Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn

Exodus 11: And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. ² Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” ³ And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

 

⁴ Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; ⁵ and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. ⁶ Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. ⁷ But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ ⁸ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

 

⁹ But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

 

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GOD turns from warning Pharaoh to telling him what would happen. The difference with this plague is that it was too late. There would be nothing Pharaoh could do to stop the impending plague. Moses told Pharaoh that GOD would bring death to the firstborn of all Egyptians.

 

My Observations:

• GOD prophesied that HE would bring death to the firstborn of Egypt.
• GOD fulfilled the prophecy of the women asking for silver and gold and receiving it.
• GOD made Moses seen as a favorable leader versus Pharaoh to Pharaoh’s servants.

 

GOD’s grace was never recognized by Pharaoh. He would cause extreme pain to all Egyptian households because he would not give up his belief that he was a god.

 

The tenth plague represents a limit to GOD’s grace. Humans try to say their sinful love is unconditional. This is far from the truth because all humans have a sin nature. There is a part of a human that rebels against GOD. That same sin nature takes GOD’s grace for granted.

 

GOD may leave a leader of a nation alive, even though havoc has been poured out on the people. HE may even allow you and me to keep going in ways that do not include HIM. HE allows our heart to include HIM or not. HE stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. GOD was about to fully dismantle the Egyptian belief that humans can be in control.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the final prophecy of GOD to Pharaoh?
• Have you taken grace for granted in something you need to address?
• Will you praise GOD for HIS grace over your life and remember what HE did for you?

Ninth Plague: Darkness / Ninth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Ninth Plague: Darkness / Ninth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 10: ²¹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, ^[b]darkness which may even be felt.” ²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. ²³ They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

 

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GOD was at Warning, Action and Response (WAR) with Pharaoh. But this time HE gave no warning. In fact, GOD had given HIS final warning and would only perform actions, or HIS plagues. This time HE made darkness that could be felt.

 

My Observations:

• GOD caused physical darkness that felt like something was touching everyone.
• The Egyptians experienced physical darkness for three days.
• The children of Israel experienced light in their homes.

 

A mindset was being dealt with, namely the worship of the sun god Ra as a very high deity. The Egyptians were sun worshipers and placed high values in star worship to drive their decision making. For three days, the Egyptians could do nothing.

 

Meanwhile, the children of Israel experienced light in their homes. GOD’s light shows truth, shows the way and exposes dangers easily. The absences of light creates confusion, fear and depression. Three days sounds familiar. JESUS was in the grave for three days. GOD was dismantling the mindset of limiting beliefs.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the plague of darkness?
• Have you self-examined whether you are operating under limiting beliefs?
• Knowing that GOD has no limits, will you ask HIM to remove any limiting beliefs you may have?

Eighth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

 

Eighth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 10: ⁸ So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. Who are the ones that are going?”

 

⁹ And Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.”

 

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “The Lord had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. ¹¹ Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

 

¹² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land—all that the hail has left.” ¹³ So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. ¹⁴ And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. ¹⁵ For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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When Pharaoh’s servants asked him to do something about the pending situation, Pharaoh went into negotiation mode. He asked Moses, who would go. Moses said, “Everyone and their livestock.” Pharaoh countered the statement with “Men only.” GOD waited on Moses to hold up his rod, then HE caused locusts to come in and eat anything that was salvageable from the broken, burnt trees.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was addressing the unhealthy pride of Pharaoh and those who followed him.
• GOD wanted them to surrender their cruelty, slavery and superiority way of thinking.
• GOD took away their source of food that they were known for when Joseph stored up grain to save the Egyptians decades prior to this plague.

 

Dismantling the mindset versus killing the people seems to be what GOD was doing. HE saw the pride in the Egyptians who took Joseph’s direction by storing up grain in mass warehouses. When the famine ended after Joseph’s time, the Egyptians may have kept going with producing large amounts of food and selling it to surrounding areas.

 

GOD sent locusts to eat every little crumb and every morsel that was green. There would be nothing left to be proud of. Pride is one of GOD’s things HE despises. HE gave Pharaoh many chances to do the opposite of pride, namely surrender. HE does the same with you and me. When we dig our heels in versus surrendering to GOD’s will, we act like Pharaoh. GOD was dismantling pride for everyone.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s refusal to let the people go?
• What thing are you refusing to surrender, despite the warnings you have received?
• Are you open to asking GOD about what you need to surrender to HIM that is blocking your success?

Eighth Plague: Locusts

 

Eighth Plague: Locusts

Exodus 10: Now the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, ² and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

 

³ So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ⁴ Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. ⁵ And they shall cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. ⁶ They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ ” And he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

 

⁷ Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

 

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For the seventh time and last time, GOD tells Moses to warn Pharaoh to let HIS people go. Seven warnings, ten plagues. This time GOD tells Moses to remember what HE did to Egypt.

