The Battle against Egypt Begins

Introduction

Introduction

We are past the period of preliminaries. There is no more time or need for back and forth discussion. God has declared what is to be said and what He will do. Moses and Aaron rightfully surrender in obedience. Pharaoh has refused to obey the Lord of Creation and is about to pay a price. The people have fallen into despondency but soon they will rejoice. Men and rulers of men will be put into their place and Yahweh will be exalted. Things are about to get interesting as the battle against Satan begins.

What are the Plagues

The plagues are better called miraculous signs as they involve both disease and non-disease events. The last plague involves human death, the death of the firstborn sons of Egypt along with firstborn cattle. We will use both terms throughout our study.

Apologetics point: The opinion of many scholars today is that these were natural phenomena, which their order of occurence being what we would expect from an unusually high flooding of the Nile.[3] They would argue this doesn’t diminish their status as supernatural since God can use any method to bring about a miracle.[4] There is no need to argue against the reality that things like these plagues could occur naturally, nor to we need to argue against God using natural means to accomplish His purposes. The problem with this problem is the text tells us that from the third plague on the magicians don’t believe these to be natural phenomena. They view them as the ‘finger of God’ (). The text also makes the clear each plague came about after God told Moses to take certain actions (e.g. , ). Thirdly, we are repeatedly told the plagues don’t harm Egypt (e.g. , ). Lastly, no natural plague would have just killed firstborn sons and cattle and left everyone else alone. In short, these were not natural phenomena that God decided to use. They were God’s ordained acts designed to demonstrate His power and sovereignty and we must treat them as such.

The Reason for the Plagues

The reason for the plagues is the reason for the Exodus: ‘that My Name may be known in all the earth’. This repeated all through out this portion of scripture (, ;, ;;, ). There is one sovereign over heaven and earth. This reality will be made known to Egypt and all the nations. Most importantly, the people of God will see the power of God manifested on their behalf. They will see God move mightily for His glory and His love for His people. They will know the great care God has for them. Egypt and the nations will learn about the true God who is greater than the works of their hands. Egypt and earth will come know the God of Israel is the true sovereign worthy of worship. As the plagues come and go we see the compassion, mercy, and wrath of God. We see His great power and incredible patience.

Boice, J. M. (2005). : An Expositional Commentary (pp. 849–850). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.” They show that these so-called gods are impotent and false. They can’t save. In contrast God is able to save His people. There is no power or obstacle He can’t overcome. This reality will be made known to Egypt and all the nations. Most importantly, the people of God will see the power of God manifested on their behalf. They will see God move mightily for His glory and His love for His people. They will know the great care God has for them. Egypt and the nations will learn about the true God who is greater than their works of the hands. Egypt and earth will come know the God of Israel is the true sovereign worthy of worship. As the plagues come and go we see the compassion, mercy, and wrath of God. We see His great power and incredible patience.

The Nature of the Plagues

Each of the plaques / miraculous signs come after a refusal to heed the command of God to free Israel. Several are withdrawn due to God’s mercy. Each of the plaques against Egypt strike at the power and sufficiency of the Egyptian gods. Every area of supposed dominion of these gods is impacted. Commentator James Montgomery Boice gives us some great insight from his commentary on the 105th psalm: “There were about eighty major deities in Egypt, all clustered about the three great natural forces of Egyptian life: the Nile river, the land, and the sky. It does not surprise us, therefore, that the plagues God sent against Egypt in this historic battle follow this three-force pattern. The first two plagues were against the gods of the Nile. The next four were against the land gods. The final four plagues were against the gods of the sky, culminating in the death of the firstborn children of Egypt, including the firstborn of Pharaoh, who was to be the next “god.”” [2]

The plagues come in varying degrees of intensity. The first three plagues (blood, frogs, and gnats) are relatively minor but make life difficult for the Egyptians. The next three (swarms of files, animal disease, and sores) are much more harmful, resulting in the death of livestock and sores on the Egyptian people. The last three(hail, locusts, and darkness) are quite traumatic, resulting in the destruction of crops, animals, and intense fear on the Egyptians.[1] Pharaoh attempts to bargain with Moses after the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth signs but the Lord will have none of it. Their must be full or complete obedience or there must be judgment.

We touched on this above but we can provide so further clarifications. The plagues come in varying degrees of intensity. The first three plagues (blood, frogs, and gnats) are relatively minor but make life difficult for the Egyptians. The next three (swarms of files, animal disease, and sores) are much more harmful, resulting in the death of livestock and sores on the Egyptian people. The last three(hail, locusts, and darkness) are quite traumatic, resulting in the destruction of crops, animals, and intense fear on the Egyptians.[1] Pharaoh attempts to bargain with Moses after the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth signs but the Lord will have none of it. Their must be full or complete obedience or there must be judgment.

Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 187). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.Pharaoh attempts to bargain with Moses after the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth signs but the Lord will have none of it. Their must be full or complete obedience or there must be judgment.

The Result of the Plagues

The plagues demonstrate God’s absolute control of all aspects of both human life and creation itself. The gods of Egypt will be revealed as impotent and false, unable to respond or save. Yahweh will be shown as the one true God. These signs will reveal something about His nature and character. Yahweh is a God of both judgment and mercy, wrath and love, far and near. In short, the plagues gives us a glimpse of the fulness of God. The last plague, the death of the firstborn, is introduced alongside instructions concerning the passover. This makes sense given it was the shedding of blood and death that brought freedom to Israel. Judgment passed over blood covered Israel and they were delivered from their bondage. God’s wrath was poured out on one show another can be saved.

Conclusion

God will do what is necessary to protect His holiness and His people. There is no power or obstacle He can’t overcome.

1. Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 187). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2. Boice, J. M. (2005). : An Expositional Commentary (pp. 849–850). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.