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)
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)...
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)...
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