The Dominion of God to Divide

Exodus 8:20–9:12 NASB95

20 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 “For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell. 22 “But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. 23 “I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.” ’ ” 24 Then the Lord did so. And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt. 25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? 27 “We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us.” 28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I shall make supplication to the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the Lord. 31 The Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 “For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, 3 behold, the hand of the Lord will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. 4 “But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.” ’ ” 5 The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” 6 So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died. 7 Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 “It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.” 10 So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. 11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. 12 And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

If you’ve ever been to any kind of major event, a baseball game, a concert, or an amusement park you often have to make a decision on the front end. What kind of service am I looking for? You can get the entry level package that will get you the cheap seats and you fend for yourself. You buy your own drinks, food, and the rest. You can get the executive package which comes with some nice seats and a few perks. There are some extra services provided. Nice parking perhaps, food is included, maybe some merchandise included. Then there’s the VIP package. It’s a full service deal. Valet parking. Access to the club house. Full service buffet, and you get to meet the band or the team afterward. When you go to one of the events you can tell who the VIPs are too. There’s a VIP section where no one else is allowed. They can go places where other people can’t. They have access to the food everyone else doesn’t. They even have access to the talent on the court or on the stage. They’re being provided a service greater than anyone else in the whole stadium. That’s how we think about VIPs don’t we? The people who have access to the most services.

What if it were the other way around? What if VIPs were the ones who were privileged to serve the most? Is that really a privilege? Who wants to go to a special event to provide a service? You get the VIP badge, dress up nicely, get access to the backroom, only to provide a service to the talent on stage.

In one sense God is doing a similar thing in the book of Exodus. He’s selecting for Himself a particular people to be set apart from everyone else for a very privileged purpose. Not to be served, but to serve. No doubt they will given an abundance of blessing, but their chief calling and purpose is to serve and worship God. First, God will need to make a distinction between these people who He has chosen and the rest of the world, Egypt. He will make a division between them using extraordinary plagues. He will again exercise His dominion by separating His people Israel apart from Egypt as worshippers.

When God redeems a people, He will divide them from the world that they would worship Him.

As we work through the text we’ll see God uses the plagues to make various types of distinction between Israel and Egypt as he divides them from the world.

Distinction of place (8:20-32)

Distinction of provision (9:1-7)

Distinction of purity. (9:8-12)

Distinction of place (8:20-32)

Beginning in verse 20 it seems like we’ve been here before.

Exodus 8:20 (NASB95)

20 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

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Moses is rising early in the morning as we saw at the beginning of the first plague, and Moses is once again meeting Pharaoh by the Nile with the very same command.

This command is followed by a warning and a foretelling of what God will do if Pharaoh does not listen.

Exodus 8:21 (NASB95)

21“For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell.

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This may seem a bit cookie cutter at this point. Same command. Similar warnings, just a different plague, but when we get to verse 22 and 23 we are presented with a new element that hasn’t yet been revealed to us.

Exodus 8:22–23 (NASB95)

22“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.

23“I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.” ’ ”

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This simple theme, runs through the whole of our text this morning. We’ve seen God exercise His dominion in a number of different ways. His sheer power in the plagues for one. His timing as He commanded the frogs to recede at the point which Pharaoh decided. We’ll see that again here shortly, but here again we see a facet of God’s absolute dominion. He will make a distinction between His people and the world.

You might have heard the phrase, “good fences make good neighbors.” Whether that statement is true or not it reflects an innate desire to establish our dominion, even in our backyard. We want to define for our good and our neighbors, what’s mine and what isn’t. Some people do it to keep the neighbors out. Some people do it for the good of their family, letting the kids know where they can go and can’t go - to make sure the dog doesn’t run away. In one sense God is going to build a fence to establish his dominion for the good of His children, and so the world can know these people are God’s people. You might notice however that it seems this fence isn’t built until the fourth plague. Why is that? Let’s address that briefly.

Some believe the absence of this distinction up until now assumes Israel was subject to all the plagues up until now because only here do we see a distinction being made. I think there’s a good argument to be made for the alternative, that Israel was spared of all the plagues and only now is it being brought into the light before Pharaoh.

Fundamentally, the entirety of the plagues are oriented towards Pharaoh with the repeated command, Let My people go, that they may serve Me, and many conclude with Pharaoh’s response, “he hardened his heart.” God is exercising His dominion against Pharaoh for his humbling, and for His people, his flock, that they would be delivered. .

