EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Ninth Plague in Egypt; Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they did not rebel against His word. (Psalm 105:26-28) 

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” (Exodus 10:21) So dark, they could feel it! 

First, the Lord God attacked the "lifeblood" of Egypt, turning the water in the rivers to blood; then He attacked them with the image of one of their many gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; then He attacked them and the land with swarms of flies; then He destroyed a very important part of their livelihood and one of their symbols of wealth, their cattle; then He attacked their skin again, with boils; then He destroyed their crops with hail and fire; then, He destroyed all that was left with locusts.

Now, He sent darkness over the land of Egypt. So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 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. (Exodus 10:22-23) 

The Lord God didn't even allow the Egyptians to have lights within their dwellings. We can't really appreciate how dark it had to have been because we have multiple forms of electricity and power today. But during this time, there was only light from the sun, moon or fire. The Egyptians had none of that for three days; therefore, they could not see anything nor move for fear because of not being able to see where they were going.

Yet again, a clear separation between the people who fear God and the people who do not. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19) It's not that the children of Israel were better than the Egyptians. But the Lord God had made a promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He was going to fulfill it. For He had said, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord [JEHOVAH] I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. (Exodus 6:2-4) 

"And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’” (Exodus 6:5-8)

Remember, by the seventh plague of hail and fair, many of the Egyptians began to fear the Lord; He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:20-21) Not all people within a nation or a culture or a group are bad and then another good. 

Jesus warned the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders of His time, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" (Matthew 23) Yet, a Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night... (John 3:1-2) And after Jesus' crucifixion, Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. (John 19:39-40)

There are good people everywhere and many of them fear the word of the Lord, and if they obey God regardless of their circumstances, or where they live, or how they were raised, or the culture they were raised in, or the country they live in, God will save them just like He saved us, and just like He saved the children of Israel; God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4)

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” (Exodus 10:24-26) 

Just like after the eighth plague of the locusts, Pharaoh is trying to manipulate the Lord God. At that time, he said the men of Israel could go, but leave the women and children. Now, he was saying all the people could go, but leave the flocks and herds. Yet again, when the Lord God speaks, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

The Lord God told Moses before He sent him back to Egypt, "...you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. (Exodus 3:18-19) 

"So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:20-22)

Not only were all the the children of Israel leaving Egypt, but they were not going empty-handed. They were taking all of their possessions, and plundering the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!” So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.” (Exodus 10:27-29)

There was one more plague the Lord God would send to Egypt, and just as this would be Moses and Pharaoh's final meeting, the tenth plague would be the Lord God's final word to the Egyptians before He would deliver the children of Israel from there. Never forget, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30)...

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Eight Plague in Egypt; “Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ' Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27) 

He spoke, and locusts came, young locusts without number, and ate up all the vegetation in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground. (Psalm 105:34-35)

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, 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.” (Exodus 10:1-2) 

The Lord God would continue allowing Pharaoh's heart to harden and send plagues to Egypt because He had said, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord [JEHOVAH] I was not known to them." (Exodus 6:1-3)

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. Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. 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. (Exodus 10:3-5) 

Locusts are grasshopper looking insects with wings, that eat all vegetation. "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. 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?” (Exodus 10:6-7) 

Well, Pharaoh's servants were ready to let them go, and with a strong hand, drive them out of his land, but Pharaoh wasn't ready to humble himself before the Lord. No matter what evidence the Lord God presents, some people just refuse to believe or accept the Truth, that He is JEHOVAH, the One, True, and Living God. But no matter how much people may choose not to believe, the day is coming when “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12)

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?” 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.” 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. 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. (Exodus 10:8-11) 

From the very beginning, the Lord God commanded Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:1-2) The commandment was that ALL of Israel go, but yet again in his arrogance, Pharaoh is trying to manipulate the situation to his advantage.  He said you who are men, not all, just the men.

When the Lord God gives clear instructions, we can not change it to satisfy our personal desires.  We have to do exactly what God commands the way He commands it to be done. "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ ... Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:9-11)

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.” 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. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. (Exodus 10:12-14) 

The fifth plague killed all the cattle of Egypt (Exodus 9:6), and seventh plague of hail and fire destroyed most of the crops, the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops. (Exodus 9:31-32) Now, the eight plague of locust was going to destroy everything that was left.