 

My Observations:

• GOD hardened Pharaoh’s heart and his servant’s heart by allowing them to believe they were in control.
• GOD was showing everyone that HE is GOD.
• GOD sent HIS final warning to Pharaoh and from here on out, there would be no chance for redemption.

 

Seven warnings to change made even Pharaoh’s servants uneasy. They tried to convince Pharaoh to change his mind, but he refused to believe he was human and not a god. Pharaoh’s servants refused to walk away from his rulership even though everything was destroyed. His heart was truly stubborn.

 

GOD gently warns Moses not to follow Pharaoh. HE wanted Moses to tell the story of what HE did to Egypt to the children of Israel and their descendants. GOD promised to bring locusts to the Egyptians that would eat any remaining vegetation. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, GOD was done with the warnings. Pharaoh’s servants thought the battle was with Moses when it really was against GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS last warning to Pharaoh regarding the locusts?
• Have you ever experienced fear to the point of making up your own path, meanwhile, disregarding GOD’s warnings?
• Do you see that the LORD has you and has the situation that causes you to have fear?

Sixth Plague: Boils / Sixth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Sixth Plague: Boils / Sixth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 9: ⁸ So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. ⁹ And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰ Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. ¹¹ And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 

 

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GOD decided to skip the warning again. HE told Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of ashes from an Egyptian furnace and to scatter them in the air in front of Pharaoh. The ashes would become fine dust that would cause boils on humans and animals.

 

My Observations:

• GOD told Moses to scatter the ashes, not Aaron.
• GOD multiplied the ashes from a few handfuls to a large dust storm.
• The magicians were afraid to admit that this plague was far too great for them, so they hid themselves.

 

“So that you may know that I am the LORD,” was the goal of GOD all along. HE wanted Pharaoh to surrender his hold on the people by his godlike actions. GOD made a visible distinction between the Egyptians and the children of Egypt. HE made boils appear on the Egyptians and their animals that I believe they stole from the Israelites.

 

I believe GOD was making the hidden known by visible sores. You could not help but notice who was an Egyptian and who was an Israelite. I notice the magicians were singled out specifically. They could mimic a couple of plagues, but could not admit they needed GOD to save themselves from the boils, so they hid. The mindset of not being able to admit they needed GOD remained hidden in their hearts, but was clear by their actions. GOD was making the hidden known.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the plague of the boils?
• Have you hidden something from everyone and are trying to hide it from GOD?
• How is GOD making a distinction between your deliverance and those HE is delivering you from?

Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

 

Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

Exodus 9: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ² For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, ³ behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. ⁴ And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ” ⁵ Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”

 

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WAR between Pharaoh and GOD continued. This was a one-sided fight as GOD continued HIS Warning, Action Response (WAR) structure. This time GOD makes a distinction and says HE is the GOD of the Hebrews.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave Pharaoh twenty-four hours to let HIS people go.
• GOD told Moses to tell Pharaoh that HE would kill all livestock of the Egyptians and leave the Hebrews livestock alone.
• GOD set a specific time that HE would perform the plague.

 

Having the illusion of control versus really having control are two very different things. Pharaoh had the title and humans followed him will all their hearts, BUT GOD was truly in control. HE said what HE would do to the livestock of the Egyptians and what time HE was going to do it.

 

GOD also made sure that Pharaoh knew HE was making a distinction between Egyptian livestock and those of the Israelites. This way they could not chalk it up to something that happened to everyone. GOD was specifically doing this plague to the Egyptians. They had to choose to follow GOD or gat a plague. GOD was tearing down a mindset of following Pharaoh.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the warning HE gave to Pharaoh?
• Has there ever been a time in your life where you refused to follow GOD’s way?
• When GOD has a plan for you that opposes your plan, do you surrender or keep going on your own plan?

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” ¹⁷ And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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GOD does a switch up and does not give a warning to Pharaoh. HE goes from making frogs overrun the land to having Moses tell Aaron to use his rod to create lice. Aaron obeyed Moses and struck the dust and lice were everywhere.

 

My Observations:

• The Egyptians looked down on the Hebrews and could not even eat with them because they felt the Hebrews were unclean.
• Lice was a form of uncleanliness to the Egyptians.
• Aaron’s rod was used for the third time to do something supernatural.

 

Shortly after digging wells to get fresh water, frogs came in epic proportions. GOD listened to Moses and allowed the frogs to die. The land stank, but eventually the Egyptians cleaned up the rotting frogs. Just when they thought their homes were restored, GOD told Moses to tell Aaron to strike the dust. Lice were everywhere.

 

This action by GOD came without warning. The first two plagues were used to tell Pharaoh to let GOD’s people go. But this plague was probably performed in front of Pharaoh and his magicians, so that they would know GOD did it. GOD was dismantling the attitude of superiority.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD went directly into the next plague without warning Pharaoh?
• Have you learned a skillset and felt superior to other’s who do not possess the skill?
• Does GOD see you as inferior to other people and if not, then do you feel you are superior?