The Psalms recall the disposition of God towards His people as that of a shepherd with his sheep leading them safely and without fear.

Psalm 78:50–53 (NASB95)

50 He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave over their life to the plague,

51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, The first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham.

52 But He led forth His own people like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;

53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.

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Just because God is just now bringing this to Pharaoh’s attention, His unique care for the people of Israel, doesn’t mean he hasn’t been doing so already.

The very point of this distinction as Israel is set apart, is to make it clear to Pharaoh, The presence of God, the LORD, is here, in the land where my people are. This simple statement lies at the center of the 4th plague.

God provides a command to Pharaoh

A warning of destruction is delivered

God states he will set his people apart by his presence.

Destruction is delivered

Pharaoh responds to the command in part, yet ultimately hardens his heart.

At the center of this small narrative, the plagues of flies, is the dominion of God amongst his people in a unique way. A dominion that is so plainly evident that the land allotted to Israel over 400 years ago by Joseph is spared from the plague. We must note, there’s nothing special about the land of Goshen. Additionally, there’s nothing special about the people of Israel apart from the presence and promise of God.

This fundamental theme runs through much of the Old Testament and into the New. God will time and again bless his people in particular places allotted for them. The people worship God in the promised land and in the temple which is to be built, and through multiple generations God will bless His people as he resides among them. Overtime however, the people forget this fundamental principle which is revealed even before they’re free form slavery, the gracious dominion of God is not found in a particular place or even in a temple, it’s found where God is.

This being Palm Sunday, we recognize this very thing in Jesus’ triumphal entry. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, He comes as a humble king. He will not rule or reign in Jerusalem as many desired. He will not conquer the Romans restoring the land of Israel to Jewish rule. He will however, remain among His people by means of the Holy Spirit. The triumphal entry in Luke 19 actually concludes on a somber note with Jesus weeping over Jersualem, the place which many in Israel came to cherish over the presence of God Himself in Jesus Christ.

There’s nothing special about Goshen, There’s nothing special about Jerusalem which brings blessing to the people of God. The presence of God in His dominion is where life and blessing are found.

For us today, those who are believers, those who repent and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ: His death for our sins on the cross, His resurrection from the dead for our eternal life, His dominion rests over us through His presence. The Holy Spirit has come to dwell in us and among us. By His presence we are set apart. By His presence there is a clear division between us and the world.

There’s a prominent temptation that says, what really sets you apart from the world, what really puts a division between you and the world is where you are on Sunday morning. If you’re in church that makes you fundamentally different. If you’re in Goshen that makes you different. If you’re in Israel that makes you different.

There’s perhaps a time to ask, “Were you in church on Sunday?” , but I think we need to ask first, “Was Christ in you on Monday?” On any ordinary day, does Jesus Christ reside in you? Do you know him? Have you put your faith in Him for your salvation? Walking through the doors of a church building doesn’t mean we are set apart from the world. Responding to the knock of Christ at the door with repentance and faith is what sets us apart from the world.

Revelation 3:20 NASB95

20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

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The dominion of Christ is always marked by His presence, especially in the lives of Christians.

If you have any questions about whether or not you’ve answered that knock at the door, I hope you’d talk to someone. Feel free to talk to myself or one of our church members before you leave today. We’d love to grab lunch or coffee with you to help answer some of those questions.

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As we’ll see, God is not unconcerned about gathering his people in a particular place, because God is concerned that we worship Him. Just because we are not set apart or redeemed by where we stand doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek a place of worship, particularly a place where the people of God gather to worship.

As God delivers the plague of flies specifically upon the house of Pharaoh and the house of his servants (vs. 24) the land is laid waste

Pharaoh however tries to strike a deal(vs.25) “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.”

I’ll meet you half way. Why don’t you worship God and sacrifice to Him while in slavery?

Even Pharaoh, the pagan king, understands there’s a purpose to their call for freedom: Worship.

Moses makes very clear to Pharaoh the command of God, we must go three days into the wilderness before we can worship God as we ought. It wouldn’t be right to sacrifice here among the Egyptians who think our worship is an abomination. (vs. 26-27)

Pharaoh relents and asks that Moses pray to relieve Pharaoh of the plague.

As we might expect, Pharaoh’s heart is again hardened as soon as relief is provided.

