Jan 20, 2010 Exodus 8:16-11

So we're in the middle of a plague drama in Egypt. God tells Moses to tell Aaron to strike the ground with the staff and out of the dust will spring biting gnats or mosquitoes throughout the land. This time, when the magicians tried to do this trick they couldn't do it and they told Pharaoh that it was the finger of God. But Pharaoh's heart was still hardened just as God said.

God told Moses to get up early and meet Pharaoh when he goes to the water and say "Let my people go, that they may serve Me" and if not then "I will send swarms of bloodsucking gadflies upon you, your servants, and your people". In fact, the next day, they were everywhere - except - in Goshen where the Israelites live. Pharaoh called for Moses and said that they could sacrifice to God. But Moses said that it wouldn't be right because the Egyptians held the animals sacred that were sacrifices for the Hebrews and that they would be stoned by the Egyptians. Moses said that they would travel three days away to sacrifice to the Lord. So Pharaoh agreed to let them go into the desert to sacrifice if God made the flies go away. So Moses prayed, God made the flies go away, and Pharaoh went back on his word and wouldn't let the people go.

Again God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let the people go so they could worship Him. If not then all the Egyptian's animals would get sick and die, but not those belonging to the Hebrews. And it was so. Pharaoh's heart was still unyielding.

Next God told Moses to take soot from the fireplace, throw it up in the air in front of Pharaoh and it would become fine dust all over Egypt and everyone would be covered with festering boils. Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened just as God said.

After the boils, God made a hailstorm so strong that anything left outside, man, beast, or plant was pounded until it died. God said that He could have killed them all, but he wanted them to know that He is God. It was the worst storm ever. It thundered and hailed and the lightening ran along the ground. Pharaoh lied again and said that he was wrong, but once the storm ended his heart hardened again.

God told Moses that he had hardened Pharaoh's and the hearts of his officials to show the children and grandchildren that he dealt with them harshly so they would know that He is the Lord. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh again and said that if they couldn't go worship God that there would be a plague of Locusts. The officials told Pharaoh to let the people go. The locusts came and covered everything inside and outside (ick!) Pharaoh asked which people would be leaving to go worship God. Moses said everyone and all their flocks. But Pharaoh said only the men could go and Pharaoh kicked out Moses and Aaron. So Moses stretched out the staff and brought locusts with an east wind - locusts were everywhere. Pharaoh summoned Moses and confessed his sin against the Lord and Moses and could Moses please pray to God that the locusts go away? Moses prayed, God heard, a west wind carried away the locusts, and Pharaoh heardened his heart AGAIN.

Then there came a plague of darkness. This was a darkness that could be felt. It lasted three days. Only the Israelites had light. Again Moses was summoned to Pharaoh who said the people could go worship, but not the flocks. Moses said that they must be allowed to have animals to sacrifice. Pharaoh said no again and told Moses that if he saw him again he would die. The Lord had told Moses that there was one more plague that He would bring. It seems that everyone except Pharaoh had great respect for Moses and regarded the Israelites highly. God told them to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold. Moses told Pharaoh what the Lord had told him that the firstborn of everyone from Pharaoh to the slaves and to even the livestock would die - except the Israelites - so they would know that God makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Moses told Pharaoh that all the officials would bow down and tell Moses to leave with his people and possessions and flocks and herds. Then he left in great anger. Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.

Tomorrow's read Exodus 12-14:20