Old Testament- Exodus 8 & 9 - March 29, 2022

 3/29/2022 – Exodus 8 & 9

Exodus 8

It’s interesting to note that during Moses’ time, Egypt was the greatest nation on earth in areas such as wealth, education, technology, mathematics and astronomy. The Egyptians worshiped many gods—they even considered the pharaoh to be a god. There was a stark contrast between the Egyptians and the Israelites, because for so many generations the Israelites were the ones who did all the menial labor. At this time Moses had been absent from Egypt for 40 years, and he had spent those 40 years as a herdsman in the desert. He had no followers, no position, and no power, but he had the Lord with him as a tutor. And as they went through all these plagues, Moses was shown again and again the power of God over all things, and that brought Moses to develop an absolute trust in the power of God over all things.

The first plagues the Lord sent were: 

Water changed to blood—The Egyptians considered the waters of the Nile to be sacred, and life giving to the nation. But now it was changed to blood and was of no help, but was a terrible hindrance.

Frogs came next. The frogs covered everything and everyone. Pharaoh could not live with them covering everything and told Moses to leave and go worship their own god. But as soon as the frogs abated, Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go.

So the lice came next: the dust of the earth became lice which infected all the animals and all the Egyptians. Moses told Pharoah to let his people go, or Moses’ Lord would send a plague of flies-which He did in massive numbers.  These plagues were upon all the Egyptians, but not on the Israelites in the land of Goshen. Once again Pharaoh told Moses to stop the flies and take his people and go into the wilderness to worship their God. But again Pharaoh, once the flies were gone, he hardened his heart and reversed himself and refusing to let the Israelites go.

Exodus 9

The plagues continue and get worse and worse. There were flies that covered & contaminated everything.  Next the Lord destroyed the cattle of the Egyptians, but the cattle of the Israelites were not hurt at all. Pharoah continues to reverse his promises of letting Moses’ people leave as soon as the plagues are stopped. By this time there were Egyptians who obeyed the warnings of Moses because they recognized the power of Moses God. Those Egyptians who followed the instructions of Moses saw that their cattle were not affected.  V 20-21: “He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.” And the hail and fire destroyed all who had not followed the Lord’s instructions: “both man and beast; and…every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.” (v 25)

First there were boils and sores all over the animals and the people, so they could not move. Next came hail and fire and lightening and thundering that destroyed crops & trees, etc.

And this time Pharaoh’s response was slightly different. He “sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be not more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.” (v’s 27-28) Their flax and barley had been destroyed in their fields.

Moses went out of the city, and caused the hail and lightening and thundering to stop, but Moses knew Pharaoh would not be truthful this time either, for after he stopped the destruction, Moses clearly said: “But as far thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.” (v30) Moses was correct, as “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.” (v 35) 

Moses had learned the ways, and the time, of the Lord. He was fine. Pharaoh was not interested in the Lord, he was only interested in himself. He was not truthful or honest or compassionate even with his own people. He was focused only on himself—and what a difference that makes within peoples’ hearts and minds!


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