Here we see another facet of Israel’s distinction of place. Israel is fundamentally set apart by God’s covenant promise and His presence among them. Does that mean where Israel is doesn’t matter? Not exactly. Throughout much of the rest of the book of Exodus, God will be ordering the worship of His people, and one facet of that ordering is where they worship. For the time being Israel doesn’t have a tabernacle. There is no mercy seat for God to sit on, no Holy of Holies in which He’ll reside, so he calls them to gather at the foot of Mt. Horeb that they would worship Him: A place that is holy, set apart from the worldliness of Egypt.

For much of the Old Testament there will be a literal holy place that is the center of Israelite worship, the place where God’s glory dwells. Even here in Exodus before Israel is free from slavery we anticipate the day when God will be among His people and His people will worship Him where He has made His dwelling.

It remains true to this day. As Christians, by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the Spirit has come to dwell in us through faith, that we might worship Him in the place where He dwells. Not a building, or an earthly place, but in each and every one of us who know Christ as Lord. Where we gather is where God is, and that is where we worship. It is the culmination of our redemption, to worship where Christ has made His home, the temple that is the people of God.

If I may, it’s extraordinary to see the commitment of this church to gather for worship so faithfully. Through sickness, through snow storms, through floods, the membership of this church is here fulfilling that purpose of our redemption, to worship. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your example! It’s a privilege to worship with you all each week!

God has made a clear distinction before Pharaoh. These people are mine because I am in the midst of them. Because they are mine they will come and worship in the place that I determine!

In response to Pharaoh’s resistance God will make this distinction again in the fifth plague.

Distinction of provision (9:1-7)

vs. 1 of chapter 9 Moses delivers the same command he has been delivering with God’s instruction, “Let My people go , that they may serve Me.

If he does not a plague will come. Notice as I read from vs. 3 through 6 the repetition in Moses’ warning.

Exodus 9:3–6 (NASB95)

3 behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

4 “But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.” ’ ”

5 The LORD set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”

6 So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.

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If you look at most of the plagues, God has instructions for Moses and Aaron to stretch out their hand. We saw Aaron stretch out his hand and strike the Nile in the first plague. The ninth plague, Moses will stretch out his hand toward the sky and the sky will grow dark. This plague however, Moses and Aaron have no task beyond the words they are to say. God is the primary actor in view, and the text emphasizes the fact. He has been working these great wonders all along, and its as if God is taking center stage. To the degree He hasn’t already, God will be in the spotlight. After all he is the one deserving of service, honor, and glory. Thus far Moses has been referring to God in the first person largely, “I will strike the water, I will smite your whole territory with frogs, yet here it’s as if the spotlight shines on the one who has been the primary actor all along with name and emphasis.

the hand of the LORD will come

the LORD will make a distinction

The LORD set a definite time

The LORD will do this thing

the LORD did this thing

Is there any doubt that the LORD is the one accomplishing this great work of judgement and provision for His people?

A judgement which results in “all the livestock of Egypt dead” We’re going to see more livestock suffer at the hands of boils and hail in the future, so we can understand this ‘all’ to be ‘all kinds’ or simply ‘a great many’.

The contrast is striking. The livestock of Israel do not merely suffer a lesser impact or even a minor cost due to this plague. It says

nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel

of the livestock not one died (vs. 6)

(vs. 7) there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead.

This fence which God has built is a tall one. Nothing crosses it without His express permission.

Let’s understand that as an agrarian society, the livestock of a nation are their livelihood. Horses are used for travel and war. Donkeys are used to haul things. Herds and flocks provide dairy products and meat. Can you imagine if you walked into Meijer or Walmart one day and the entirety of dairy and meat was empty! But then you travel across town to the other Meijer and it’s like nothing ever happened. All the milk, eggs, and beef you could ever want. Egg prices are even down.

Let’s recognize as well, we just got done talking about worship. That’s the whole reason behind the command God is giving to Pharaoh! “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” That they would worship me. How will they do that? Pharaoh just said, “Go sacrifice to your God...” God not only distinguishes his people by providing for them according to their ordinary needs, He preserves for them all they need to worship Him.

God’s preservation of His people’s provision and their means of worship extends down to the very last lamb. Not one of them would die, yet ‘all’ would be lost of Egypt’s provision.