They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. 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. (Exodus 10:14-15) 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.” So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. And the Lord turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 10:16-20)

First, the Lord God attacked the "lifeblood" of Egypt, turning the water in the rivers to blood; then He attacked them with the image of one of their many gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; then He attacked them and the land with swarms of flies; then He destroyed a very important part of their livelihood and one of their symbols of wealth, their cattle; then He attacked their skin again, with boils; then He destroyed their crops with hail and fire; now, He destroyed all that was left with locusts.  Yet, Pharaoh's heart remained hard so the Lord kept it hard, and He would continue to multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt...

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Seventh Plague in Egypt; "Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: 'As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27) 

He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. (Psalm 105:32) 

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (Exodus 9:13-16)

First, the Lord God attacked the "lifeblood" of Egypt, turning the water in the rivers to blood; then He attacked them with the image of one of their many gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; then He attacked them and the land with swarms of flies; then He destroyed a very important part of their livelihood and one of their symbols of wealth, their cattle; then He attacked their skin again, with boils. 

Now, He would send His seventh attack, "As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.”’” He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:17-21) 

The Lord God was sending these plagues in Egypt to prove Himself as JEHOVAH, not just to the Egyptians and the children of Israel, but also that His name may be declared in all the earth. Some of the Egyptians began to fear the word of the Lord. Oftentimes we may go through one very difficult situation after another and wonder why is God allowing this to happen to us. Not always, but many times it's for Him to reveal Himself to others through us. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) When we realize that we can do nothing of our own, but only through the power of God in us, then we will come to the place where God was trying to get Pharaoh, to reverently fear Him so that he would soften his heart and obey God's Word.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail. (Exodus 9:22-26) 

We have the obvious line of separation again between the children of God and the people who refuse to believe. Interestingly though, there were children of God among the Egyptians now, because he who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. Even though we are in this world, Jesus once prayed, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (John 17:15-16) We may not be able to move from our old surroundings, just like the Egyptians didn't move to Goshen with the children of Israel; but we can change our behavior where we are based on the Truth, once we hear it and believe it.

And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.” (Exodus 9:27-30) 

Just like the previous six plagues, Moses would intercede on the Egyptians behalf and the Lord God would cause the plague to cease, but he was wise enough to know that Pharaoh was not going to change because he still hadn't been struck by a plague that would soften his heart, yet. The previous plagues affected their water supply, their animals, their skin.  This plague affected their crops but not completely; Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops. (Exodus 9:31-32) The Lord God allowed this just so Pharaoh would still think there was hope outside of God. He would soon find out God has the final Word on everything!

So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses. (Exodus 9:33-35) Therefore, the Lord God continued to multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt...

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:8-20)

Christ Jesus is our Savior and Lord, sent by God the Father, Who has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

His birthday is worth acknowledging and celebrating because of all He did for man, coming into the world, knowing what would be required of Him.  For He would later say, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

Remember Him, thank Him, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior today! Merry CHRISTmas!


 

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Sixth Plague in Egypt; "the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, 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.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27)

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. 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.” (Exodus 9:8-9)

First, the Lord God attacked the "lifeblood" of Egypt, turning the water in the rivers to blood; then He attacked them with the image of one of their many gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; then He attacked them and the land with swarms of flies; then He destroyed a very important part of their livelihood and one of their symbols of wealth, their cattle; now, He would attack their skin again with boils. 

A boil is a skin infection that starts in the hair follicle or oil gland. The infected area turns red and then white from pus build up under the skin. The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. Evidence of this plague has been found on some of the mummies of individuals who were alive at this time, including the mummy of Tuthmosis II, who is believed to have been the Pharaoh at this time. (read "Egypt: Tuthmosis II") 

"The examinations and CAT scans revealed that Tuthmosis II had scarring on his flesh which may have come from a skin disease consistent with that of boils. Other mummies of individuals who were alive at the same time as Thutmose II were also found to have this same scaring. Those mummies included his wife Queen Hatshepsut, her wet nurse Sitre-In, and her stepson Thutmose III. One Biblical timeline when matched up against one commonly used Egyptian Pharaoh timeline also has the Exodus falling on a date very close to the death of Thutmose II." (read "The Plague of Boils in Egypt") 

Moses and Aaron proceeded. 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. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses. (Exodus 9:10-12)

We first learned about boils when Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. (Job 2:7-8) The plague of the lice on their skin was annoying, but this plague on their skins was painful an disfiguring.

The magicians of Egypt had been helpless since the plague of frogs, when they were able to bring them out of the water but couldn't make them go back in. Now, the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils. Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of Egypt, resisted Moses, but they could progress no further, for their folly was manifest to all. (II Timothy 3:8-9, paraphrased) However, this did not soften Pharaoh's heart. Instead the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, which was already hard; and He continued to multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt...

