Finishing up with the Plagues today

We start off with plague number 6 and boy is it a messy one.

Plague #6 - Boils

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."

Something that has started to stick out from reading the plagues in more details is the who is doing the actual sign, where the sign is taking place and who is it is affecting is standing out more and more the further we dig in. Here's a handy cheat guide I had to make myself:

Plague 1 – Blood

Location: River

Who does it: Aaron strikes the water it turns to blood

Magicians are able to replicate
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer

Plague 2 – Frogs

Location: Palace

Who does it: Aaron with Moses’ staff

Magicians are able to replicate
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 3 – Gnats

Location: Palace ?

Who does it: Aaron by striking the dust

Magicians are not able to replicate it!
Both Hebrews and Egyptians suffer

Plague 4 – Flies

Location: River

Who does it: The Lord

Magicians aren’t able to replicate
Only Egyptians affected
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 5 – Livestock

Location:

Who does it: the Lord

Magicians are unable to replicate
Only affects Egyptians

Plague 6 – Boils

Location: Palace

Who does it: Moses

Magicians can not replicate due to boils on feet
Only Egyptians affected

Plague 7 – Hail

Location: mountain

Who does it: Moses

No replication
Only Egyptians suffer and those who did not fear the Lord or take precaution
Moses is the one who prays for it to stop

Plague 8 – Locust

Location:

Who does it: Moses

No replication
Only affects Egyptians
Moses prays for it stop

Plague 9 – Darkness

Location: Palace

Who does it: Moses

Affects only Egyptians
No replication
No prayers last only 3 days

Plague 10 – Death of 1^st born

Location: All of Egypt

Who does it: The Lord

No replication
Only affects those in Egypt who do not celebrate Passover or follow instructions given by Moses
No prayer for relief

What is cool is seeing how it starts off with Aaron needing to do the signs and as Moses grows in confidence and knowledge it is he who begins to do the talking more and the signs more and the praying for things to end more. And Aaron becomes more of the second fiddle. I like it! It shows me how God is working. As he builds my confidence in what He is teaching me he is going to cut the cords a little and slowly give me the reigns. The bigger things He will handle himself yet he will still allow me to do the work I am suppose to do! Man I love Moses and Exodus. Gets the blood pumping

Anyway back to the plagues So with the boils and all the nasty that this brings once again the Hebrews are not affected. Magicians can not stand in front of Moses to attempt to replicate (because they can't stand due to boils see the irony there if you say God doesn't have a sense of humor read Exodus cause he does) Yet Pharaoh still doesn't give up on letting God's people go. 

Plague 7 - Hail

This one is just scary. It is scary for lots of reason but one is God stresses to Pharaoh in v. 15 of Chapter 9 that "I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." YIKES I don't know about you but that is not something I would ever want to hear from the Lord. 

The Lord then proceeds to warn Pharaoh that a hailstorm is coming one worst then anything that has ever fallen on Egypt so be prepared. 

What I do love is in v. 20 "Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside." They were like nope not playing around here this Lord who every he is isn't playing and I'm not falling for it again. The others ignored the word and well we all know what happened. Cause Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky and the Lord sent thunder and hail and lightening flashed down to the ground. It was the worst storm in the all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. The beautiful part of this chapter is v. 26 "The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were. 

Now what follows as it is hailing is awesome Pharaoh summons Moses to him and says "This time I have sinned The Lord is right and i and my people are wrong"

It took me some time to think on this. This means the first  plagues Pharaoh was under the misconception that either this was happening to him because God was being 1) mean, 2)cruel, 3)unfair, 4) picking on him or 5) being a bully to prove a point and didn't really need to in Pharaoh's eyes. Which is weird to me. So to Pharaoh he was thinking what have I done wrong to deserve all this punishment? I have done nothing wrong the Hebrews are fine they are happy why should this random man and this random God attack me? Or he was just thinking Moses was  really really good Magician. 

Until this plague where he realized that it is by his actions that have brought his people to this point of destruction. Because according to v. 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields - both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. This would have devastated crops and fruit.

Another thing I like about this chapter is Moses agrees to pray for Pharaoh and the people to stop the hail and destruction but, "When I have gone out of the city I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord's. But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God." Moses isn't fooled by Pharaoh's realization and he knows that this isn't over. I think Moses feels bad for what is happening. He realizes that Egypt has lost everything trees, fruit, barley and people as well as animals that hadn't been brought in. Yet he also knew that Pharaoh wasn't going to let the people go. This wasn't over yet and he was right.

