of gold, are found in the tombs of Egypt. They were Sacred to the Sun god Ra.

The Egyptian scarab spoke of eternal life.

Imagine this most sacred thing becoming a curse to the people and and plague upon the land.

Once again God will demonstrate that He alone is the Author of eternal life.

Fourth Plague. In this plague:

For the first time no staff is involved in about bringing the swarm of flies.

For the first time YHWH intends to destroy the land of Egypt: “the land of Egypt was ruined” (Exodus 8:24).

For the first time, through this plague, YHWH makes a distinction between God’s people and the people of Pharoah.

The nature of the distinction. The distinction between the Hebrews and the Egyptians is much more than geographical, social or racial, but spiritual.

Verse 23 states: “I will put deliverance between your people and my people”. The word “deliverance” means “redemption”:

Psalm 111:9 NIV

He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name.

In other words, what distinguishes us from others is not religious in nature, or social, but spiritual.

In Christ Jesus we have been redeemed and set apart for the Lord!

The church of Jesus is a people now set apart for the Lord, enjoying his special presence and favor.

Thomas Schreiner (American Theologian)

Sermon’s outline. During the execution of this plague, Pharaoh tries to find a compromise with Moses.

Not once, but several times the king of Egypt tries to find an agreement.

Through this passage I want to consider the 4 compromises (2 of Pharaoh and 2 of Moses) that undermine our spiritual identity:

Worship YHWH in Egypt (v. 25);

Do not offend the Egyptians (v. 26);

Released for a few days (v. 27);

No too far away (v. 28).

N.1 - Worship YHWH in Egypt

Exodus 8:25 NIV

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.”

Remaining in Egypt. Pharaoh's first compromise concerns the proposal to remain in Egypt.

Paraphrasing Pharaoh’s proposal, the Jews could worship YHWH, without leaving the idolatrous country in which they resided.

The call of Abraham. Yet, the call that Abraham received from God was to leave the pagan city of Ur:

Genesis 12:1 NIV

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Application. How can we live our faith in Jesus, but still maintain our residence in Egypt?

Salvation in Christ is an experience that transforms us totally: we say goodbye to Babylon, goodbye to Egypt, goodbye to the World.

When God saves us, a change of “spiritual residence” occurs: before we were in the world, now we are in Christ.

The danger we can run is to delude ourselves that, despite being children of the living God, we can continue to live in our corrupt habits, continue to live close to those vices that belong to Egypt.

This morning the Lord calls us to leave Egypt, to separate ourselves from everything that poisons our worship of God:

2 Corinthians 6:17 NIV

Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Lord help us to leave our Egypt.

N.2 - Do not offend the Egyptians

Exodus 8:26 NIV

But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us?

Respect the Egyptians. After hearing the first compromise proposal, Moses also begins to give in, lowering his demands.

In fact, in just one verse, Moses mentions twice how much hatred the Egyptians had for the Hebrews and their offerings.

Application. This concern that Moses expresses can become the main concern of many pastors, many churches and many believers.

The risk of compromising the message of the Gospel and true worship in order not to offend the sensibilities of a rebellious generation is real.

This is why in many Christian contexts the powerful message of salvation is diluted with fables without any biblical foundation.

Terms such as sanctification, repentance, confession of sins, have totally disappeared from many pulpits, banned for fear of offending, for fear that the number of church members will decrease.

The only way not to offend this world is to be willing to offend God.

It is not a problem if we will be hated, despised: our goal is to please God:

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Pleasing God and Jesus Christ is the issue, not pleasing men. The judgment of men is flawed and eternally inconsequential.

Richard Mayhue; Robert L. Thomas

1583 Please all, and you will please none.

Aesop

N.3 - Released for a few days

Exodus 8:27 NIV

We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us.”

Only a few days of freedom. God had never spoken of a journey of only 72 hours of freedom.

YHWH’s plan was to free the Jews forever, who would forever worship and serve the Lord.

Yet Moses proposes the third compromise: serve the Lord, offer sacrifices, show devotion, but for a few days.

Application. Would it be logical if I proposed to you to pay for a house, furnish it, but live there only 3 days a week?

Or would you agree to marry someone only 3 days a week?

What if I asked you to open your eyes for only 3 hours a day?

I am sure that none of us would be willing to accept any of these compromises.

Yet, there are many who agree to relegate their life of communion with Jesus to a few moments.

For no reason do we want to become “seasonal disciples”, fervent and dedicated to God only during Sunday services.

The Christian journey lasts a lifetime:

Psalm 116:2 NIV

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

May you live all the days of your life. Ibid.

Jonathan Swift (Dean of Saint Patrick’s)

There are days we don’t live, so many hours wasted because they are in the hands of Pharaoh. Let’s give more time to God.

N.4 - Not too far away

Exodus 8:28 NIV

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

Don't go too far. Here we are at the last compromise.

Pharaoh allows the Jews to leave Egypt, he accepts that the Jews worship God for more than 3 days, as long as they do not go further, leaving Egypt, reaching the promised land.

In other words, Pharaoh’s compromise was an invitation to mediocrity.

You can leave Egypt, but always remain under the Egyptian radar, thus avoiding fulfilling God’s promises.

Application. The enemy never said not to read the Bible, pray, go to Church...

Satan’s strategy is similar to Pharaoh’s: he simply invites us not to go further, not to do too much for the Kingdom of God, to live a mediocre spiritual life, with the sole aim of preventing us from reaching our maximum potential.

God’s plan for us is not simply to free us from slavery and then live our lives in an insignificant, limited, mediocre way.

God’s plan is to see us go far, so as to realize God’s promises:

Deuteronomy 28:13 NIV

The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

When a believer decides to go far through obedience, prayer, hell trembles.

If you are tired of living on the borders of Egypt, tired of being too close to Pharaoh, this morning declare war on compromise and push yourself far away: there is a promised land waiting for you.

Conclusion

No compromise. As we have seen, for God there is a profound and substantial spiritual difference between the Church and the world.

This difference wants to be removed by the enemy, annulled through the technique of compromise.

This morning we say no to compromise.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Compromise

The following is a Russian parable. A hunter raised his rifle and took careful aim at a large bear. When about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft, soothing voice, “Isn’t it better to talk than to shoot? What do you want? Let us negotiate the matter.”

Lowering his rifle, the hunter replied, “I want a fur coat.” “Good,” said the bear, “that is a negotiable question. I only want a full stomach, so let us negotiate a compromise.”

They sat down to negotiate, and after a time the bear walked away alone. The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had his fur coat.

Compromises rarely satisfy both sides in equal measure.