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Fifth Plague in Egypt; "Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27) 

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. For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, 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. (Exodus 9:1-3) 

First, the Lord God attacked the "lifeblood" of Egypt, turning the water in the rivers to blood; then He attacked them with the image of one of their many gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; then He attacked them and the land with swarms of flies; now, He would destroy a very important part of their livelihood and one of their symbols of wealth, their cattle.

In ancient Egypt, just as with the Hebrews and in most societies today, " in addition to its usefulness in agricultural work, domestic cattle provided many products very much used: meat, milk, grease, blood, skin, bone, manure, horns, tendons." But even more so in Egypt during this time, "Very much a symbol of wealth, of power and source of prestige, herds in general, and cattle in particular are very often represented in the tombs, notably to the Old Kingdom. Livestock always appears in a good position in the list of the tributes perceived by Pharaoh, as well as in the spoils of his conquests." (read "Cows, Oxen and Bulls in the Ancient Egypt")

The Lord God continued by not just declaring what He would do to the cattle in Egypt, but also what he would do to the cattle of the children of Israel; "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.”’” Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” (Exodus 9:4-5) 

Just as the Lord God had said regarding the plague of the flies, "I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” (Exodus 8:23) He was going to do the same regarding the plague of the cattle. For those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. (Malachi 3:16-18)

Just like the Lord God was making a difference between His people and Pharaoh's people, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him, He has clearly made that same distinction today.  Those who have accepted God's free gift of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord, Jesus promised, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:15-17)

Those of us who are saved, God has filled us with His Holy Spirit; after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) But, those who have not accepted God's free gift of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, they are still operating based on their natural way of thinking; and, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14)

So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go. (Exodus 9:6-7) Pharaoh's problem was he refused to believe in the God Who performed the wonders and the signs in Egypt. His natural mind would not allow him to believe, even though the works proved that God was real.

Christ Jesus once told the disciples that when they saw Him, they were also seeing the Father. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John14:9-11)

Well, the Lord God was doing the same thing through Moses and Aaron, and all Pharaoh had to do was believe God for the sake of the works themselves. If Pharaoh had tried to believe, then God would have responded, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Isaiah 36:25-26) But instead, the heart of Pharaoh became hard, so the Lord God would continue to demonstrate His power and authority through yet more plagues...

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Fourth Plague in Egypt; "Thus says the Lord: 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27)

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies ... in all their territory. (Psalm 105:31) 

And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. (Exodus 8:20-21) 

First, the Lord God attacked their "lifeblood", the water in the rivers; then He attacked them with a symbol of many of their gods, frogs; then He attacked their bodies with lice; now, He would attack their land with flies.  Flies were one of many insect nuisances in ancient Egypt. (read "Vermin and Pests in Ancient Egypt") But they were also considered a sacred insect; "these tiny creatures were powerful symbols of resurrection and eternal life.". (read "Sacred Insects in Ancient Egypt") Therefore, the Lord God was going to annoy them with one of their sacred images.

The Lord God continued explaining to Moses, "And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”’” And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:22-24) 

Isn't that true today also, that there should be an obvious difference between the Lord's people and other people? In the midst of the "plagues" of life, Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (II Peter 1:3-4)

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.” And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us.” So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.” (Exodus 8:25-28) 

Moses explained to Pharaoh that the sacrifices God required the children of Israel to make would offend the Egyptians based on their beliefs and they would possibly stone the Hebrews; so it would be best for them to go make their sacrifice to God outside of Egypt. Many of the animals they would sacrifice are used as gods in the Egyptian culture. 

The Hebrews did not follow the idolatry worship of the Egyptians. The Lord God even explained how foolish idolatry is, "Those who make an image, all of them are useless, and their precious things shall not profit; they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. ... And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” (Isaiah 44:9-20)

Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go. (Exodus 8:29-32)

Why would Moses continue to ask the Lord to remove the plagues and why would the Lord do it before letting the children of Israel leave first?  As the Lord God proclaimed, "...I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:4-5)

He was not just proving Himself to the Egyptians and the rest of the world, but He was also proving Himself to the children of Israel. Remember He told Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord [JEHOVAH] I was not known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3) In order for the children of Israel to believe and follow Moses, they were going to have to believe he was truly sent by and representing the "I AM THAT I AM"! (Exodus 3:14) But for now the Lord God would continue hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt... (Exodus 7:3)

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Third Plague in Egypt; "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.’”