Plague #8 - Locusts

This time the Lord let's Moses know I have harden not only Pharaoh's heart but his officials sot hat I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them and that you may know that I AM THE LORD. 

Moses does as he is told and warns Pharaoh if you don't let my people go Locust will be a coming the worst you have ever seen they will devour what little you h ave left after the hail. This caused the officials to be like "Dude let them go why are we putting up with this crap from them who cares?"

Pharaoh then begins negotiations about who can go where and with what" it doesn't fly with Moses who gets annoyed and annoys Pharaoh who drives them out of his presence so Moses stretches out his staff over Egypt and by morning the east wind had brought the locust. They invaded all of Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers Never before had there been such a plague. (and here is another promise we get from God) nor will there ever be again. They devoured all that was left after the hail everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land. 

Pharaoh quickly pulls out the I have sinned against the Lord and your God card again. Moses does the praying thing again and everything is fixed thing again. Yet Pharaoh's heart is hardened again.

So thus we being 

Plague #9 - Darkness

There was no warning it just happens Moses stretches out his hand and total darkness covers all of Egypt for 3 days no one could see anyone else or move about for 3 days except for the Israelites who had light in the places where they lived. Pharaoh tells Moses he can go again but he has to leave behind the herds and cattle. Moses says no they need them to make offerings so that won't work. Pharaoh gets made and says Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again@ the Day you see my face yo will die. 

Plague #10 - Firstborns

This is how we get to the Passover my favorite story and holiday. 

I will start in Chapter 11 v. 4 "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at there hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt - worse than there has ever been (if you recall Chapter 1 v 16-22 when the Egyptians were killing Hebrew babies) or will be again (promise #3) But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of your swill come to me, bowing down before me and saying Go you and all the people who follow you!" 

This is hands down the scariest of the plagues and one I think if I had been Pharaoh not a plague I would have tested but the Lord harden his heart and he didn't have a choice. 

Next week will go into Passover and what the rules are, why we celebrate, what it did how the Jewish people still celebrate and what it is for. It should get us up to Chapter 14 Crossing the Sea and we might even be able to get pass that!

Let me know your thoughts on the plagues! Would love to hear feedback

The first 5 plagues

I love when we start a chapter off with
Then the Lord said cause you know whatever follows is going to be good. I mean you know whatever the Lord says is going to be major, but in Exodus whatever He says is going to pack a punch. And Chapter 7 is no exception cause this is where we start the plagues baby!

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. (that's deep) You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with my mighty acts of judgement I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it."

Whew wee there is a lot going on here.
1. God is reminding Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart therefore he will not listen to you. I love that God pointed this out to Moses because if you remember from Chapter 6 v. 30 Moses had a doubt about that. We talked about Moses's doubts a few times (here and here) last week he straight up asked God here in v. 30 "But Moses said to the Lord, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" God is telling him in Chapter 7 he's not going to listen because of me so stop worrying about it!
2. He stresses I will 3 times in this paragraph to Moses leaving little doubt who is actually in control.
a. I will harden Pharaoh's heart
b. I will lay my hand on Egypt and with might acts of judgement
c. I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.
3. Lastly he stresses that the Egyptians will know that I AM the Lord (my favorite saying and I believe the most we hear the Lord say I Am).

I love how in Chapter 7 we get an age check. Moses is 80 and Aaron is 83 so if you are feeling like you are too old to be used by God go back to chapter 7 in Exodus and get a reality check and don't say to me that people lived longer then cause I'm pretty sure that's an excuse (Moses)...

Right off the bat God is warning both Aaron and Moses that Pharaoh is going to want a miracle. God wants them to do the staff snake routine that was practiced by Moses earlier (Poor Aaron he missed the whole thing but hey apparently he has faith more than I and is a lot better off with snakes then Moses) cause it went down just like God said it would. Aaron throws his staff it becomes a snake. Pharaoh summoned his wise men and sorcerers and they did the same thing with their "secret art" (let's take a moment on the side crazy train and recognize that magic does exist not good magic in this context but still I'm just saying all those out there that told me it didn't you LIED what you could have said is yes there is magic it is used for good or bad. Aaron good others bad and just left it at that. JUST SAYING) So the other magic people did the same thing but here's where it gets interesting Aaron's snake straight up eats the other magician's staffs! STRAIGHT UP EATS THE OTHER SNAKES seriously. AND NO ONE BATS AN EYELASH. COME ON. I get that magic is the norm in this time frame (cause we'd be freaking the hell out if a staff turned into a snake now and days don't pretend like we wouldn't) but then to have one staff eat the other staffs come on. Yet Pharaoh's heart was harden just like the Lord said it would be and he would not listen.

