[Only One God] Exodus 8:20-10:29 | "A Darkness To Be Felt"

Introduction

Open your Bibles to Exodus 10. In just a moment, I will read verses 21-29.

This sermon is part of a preaching series through the book of Exodus called “Only One God.”

There is only one God — the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Sustainer of all life and breath, and the Redeemer of His people!

Only one God is powerful, and only one God is present.

Exodus began with Hebrew midwives who feared God, not the king of Egypt. There is only one God, and He is to be feared and obeyed, and from the beginning of Exodus the Scriptures make clear that Pharoah was not that God!

These Hebrew midwives courageously disobeyed Pharoah’s order to kill male babies born of the Hebrews because they feared the LORD.

Exodus then introduced Moses’s parents, who the Scriptures later tell us had faith to hide baby Moses and preserve him alive because they did not fear the king’s edict.

Moses too, had faith when he grew up, for he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin (Heb 11.24-25).

Exodus tells us how Moses attempted to save his brothers from the Egyptians and even killed an Egyptian in the process, only to find out that God’s people would not be delivered in Moses’ timing by Moses’ strength, but by God alone and in God’s timing.

God calls Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt but Moses questions his ability to do what God has called Him to do.

Moses comes up with many excuses as to why God should not choose him. Moses pleads with God to send someone else!

But God chose Moses, and God promised that God would be with him. God is not concerned with Moses’ inadequacies or flaws. God did not call Moses because of what Moses could offer God.

Rather, God would be present with Moses and God’s presence would be sufficient for every need and would guarantee God’s purposes would be accomplished.

God sends Moses with his brother Aaron to be His witnesses to Pharoah, speaking His word to Pharoah, that Israel should be released to offer His worship — God’s worship — to Him in the wilderness.

But Pharaoh rejects God’s witnesses, God’s word, and God’s worship and will not let the people of Israel go. Pharoah hardens his heart, and refuses to obey because Pharoah does not know the Lord.

So God works and performs amazing signs and wonders in Egypt.

Whether they are “great acts of judgment” or “great acts of deliverance” depends on what side of faith a person is on.

Regardless, God displays His patience, and mighty power in Egypt and to Pharoah in the sight of Israel so that God’s power and God’s name might be proclaimed in all the earth! (Ex 9:16-17).

Exodus is about God! And so let us appeal to God for His help as we hear His Word proclaimed today.

Prayer

Father, by Your Holy Spirit give us eyes that we might see, ears that we might hear, and hearts that we might receive, believe and obey Your Word. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

I. The Reading

A reading from Exodus 10:21-29, reading from the English Standard Version translation of the Bible.

This is God’s Word:

Exodus 10:21 ESV

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.”

Exodus 10:22 ESV

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

Exodus 10:23 ESV

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.

Exodus 10:24 ESV

24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”

Exodus 10:25 ESV

25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.

Exodus 10:26 ESV

26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”

Exodus 10:27 ESV

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

Exodus 10:28 ESV

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.”

Exodus 10:29 ESV

29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Say Amen

If you receive this word by faith as the word of God, not the word of men, will you say Amen? — Amen!

II. The Exhortation

As Egypt is plunged into pitch darkness, God’s Word tells us it is no ordinary darkness. This is “a darkness to be felt.”

This is the ninth plague. The ninth sign. The ninth strike against Egypt and its king who refuses time and time again, to let Israel go to worship the LORD.

These nine plagues begin in Chapter 7:14 and may be divided into three series.

Strike One: Water Turned to Blood

In the first series, the water of Egypt is turned to blood. The fish in the Nile died, the Nile stank, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. The magicians of Egypt were able to do the same by their secret arts, so Pharoah did not even take this plague to heart.

Strike Two: Frogs

Then, days later, the Lord plagues the country with a swarm of frogs. The frogs were everywhere, in the house, in the bedrooms, on the bed of servants and people, in the ovens and kneading bowls. The magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. Pharaoh pleads that the frogs be taken away, but when they are Pharoah hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses.

Strike Three: Gnats

Then for the third plague, Aaron stretches out his staff and strikes the dust of the earth, so that all the dust of the earth becomes gnats in all the land of Egypt.

The magicians of Egypt recognized with this third plague, the gnats, that this was the work of God. They could not mimic it by their secret arts.

So the magicians of Egypt said in Exodus 8:19 -

“This is the finger of God.” (Ex 8.19)

Then the second series of plagues begins.

Strike Four: Flies

These consist of a great swarm of flies so that all the land of Egypt was ruined by the flies.

Strike Five: Livestock Die

Then the fifth plague, where the Egyptian’s livestock die — but only the Egyptian’s, as the Lord makes a distinction between what belongs to Egypt and what belongs to Israel.

Strike Six: Boils

Lastly, the sixth plague, boils break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.

The third series of plagues is the most severe.

Strike Seven: Hail

God rains down heavy hail with fire flashing from heaven, so that everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast was struck down. Every plant of the field was struck down and every tree broken. But the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, saw no hail.