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27)

He spoke, and there came...lice in all their territory. (Psalm 105:31) 

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.’” 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. (Exodus 8:16-17) 

Lice are small, wingless insects which attach to humans and animals. They have mouthparts adapted for sucking. The first plague the Lord God sent in Egypt attacked their "lifeblood", the water of the rivers. The second plague represented the image of many of their false gods, the frog. Now this third plague was attacking their physical bodies. 

"Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease, but they are contagious, annoying, and sometimes hard to get rid of." As he had done the previous times, Pharaoh called his magicians. Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:18-19)

What a turn of events! God didn't allow Pharaoh's magicians to do a similar miracle, and now they're professing that the plagues were from the finger of God. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (I Corinthians 3:19-20)

Who is really in control? Obviously not the king of Egypt, nor the magicians. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (I Corinthians 1:26-29) 

God will allow man to go but so far, but He always proves Himself to be real and really in control. He warned Pharaoh from the beginning, "And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:3-5)

Not just in Egypt, but the whole world would know that He alone is JEHOVAH! Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:25)

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Second Plague in Egypt; "Thus says the Lord: 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27) 

Their land abounded with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. (Psalm 105:30)

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. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. 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. And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.”’” (Exodus 8:1-4) 

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.’” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:5-6) Frogs represented several of Egypt's gods. "The frog goddess Heqet was often shown as a frog-headed woman or as a frog. Because the Egyptians saw that there were many frogs, all appearing from the Nile, they associated the frog with fertility and resurrection, and so Heqet was a goddess of childbirth." (read "Heqet, Frog Headed Goddess...")

In the first plague, the Lord God turned all of the Egyptian waters in the rivers into blood.  The Nile River was their culture's "lifeblood", so the Lord God attacked it first. Now secondly, the Lord God attacked them with the symbol of one of their gods, the frog. The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,... (Isaiah 19:1) But Pharaoh, as before called in his magicians to see if they could perform a similar miracle. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” (Exodus 8:7-8) 

And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.” So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.” (Exodus 8:9-11)

Pharaoh's magicians brought up frogs on the land of Egypt, but obviously they couldn't make them return to the river, so therefore, he called Moses and Aaron. He used the phrase “Entreat the Lord ", but not out of belief in Him or sincerity.  He just wanted the frogs removed, and if Moses and Aaron could make that happen, he'd say anything. The Lord God ...will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. (I Corinthians 4:5)

Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:12-15)

And the Lord God did indeed reveal the counsels of Pharaoh's heart, he hardened his heart.  All Pharaoh wanted was the relief, and once he received it, he went back to his evil ways. Often times we do the same thing, we do what we want, mess up miserably, call to God for help, out of His mercy He may help us, and then once we receive relief, we go back to doing the same things we used to do that got us in trouble in the first place. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) 

All Pharaoh was doing was "heaping coals of fire on his head"; For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. (James 2:13) His total disregard and disrespect for the power, authority and mercy of God would cause the Lord God to send the third plague on Egypt...

EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the First Plague in Egypt; “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."

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27)
He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish. (Psalm 105:29)

The Lord God told Moses why He hardened Pharaoh's heart; "And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:3-5) The Lord God was going to make Himself know as JEHOVAH through out the land of Egypt and the world. 

The first signs and wonders in the land of Egypt was about to begin. So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. 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. 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! 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. 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.”’” (Exodus 7:14-18)

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.’” 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. 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. (Exodus 7:19-21)

This was a major problem, the water being turned to blood.  The water supply in Egypt, just as in most places today, is very important to the environmental sustainability of the society. "Ancient Egypt was, as it is today, a land of total extremes from the arid desert landscape to the narrow ribbon of very fertile land surrounding its lifeblood the River Nile." (read "The Importance of the River Nile in Ancient Egypt Civilization") Yet, the Lord God chose to strike their "lifeblood" by turning the waters into blood as His first sign and wonder to show the Egyptians that He is the Lord. God doesn't just do things randomly for no reason. 

Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river. (Exodus 7:22-25)

Just as he had done during Moses and Aaron's last meeting with him, Pharaoh called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. ... And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as theLord had said. (Exodus 7:11-13) So God allowed Pharaoh's magicians to be able to do a similar miracle again, but we will see as the plagues continue if they will be able to continue mocking God...

EXODUS: Don't be Fooled by Everything We Hear and See; "Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh. The magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods."