And thus the plagues begin...

Plague #1 - Blood

So the first plague of Egypt was as dramatic one. All the waters of the land were turned to blood. The Nile which was a major source for drinking, food, and bathing. The vessels (even the water in their idols) were even touched by it the streams, canals, ponds and reservoirs were all turned to blood. The fish died and the river smelled so bad that Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

But here's the kicker that I was never taught in Sunday school: The Egyptians magicians did the same thing by their secret arts: SERIOUSLY WHAT THE HELL? How? where? why? And why not turn it back if you can turn it to blood? Why would you just have a spell like that? But not a reversal? Doesn't even make sense? Or was Moses and Aaron constantly going around turning it back to blood? Which I doubt b/c I think that would've been in the book don't you? So because his FREAKING magicians could do the same damn trick (which is still baffling every dang time I read this) and because the Lord had harden his heat which then makes me wonder if it wasn't the Lord who gave them the magic mayhaps?!?! Pharaoh once again would not listen to Moses and Aaron instead he turned and went into his palace and did not even take this to heart. And the poor Egyptians (who I do and don't feel bad for it's not their fault they had to do what the Pharaoh said it's not like they got to vote the man in) where stuck digging along side the Nile to get drinking water because they could not drink the water of the river.

Plague #2 - Frogs

Seven days later (which I'm not clear on if the river just got clean on its own or if the Lord cleaned it or if Moses did or the magicians finally did or if a rain storm washed away the blood or heck maybe it still was bloody my best guess is the blood eventually washed away with the tide and eventually became clear again). Every time I ask this no one has an answer so your guess is as good as mine.
Any who 7 days later the Lord said to Moses to go to Pharaoh again to let his people go or a plague of frogs happen. Doesn't sound bad until you realize they will literally be everywhere in your bed, houses, ovens, kneading troughs, etc.

Interesting enough Aaron is the one who has to do this with Moses' staff. Sadly enough the dang magicians did the same thing which means they added to the freaking problem and didn't help in anyway except to prove that their magic could do the same thing. NOT HELPFUL also baffling. Here's where it gets interesting though. Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and says, "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."
2 things:
1. clearly the magicians could not make the frogs go away (score a point for our side)
2. frogs are clearly annoying in large numbers
Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."
"Tomorrow" (apparently frogs are really, really annoying in large numbers)
Moses leaves and "cried out tot he Lord about the frogs he had brought on the Pharaoh. And the Lord did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses (probably not exactly what Pharaoh was seeking me thinks) since they ended up being piled in heaps and the land reeked of them. But when Pharaoh saw there was relief he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord said.
point in fact: Pharaoh lied

Plague #3 - Gnats

Aaron stretched out his hand and struck the dust and and it became a plague of gnats. Here's the interesting part of this particular plague the magicians could not replicate it with their secret art when they tried to produce it. Because of they couldn't they said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (so my prediction that God is the one that gave them the "secret art" was totally wrong cross that off the list)
Pharaoh's heart however, was hard and he would not listen.

Plague #4 - Flies 

I like this plague for only 1 reason and here it is: this is the plague that made the distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Before now everyone was treated the same I believe, but here God makes the "distinction between my people and your people" in v. 23 What I also find interesting is that Pharaoh wants Moses and the Israelities to worship here in the land and what I didn't know the answer to (besides the fact that God doesn't want them to) is why they couldn't do just that, but Moses in v. 26-27 answers that for me.
"That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us." That was very interesting so I ask myself what about the offering was detestable to the Egyptians and I found it rather fascinating: The animals that the Hebrews would sacrifice were sacred to the Egyptians and would have caused a riot if they saw them sacrificing them.  Kind of like the Hindu and Muslims in India. (fun fact: the more you know)
Pharaoh once again promises to let the people go and offer if they don't go far away and Moses promises to pray for him. Moses agrees as long as Pharaoh is not deceitful again by not letting the people go. But we all know that pharaoh once again lied because he we have 6 more plagues.

Plague #5 - Livestock

This plague affected not only cows but donkeys, horses and camels, sheep, goats and the cattle. However, only the Egyptians once again God made the distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. He also set a date like a warning sign to Pharaoh (which isn't always good to know when things are going to hit the fan). Then the Lord did it and Pharaoh investigated all the livestock of the Egyptians died but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

So there we go the first 5 plagues to hit Egypt... what do you think was the worst of the 1st batch?
I have to go with blood then livestock personally. Although frogs seemed to annoy everyone greatly.

Next week we will hit on the next 5 and then follow up withe Passover which I do love the story of Passover!