Strike Eight: Locusts

Then a dense swarm of locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country, covering the face of the whole land, eating the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left so that not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Strike Nine: Darkness

The last of the nine plagues is this darkness. “A darkness to be felt.”

There is a repetition and pattern to these plagues.

Some come with a warning, others do not. Some come with instructions for Moses and Aaron, others do not.

Progressively, they get worse. Progressively, Pharoah’s heart gets harder. So that at the conclusion of this ninth plague, the plague of darkness, Pharoah’s heart is not only hardened yet again — so that he will not let Israel go, yet again — but Pharaoh sends Moses away never to see his face again.

At the conclusion of this plague, Pharaoh rejects finally and fully, his last witness to God’s light, the word of the Lord, and the witness of the Lord, as he says to Moses in verse 28 —

“Get away from me!”

— and sends Moses out from his presence.

By sending Moses out from his presence, Pharaoh is throwing God away. Pharaoh is casting God out.

But no one can cast God out!

No one can flee from God’s presence!

David, who believed in God, prayed in Psalm 139 —

Psalm 139:7 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:8 ESV

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

Psalm 139:9 ESV

9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Psalm 139:10 ESV

10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:11 ESV

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

Psalm 139:12 ESV

12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

1 John 5:1 tells us that God is light! And in Him is no darkness at all.

And so this plague of darkness, “a darkness to be felt,” represents Pharoah’s complete rejection of the presence and power of God.

But God remains present, and God remains powerful, and God’s presence and power will be known in all of Egypt and to Pharoah— even though Pharoah rejects Him.

And so there will be yet one more plague — one last plague after this darkness. The tenth plague — from darkness to death.

A plague that will bring death to all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.

But before the final tenth plague, God gives Pharoah one last light in this darkness.

One last opportunity to repent, before final judgment.

One last reminder of the chaos that exists in a world and in a life without the redeeming presence of God who is the light of the world.

Why so many plagues? Why so many chances?

Because God desires to be known and worshiped by all people.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Might this message be for someone listening today, one last light?

For an unbeliever to turn from sin and turn to Jesus by faith, before death and final judgment?

For a believer, to let go and lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set before us?

How is the Spirit of God enlightening your heart?

III. The Teaching

God gives Pharoah —

A. One Last Light [ 10:21-23 ]

10.21

Exodus 10:21 ESV

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.”

10.22

Exodus 10:22 ESV

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

10.23

Exodus 10:23 ESV

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.

You might wonder, How did God give Pharoah one last light by making everything dark?

Church — it is in the darkness that we desire and seek after the light!

When the power goes out in your house at night, and everything is dark, it is then that you reach for a light!

Darkness has a powerful way of making us feel, doesn’t it?

It makes us feel frightened — children are afraid of the dark!

Darkness makes us feel vulnerable — we don’t know what is creeping around us.

Darkness makes us motionless. We are helpless in the dark!

In the darkness, we become dependent.

In the darkness, we seek after the light.

Pharoah’s heart is so hardened, so rebellious, so exalting of himself against God, so full of pride, that God makes everything dark so that Pharoah may seek the light.

There is no darkness in God, but God makes use of the darkness to call people to repentance, to call them out of darkness into His glorious light!

Darkness is real, but it is also an illustration and a metaphor for difficulties and trials.

Surely, the valley of the shadow of death was a dark place!

How might God be making use of darkness in your life, to lead you to the light of His Word?

This is true for the Christian.

For a Christian who is not walking according to God’s Word, the truth, God may shut off the lights, so that we might learn:

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

This is true for the unbeliever, like Pharoah.

God may shut off the lights so that your life spirals into deeper darkness, and when He does pay attention!

Darkness was the last plague before the final judgment.

Darkness was one last chance for Pharoah to see the light.

And so it may be with you.

What more can God do for you to seek Him, and see Him, and turn to Him in repentance and faith and obedience in Christ?

For Pharoah, where was the light?

It was in Goshen.

Exodus 10:23 ESV

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.

The Scriptures tell us where the light was — with God’s people.

God was with His people, and the darkness could not overcome them!

The Egyptians were looking to the wrong source of light.

The Egyptians served Horus (the god of the sunrise),

Aten (the god of the round, midday sun),

and Atum (the god of the sunset).

But the supreme deity in their ranks of gods was Amon-Re.

(Ex - Saved for God’s Glory).

The Egyptians worshiped the sun as the giver of life, as the supreme god of all.

Every day the sun set, and was raised to life again the next morning, the believed Amon-Re was over it. Each new day was a new resurrection of the sun.

And Pharoah was considered the son of this sun-god, the Son of Re.

Pharoah was the embodiment of the sun god in human flesh, according to their beliefs.

But Pharoah could not resurrect the sun on this day of God’s judgment. Pharoah could not make the sun shine.

For the LORD God — the only God who is light, turned off the sun demonstrating His supreme power over all gods — so that there was darkness everywhere that could be felt.