And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?” (Exodus 6:28-30) 

Twice before, Moses tried to use this same excuse to get out of doing what the Lord God had called him to do, but again the Lord God would declare that Moses is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. (Acts 7:35; Exodus 3) So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:1-3) 

"But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:4-5) 

As we studied in the previous lesson, the Lord God was now going to make Himself known throughout the world as JEHOVAH, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. (Psalm 83:18 KJV) For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17)

The Lord God did not have to use Moses to do this, but He chose to. Man can do a lot of things, but a mere man cannot do certain things, no matter how hard they try. Moses would appear as God to Pharaoh, meaning he would represent God because of what God would do through him.  There would be no other way to explain the things that would happen other than that God Himself was doing them. And Aaron would be his prophet, meaning he would speak the Word of God. Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7) 

The works of God are always accompanied by the Word of God. We learned this Truth from Christ Jesus.  He was the Word of God in the flesh; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. ... Many good works I have shown you from My Father. ... If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:25-38)

Pharaoh, the Egyptians, maybe even some of the Hebrews and the rest of the world may not believe in JEHOVAH as their God, but all the world would have to believe there was a God based on the works that He would perform. Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did. And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:6-7) 

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. (Exodus 7:8-10) 

But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:11-13)

Well, it would appear that the the wise men and the sorcerers of Egypt could do the same miracles that God could do.  Don't be deceived! Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:11-13)

We can not become discouraged when things appear that the enemies of God have as much power as God, but we must continue to stand. Just as Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods, God will have the final Word, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4) Now as Jannes and Jambres [the magicians of Egypt] resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. (II Timothy 3:8-9)

Man can do many things with the help of principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. But no matter how much God allows them to be able to do, when He decides it's enough, it's enough. And no matter how much they are willing to do, they won't be able to or would never have conceived to do most of the ten plagues that JEHOVAH was about to send in Egypt...

EXODUS: The Lord God, JEHOVAH is in Control of the Circumstances, and Therefore the Consequences; "By My name JEHOVAH I was not known to them. I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant."

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” (Exodus 5:1) 

In the previous lessons, the Lord God had called Moses to return to Egypt and with his brother, Aaron's help, the Lord God would use him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and back to the promised land of Canaan. The Lord God instructed and warned him, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’” (Exodus 4:21-23)

That was not an idle threat by the Lord.  Remember, there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” (Exodus 1:8-10) Instead of remaining welcomed guests in Egypt, the new Pharaoh made the children of Israel into slaves. He later became so fearful of them that he commanded his people to kill all their male babies; So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:22)

No matter who we are or what we do, each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12) Therefore, Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19) Whether the children of Israel understood that, which was why they didn't retaliate, or whether they just felt to weak to do anything, either way, the principle was and still is true, that God will repay our enemies, so we just need to keep our faith and trust in Him, and be still when He tells us to, but ready to move when He tells us to.

And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.” And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!” (Exodus 5:2-5) 

So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” (Exodus 5:6-9) 

The Lord God warned Moses, "I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." As we studied previously, the Lord God allowed Pharaoh's heart to be hardened because it was already hardened. What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,... (Romans 9:22-23) 

God was going to demonstrate His power and authority on the earth to the whole world at that time, through what He would do in Egypt. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Romans 9:17-18)

But before the miraculous demonstrations would come and eventually the children of Israel's deliverance, things would get a lot worse. And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’” So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” (Exodus 5:10-13) 

Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?” Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.” (Exodus 5:14-16) 

But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.” (Exodus 5:17-19) 

Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 5:20-21) Things were already bad for the children of Israel, but since Moses initially talked to Pharaoh, things had gotten even worse.  It's amazing how much better the past looks to us, even if it was bad, when our present situation gets worse. 

So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” (Exodus 5:22-23) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1) 

And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord [JEHOVAH] I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. (Exodus 6:1-5) 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew the Lord God as a covenant maker and keeper; a deliverer from their enemies; a Holy God who would destroy evil off the face of the earth; a God Who answers prayer; a God who blesses with land and possessions and descendants. (Genesis 12-50) Remember, names mean something to God, that's why many times throughout scripture, He would change someone's name.  In this case, He's not changing Him name, but now the Lord God was going to make Himself know as JEHOVAH. The original Hebrew word is Adonai, meaning Lord, Master. This name is plural, yet again validating the Trinity, which we were introduced to in Genesis 1-2. (read "The Names of God")

JEHOVAH was going to make Himself know as not only having power and authority among the children of Israel, but among all people, including the Egyptians and among all of creation, the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord [JEHOVAH], are the Most High over all the earth. (Psalm 83:18)

"Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’” So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. (Exodus 6:6-9) 

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.” And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 6:10-13)

Moses isn't saying he's uncircumcised.  Remember when the Lord God called Moses, he responded, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10) Moses is trying to get out of speaking with Pharaoh again, but the Lord God, JEHOVAH had sent him and Aaron and His plans would not change...