God Promises Deliverance

I just love the heading of Chapter 6 God Promises Deliverance I mean what a beautiful beginning to a chapter.

We left off 2 weeks ago with Moses asking the hard question of :  “Why Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? (woe is me is this the only reason I was brought here to do nothing, but bring trouble? What’s the point?) Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all (like you promised what gives? Why did we even bother? So what’s the point? Why come here if nothing was going to happen and all we were going to do was cause trouble? And now no one likes great this is going real well Lord, now what?)

And we begin Chapter 6 with God answering Moses with “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh” I don’t know about you but if I were Pharaoh I would be scared (actually to be fair Pharaoh has no idea this conversation is happening so let’s reverse this) If I were Moses I would be terrified for Pharaoh.  There are a few people in life that I think God should be like let me show you my full power (no it isn’t right and yes I am judging and yes I will repent of that later) That being said there are a few. Even those few people don’t deserve to have the Lord Almighty say, “Now you (Sara Brown) will see what I (the Lord Almighty) will do to (insert the people Sara Brown feels deserve this punishment) to Pharaoh.” That gives me the chills just writing it. Then the Lord continues, “Because of my might hand he will let them go; because of my might hand he will drive them out of his country.” I love this. The Lord is leaving no doubt as to who will be responsible for letting His people go. It will be by His mighty hand and there will be NO DOUBT as to why Pharaoh let HIS (AKA the Lord’s) people go because it will be down “by my mighty hand”. Whew wee 

And here it comes again my favorite quote as if we were in doubt on who the Lord is: God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD (Dang signed sealed and delivered you can take it to the bank he is declaring once again to clear it up who he is) I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty (Wow just wow reading that man could you imagine being one of those blessed people and now Moses is one of them), but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them (I struggled with this and had to go back and re-read and re-read those accounts and I promise you I will do a follow up post on that soon more research needs to be done). I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.”

Again God reminds the people and Moses that He remembers His promise and that He has heard their groaning (crying and pleading) and He will not forget His promise to them. This right here is some powerful stuff.

He goes on to make 7 I statements in the form of promises to the people of Israel that he wants Moses to tell them in the next paragraph that are important I am going to break them down for you so that you the reader can see them more clearly. He starts off again by saying: I am the LORD and:

1. I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

2. I will free you from being slaves to them

3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgement.

4. I will take you as my own people

5. I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians

6. I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob.

7. I will give it to you as possession.

I am the LORD.

Wow 7 promises from God 7 I am statements from the LORD himself delivered and guaranteed to the people from Moses the prophet. Yet do the people respond in a positive uplifting way?

Nope they are just the opposite in fact they do not listen to Moses because of their discouragement and harsh labor… ponder that for a moment. Have you ever been in a situation that was so discouraging that you just couldn’t see the light shining in? or heard that one friend who was being uplifting telling you the truth, speaking the truth, spreading love because you were so discourage you couldn’t even bear to think of the positive? That’s where the Israelites were at. After all life while bad was livable they were slaves yes, but they were still able to live a life, until this Moses character came in and spouted off about God wanting them to be free and a purpose greater then this a life more exciting than this, freedom that existed outside of this and now look at life. Where had all this great talk gotten them? Where was God now? What was He doing? Why was he taking his precious time? Wasn’t he ALL POWERFUL, ALL MIGHTY couldn’t he just smite Pharaoh and be done with it all? What’s with this game Moses was playing all he was doing was making life… harder, struggles more unbearable, life more difficult. Was it really worth all this for God to prove he was I Am?

And if that wasn’t bad enough when Moses reports back to God that the people weren’t buying God wants him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to “Let the Israelites out of his country” Moses was like 

Doubt comes flooding back in (you remember that topic from here right) well beautiful doubt #3 raises it’s wonderful head “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” (And let’s sprinkle in some of doubt # 4 for good measure because if the enemy is going to mess with our heads he’s going to do it to the ninth degree right?) “Since I speak with faltering lips?”

Poor Moses it doesn't appear that he can win in this situation. In fact it rather feel hopeless. 

Have you felt in this boat? God is telling you one thing and the world is telling you another? Or worse you friends and family are saying No? How have you dealt with it? 

We are going to work through 1/2 of the plagues (there are 10 after all) this week and next I hope. And I will continue to research how Abraham, Issac and Jacob did not fully know God (Chapter 6 vs. 3 thoughts welcomed). Let me know what you thought about today by leaving a comment here. Talk to you guys soon as we dig deeper into Exodus!

Also just a reminder anything in an (is totally my voice and interpretation nothing more) just wanted to throw that out there.