Year of the Bible: Part Two of Twelve Sample

The Plagues Continue in Egypt.

Moses and Aaron returned and asked Pharaoh to release God's people. Pharaoh refused, and Moses waved his staff, and frogs came up out of the Nile and dispersed all over the land. Frogs were everywhere! The sorcerers could also copy this plague, but they could not reverse it, so Pharaoh told Moses to pray that the frogs would go away. Moses asked him when to have God stop the frogs. He got to name his miracle! Pharaoh said, "tomorrow," and the frogs died the next day. They heaped them up, and they stank!

However, Pharaoh hardened his heart again and wouldn't let the people go. The third plague came without warning. The dust storm became swarms of gnats and covered Egypt. This is the first plague that the sorcerers are not able to replicate. The Sorcerers realized they were in over their heads, and they told Pharaoh that they were no match for the God of Israel. Pharaoh wouldn't listen, even to his advisors. Cue Plague number four.

The fourth plague was with many flies, but God puts a twist on it by declaring that the flies would not be in the land of Goshen where His people lived. He sent a plague and put geographical restraints on where the flies could go. Pharaoh then compromises by saying that the people could go sacrifice within Egypt. Moses wouldn't negotiate. Pharaoh begged Moses to have God call off the flies. The flies left, and Pharaoh rebelled again.

Once again, God demanded the release of His people and declared that a plague would come on livestock. He again made a distinction that the livestock of Egypt would die, but His peoples' animals would suffer no harm. Tony Evans tells us in his commentary, "The death of the livestock would have been a severe blow to the Egyptian economy."

But, Pharaoh was still stubborn. It's easy to criticize Pharaoh for his hardness of heart, relenting to God only when he could no longer bear the pain he was experiencing.

Question: Take an honest look at your patterns of seeking God. Does your life have to get particularly difficult before you turn to God for help?

Prayer Focus: God's mercy always triumphs over judgment. We all need his mercy in our lives. Spend a moment and sincerely ask God to teach you how to turn to Him before the pressure of life demands it.

Go Deeper: Here is a list of the gods of Egypt. See if you can identify which god was affected by the plagues mentioned today: Frogs, Gnats, Flies, and Livestock.

•Khuum: the guardian of the Nile.
•Hapi: the spirit of the Nile.
•Osiris: the Nile was believed to be the bloodstream of Osiris
•Heqt: a frog-like god of resurrection.
•Hathor: a mother goddess who was a cow.
•Apis: a bull of the god Ptah, a symbol of fertility.
•Minevis: also a bull, the sacred bull of Heliopolis
•Imhotep: the god of medicine
•Nut: the sky goddess
•Seth: the protector of crops
•Re, Aten, Atum, and Horus: all sun gods
•Pharaoh was also said to be divine.