Love the Dark, Receive the Dark

Background

Amidst the pantheon of Egyptian gods was the sun god Ra. He was the chief god and was considered the creator god. He He had many different names, the name of Amun-Re being used at this time. He wasn’t just the source of light, but of life itself.[1] According to the ESV Archeology Study Bible: “His rising specified resurrection and new life and his setting represented death and the underworld.” It was a sign of victory. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible states: “The regular cycling of Amun-Re was considered a blessing upon Egypt.” Pharaoh was considered to be the Son of Ra. This striking of the chief god would have been truly devastating.

Exposition

Verse 21 - 23: It’s not a big deal for us to travel and work at night. We have street lights and well-lit buildings. We have flashlights and car lights. We travel in vehicles that offer protection from the elements and live in buildings that do the same. This was not the case in ancient Egypt. Travelling at night was risky and potentially deadly. Evil happened at night. Thieves prowled at night. They didn’t have cellphones to call for help. Our prisons have lights for safety and utility. Being imprisoned in darkness in the ANE was treated a divine judgment.[2] While we largely aren’t an agrarian society, we need to sun just as much as the Egyptians did. The fruits and vegetables we consume require sunlight to grow. The animals that consume those plants would be left without food and then we would be in the same situation. While we are accustomed to night time hours, none of us walk around in perpetual darkness (Not even in Alaska, only 67 days). For most of us a sudden, sustained lack of sunlight would be a sign of grave danger ahead.

We have said repeatedly warnings are an act of grace. They have come to an end. Yahweh has been pouring out his full wrath upon the nation. Some scholar indicate this darkness was due to fine dust storms that removed all visibility. While this is possible, its not readily supported by the text. An eclipse doesn’t work either because of the duration given for the darkness. What we do know is this darkness brought life in Egypt to a standstill. The land had been devastated by hail and locusts. The Egyptians face a bleak future and now literally can’t see in front of their face. Pharaoh heart was hardened and so he failed to respond properly to the truth clearly in front of him (cf. Eph. 4:18). Now neither he nor Egypt can see anything at all. All those whom refuse to submit to Yahweh are in darkness (1 Jn. 1:6) and will be cast into darkness (Job 18:18, Jude 6). Ironically, given what we have described above, this message would have been clear. There is grave danger ahead and there is nothing they can do to stop it. When we fail to respond to the light while we have it, our end can only be darkness and death. So then why did Pharaoh refuse to submit?

Pharaoh preferred the darkness. Why? The light exposes who we really are and who Yahweh really us. This is a painful experience. It is a humbling or terrifying experience. We said earlier that darkness in the ANE left travelers exposed to the hands of the wicked. If someone had placed burning lamps on buildings, these bandits would have such a easy time. If someone loves the darkness because they enjoy their evil, the light is their nemesis (John 3:20). Christ makes it clear that the judgment of God comes when men hate the light and prefer the darkness (John 3:19).

On the other hand, the people of God can see clearly. Why? He has preserved them. He has kept them. He spoke to them and they believed. Yahweh demonstrated his power and received the correct response. Yes, they became discouraged but also obeyed Moses’s instructions later (see chapters 11 - 12). They also never pushed Moses to accept any of Pharaoh’s offers.[4] Which camp do you belong in? Who is more important to you? What is your level of commitment to the Lord and his word? These are some things we must consider.

Verses 24 - 26: Pharaoh makes one last negotiation attempt. It is an attempt to deny Yahweh his required obedience. It’s safe to say as the POSB on Exodus does: “Pharaoh was set against God: he was going to withstand God as long as he could, forever if possible.”[3] All the people can go but the livestock must stay. Given the destruction of the Egyptian livestock this would be a valuable resource to keep and insurance that Israel would return. This is unacceptable because without livestock the people can’t make sacrifices. Yahweh has not yet provided the parameters of the sacrificial system. They won’t be until the people reach Mt. Sinai. Pharaoh is proposing to provide limited freedom, one that doesn’t allow for the worship the LORD will instruct. A modern parallel would be the city of Knoxville, TN attempting to forbid the Lord’s supper and the signing of praise to His name. It is Yahweh alone who dictates how He is to be worshipped. There is no acceptable alternative. Moses’s language is striking as he repeatedly refers to Yahweh as “our God”. This is a message to Pharaoh that while Israel is still in Egypt, it doesn’t belong to Egypt. God’s people belong to Him. Pharaoh may currently have power of him but isn’t LORD.

Verses 27 - 29: The LORD has not yet been fully glorified and so he prevents Pharaoh from releasing the people. He warns Moses not to come before his presence again let he face death. There will be no more warnings or commands from Moses. Pharaoh won’t have another chance to change course. This darkness foreshadows death and that path is sure. Moses agrees that there is no more reason to go back and forth. He agrees with the assertion that he will never see Pharaoh again. Yet we know he will (Ex. 12:31-32) and beg Moses to take Israel and go after Yahweh is done.

[1] Mackay, J. L. (2001). Exodus (p. 188). Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor.

[2] Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 255). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[3] Exodus I, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "J. The Ninth Plague--Darkness Covered the Land: Proof That God Has Power Over the Light and Darkness of the Earth, 10:21-29".

[4] Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 309.