Many didn’t realize it during Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, but they were witnessing the arrival of the lamb who would be slain for their sins. The hope of their provision and the hope of their very salvation came as a lamb to be slain, and for all those who would put their faith in this dying lamb graciously provided for them, would know a provision that the hard hearted will never know. A unique provision and abundance in eternal life - The assurance of His divine care.

Romans 8:32 (NASB95)

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

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We may not have all the wealth the world has to offer, but in Christ, through His sacrifice, we have all we need to boldly approach the throne of grace and worship a holy God. As we gather here this morning, God is not looking for any kind of earthly requirement for us to worship.

Are you dressed well enough? You need to dress nicely if you’re going to be in the VIP suite.

Did you pay the appropriate fee?

Do you have the social standing?

NO, none of that.

He asks, did my Son Jesus pay your way?

The blood of the lamb is enough for us to come and worship.

Those who are set apart and divided from the world, those called to worship, are those who’ve been provided with a sufficient sacrifice, one we cannot provide ourselves, the lamb Jesus Christ.

As much as Pharaoh recognizes himself the clear distinction God has made between His people (vs. 7), Israel, and the Egyptians, Pharoah will again harden his heart.

Distinction of purity (9:8-12)

(vs.8) once again, much like the lice (the third plague), God will provide no warning. The 6th plague will fall quickly and without warning. Moses will walk into the presence of Pharaoh with a handful of soot from a kiln and throw it into the sky. As a result boils break out with sores on man and beast particularly the magicians, such that they can’t even stand in the presence of Moses. (vs.11) Three times the breakout of boils is referenced and the third has this qualification: the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.

God has once again set apart His people from His judgement as all the Egyptians suffer from this plague.

If we recall, Moses is writing the book of Exodus to a people who are about to enter the promised land. He’s writing this down so they won’t forget the miraculous deliverance which God accomplished for them, but there’s also a lot more color and understanding around these events since they were there themselves. God has made it clear to them where He is to be worshipped, He’s made it clear that a lamb is required for the sacrifice, but He’s also made requirements for their purity. No one who is impure is allowed to even appear in public many times. They are to be put outside the city even quarantined at times, much less come into the temple to make sacrifices.

Israel knows this, it’s apart of their daily life. Cleanness and uncleanness, purity and impurity is ingrained in the Israelite way of life. When they recall this plague, there’s an understanding of what God has done. God has declared the entirety of the Egyptian people unclean. He’s put them outside the camp per se. On the other side of the fence.

Up to this point, God has made a thorough judgement of the Egyptians with the affliction of the plagues, but I believe He’s made a clear statement to His people about Pharoah regarding worship.

Pharaoh and his magicians have nowhere to worship me because I am not among them. They have nothing to worship with. There’s nothing they have that will please me. There very persons are unclean and unworthy to even appear in the camp of Israel, much less worship me.

His people however are kept from such a judgement. They will remain clean and untouched because God will have His way with Pharaoh, Pharaoh will let His people go that they might serve Him, worship Him as a pure and holy people.

Once again, His desire for us today is no different. As His redeemed people we are to worship Him in purity and holiness.

1 Peter 2:9–12 (NASB95)

9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

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We are a people chosen, set apart, that we may serve Him as priests, as worshippers, a Holy Nation! Why? What is the purpose? That we may proclaim His excellencies who has called us out of the darkness of slavery in the marvelous light of His redemption. Today as we gather, we are priests proclaiming his excellencies.

We echo just this morning the cry of those who welcomed Him on that Palm Sunday so long ago.

Matthew 21:9 (NASB95)

“Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

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Isn’t He worthy of such worship? The one who came to walk among us, a lowly, sinful people, who regarded him not, that He might die for us. Endure the rejection of his own people as they cried, crucify Him! Endure the wrath of His own Father, which we deserved, and ultimately die on that rugged cross so that we might receive mercy! Jesus was literally taken outside the camp, to take on our impurities for us when He died. For those who put their faith in Christ, we have died with Him. If we have died with Him then we will rise with Him, as the people of God. A people of mercy.

In closing:

Might we be found worshipping in this redemption.

Worshiping with the gathering where the presence of God is.

Worshiping from the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Worshiping as a holy nation, a royal priesthood.

Just as Christ came not to be served but to serve, His church is divided from the world not be served, but to serve in worship proclaiming his excellencies for the redemption He has accomplished in us.

Let’s Pray