On a bright summer day, we go outside and feel the rays of the sun on our skin. But God sent a darkness that was so dark, it could be felt!

Pharoah and Egypt were plunged into darkness, so that they might be given one last light.

How did Pharoah respond to this opportunity? Did he repent of his sin? Did he bow before the Lord? Did he release Israel and let them go?

With one last light, Pharoah concocted —

B. One Last Slight [ 10:24-27 ]

One last insult. One last scheme. One last snub.

One last attempt at compromise.

10.24

Exodus 10:24 ESV

24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”

10.25

Exodus 10:25 ESV

25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.

10.26

Exodus 10:26 ESV

26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”

10.27

Exodus 10:27 ESV

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

The darkness God sent upon Pharoah and Egypt was so dark that it could be felt, it was so deep, that there was no dimness.

It was so distinct from the light that there was no gray area.

The Bible gives this imagery In Creation —

Genesis 1:2 ESV

2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:3 ESV

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

There was darkness. God spoke. There was light.

Darkness and Light were so distinct, there was no gray area.

But Pharoah attempts to mix the light and dark with a halfway attempt, a compromise.

He has done this before in varying degrees throughout the plagues, but this time Pharoah is ready to let Moses and Israel go, all of them from the young to the old, the males and the females and the children, but they are to leave the livestock behind.

Halfway obedience is not obedience at all.

Comprise is not faithfulness.

ALL of Israel and their livestock were to leave, because they were going to worship God.

And there would be no worship of God without offerings to God.

And Moses does not know what animals he is to sacrifice to the Lord yet.

Exodus 10:26 ESV

26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”

God does not give details before their time.

You won’t know until you get there — take it all!

God doesn’t want part of you. God wants all of you.

God doesn’t want partial obedience. God wants total obedience.

God doesn’t want halfway submission. God wants complete submission.

God doesn’t want shared worship. God wants all worship!

And Pharoah is compromising.

We expect that from an unbeliever. But believers sin in this way too.

Listen to 2 Corinthians 6.14 —

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Christians sin by disobeying God in the name of partnership, or fellowship. And the Scripture asks two simple questions: “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?” “What fellowship has light with darkness?”

As a child of God, no partner of mine lives in unrighteousness. No friend of mine walks in darkness!

Yet we Christians so easily sin and compromise on what God has clearly made distinct.

There is no compromising the truth.

There is no peace without truth.

There is no light without truth.

Pharoah has hardened himself to the truth and will not let Israel go.

“Letting go” is a difficult if not impossible thing, for a heart that is hardened against the Lord.

If everyone will, for the sake of illustration, take both of your hands and clench your fists together if you are able. Squeeze tightly as if you are holding on to something.

Feel the pressure in your wrists and palms, and let your fingers start to turn white.

What are you holding on to, for dear life?

What are you refusing to give up?

What are you keeping under your own power and control?

This is Pharaoh’s posture and it reflects his hardened heart. As you can see, it is no posture for worship, it is a posture for fighting.

Now relax your hands, release your grip, and open up your palms, and let go.

This is a posture of surrender. This reflects a heart of worship and submission to God.

And this is what Pharaoh would not bring himself to do before the Lord — the only God.

Pharoah is given one last light, commits one last slight, and this plague concludes with:

C. One Last Sight [ 10:28-29 ]

10.28

Exodus 10:28 ESV

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.”

10.29

Exodus 10:29 ESV

29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Pharoah reacts in a way he has not reacted before — with a statement of permanence. A final decision.

He says to Moses (and thus, to God):

“Get away from me!”

His rejection of God is complete. And Pharoah arrogantly threatens Moses with death if he sees his face again (TTC).

In doing this, Pharoah sends away his last witness to God’s light, and only final judgment remains for Pharoah and Egypt.

From Light to Darkness, from Life to Death.

And this brings us to the —

The [Christ] Conclusion

For in contradistinction from Pharaoh, the Bible tells us of Jesus, that —

John 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2 ESV

2 He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:3 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5 ESV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

...

John 1:9 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:10 ESV

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

John 1:11 ESV

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John 1:12 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 1:13 ESV

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the world’s one last sight and Jesus is the world’s one last light! No compromise is allowed with Jesus!

A person either turns to Jesus by faith, or in sin turns away from Jesus. But there is no other God — there is no other way to God than Jesus!

Jesus, the light of the world, died and for three hours there was darkness across the land.

But in that darkness, there stood the cross. The judgment against all of the world’s sin upon Christ but also the love and light of God for the world --- so that all who turn to see the cross, and see the light, will be forgiven of sins, and brought out of darkness into the light, and by Christ’s resurrection will be brought of death into eternal life.

To the lost, the gospel bids you — come to the light. Come to Jesus by the way of His cross.

To the church — the gospel bids us — walk in the light as He is in the light [and] we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleans us from all sin. (1 Jn 1.7).

We could say it this way:

That Jesus is one last LIGHT before final judgment.

Jesus committed one last SLIGHT, when he insulted death and the grave, being raised to life again,

to give us one last SIGHT.

Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?