Second Action to Dismantle a Mindset

 

Second Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ⁵ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” ⁶ So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ⁷ And the magicians did so with their ^[a]enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

 

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After giving Pharaoh the chance to let HIS people go, GOD spoke to Moses and told him to execute the action HE warned Pharaoh about. Moses told Aaron to use his rod a second time.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was warned, now GOD worked through Moses who worked through Aaron to produce frogs.
• Pharaoh’s magicians were able to produce frogs as well.
• Aaron’s rod was used for the second time.

 

The second mindset GOD was dismantling was the deep focus on placing hope in idols. The Egyptians would place their hope and trust in a human or an object, ignoring GOD completely. They revered frogs as gods. We sometimes treat humans or things as idols.

 

Meanwhile, the true GOD produced so many frogs that the land was overtaken by them. But to disprove the power of GOD, the magicians were able to produce frogs as well. We treat GOD the same way as the magicians when we downplay anything that should be viewed as miraculous. Satan’s goal is to have you and me think that we are gods and that the things we do have no connection to HIS power. GOD was taking down this mindset.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the action HE took against Egypt?
• Have you ever thought you were in control when it was really GOD?
• Can you give GOD HIS credit in the accomplishments you have achieved?

Second Plague: Frogs

Second Plague: Frogs

Exodos 8: And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ² But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. ³ So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. ⁴ And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”

 

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GOD sends Moses with the third warning to tell Pharaoh. HE warned him to “Let MY people go,” otherwise frogs will overrun the area.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was about to face the second plague and could respond with obedience to GOD.
• GOD was clear in HIS words to Pharaoh.
• GOD did not speak directly to Pharaoh, but to HIS chosen leader Moses.

 

Frogs were revered by the Egyptians as gods. They worshiped frogs more than humans. They treated the Hebrews worse than frogs. GOD decided to warn Pharaoh first before sending frogs. If Pharaoh would change his heart, then frogs would not plague the land. But if he does not change his heart, then frogs will be everywhere.

 

GOD shows HIS sense of humor and said HE would put frogs “on your people.” This is funny and scary at the same time. GOD would produce so many frogs that there would be no place to go. The frogs represent a useless idol. They would have so many useless frogs and no way to get rid of them. They would place their hope in frogs but nothing would come from it.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh about the frogs?
• Have you ever placed your hope in a thing or a human versus placing your hope in GOD?
• Is your hope in GOD strong enough to keep you from placing your hope in something or someone else?

First Action to Dismantle a Mindset

First Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 7: ¹⁹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’ ” ²⁰ And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. ²¹ The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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GOD told Moses to tell Pharaoh to let HIS people go. That was the warning. But now it was time for action. GOD told Moses to speak to Aaron. So he did. Aaron took his rod and touched the water in the river and all water turned into blood. Even water in buckets and stone pitchers turned into blood.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave Pharaoh a chance to let the people go, but Pharaoh’s heart became hard and would not surrender to GOD.
• GOD said to Moses that he would be like GOD to Aaron, so Moses commanded Aaron to strike the water.
• GOD started the process of dismantling a belief system that openly opposed HIM.

 

When GOD made the promise to Noah that HE would not wipe out humans with a flood in the future, I believe HE was also saying HE was going to allow humans to choose HIM as GOD. Unfortunately, some humans saw themselves as god.

 

This belief system existed with the Egyptians. Pharaoh was revered as a god. But the true GOD was dismantling this belief. HIS first action was to turn the life sustaining water into blood. There was no escape. GOD was delivering HIS people from those who had a mindset that they could be a god. HE may have used blood on the first plague to show we need the blood of JESUS to sustain physical life as well as eternal.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses of the action HE took against Pharaoh when turning water into blood?
• Have you taken your eyes off of GOD and placed them in a limiting belief?
• What limiting belief do you have that makes you fear, worry or doubt that GOD can deliver you?

First Plague: Water Becomes Blood

First Plague: Water Becomes Blood

Exodus 7: ¹⁴ So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. ¹⁵ Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. ¹⁶ And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! ¹⁷ Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. ¹⁸ And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”

 

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GOD spoke to Moses and let him know that Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the people go. GOD gave Moses a warning to tell Pharaoh what HE was about to do.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to use a structure of Warning, Action and Response (WAR).
• GOD was taking down a mindset versus a particular nation.
• Pharaoh would have to go through nine other plagues.

 

To take down a mindset, GOD would give Pharaoh a warning. HE would then take action. And Pharaoh would respond. Pharaoh was at WAR with GOD and fighting a losing battle. The first plague was turning the river into blood.

 

This was the lifeline of commerce, cleanliness and food. I also believe that GOD was responding to a previous Pharaoh who demanded that the Hebrew male children be thrown in the river. GOD would use the WAR pattern nine more times until Pharaoh let the people go. This was the first warning.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh?
• Have you ever been too scared to heed a warning and ultimately got hit with the problem?
• Is it possible that GOD is warning you to surrender your plan to HIM?