Our study in Exodus continues in the plagues, and in this study, we'll take a look at plagues 7-9. Those of us that grew up in church might have read this passage or heard it retold many times. But what does it really mean? If plagues 7-9 are understood biblically, they are reasons to be scared and for us to tremble. Have you ever considered how the plagues are scary, and that God is actually scary? Let's keep that in mind as we slowly unpack the meaning and significance of the plagues.
(A) Number 7: Hail and thunder (Exo 9:13-35)
Up to this point, God has afflicted Pharaoh with 6 other plagues. God has turned water into blood, filled the earth with frogs, put gnats on the earth, put flies on the earth, killed the livestock and afflicted the Egyptians with boils. Each plague was an act of decreation. God laid out the rules of creation in Gen 1 and God declared that everything is good. But here in Egypt, he suspends and deactivates everything. In a world full of life, He brings death. He put animals in certain spaces but here, He transgresses these space. He also afflicts people with diseases.
(c.f. Num 33:4). The plagues were not a magic show, but it was God’s way of demonstrating judgment over the Egyptian gods.
God gives Moses a specific message to bring to Pharaoh, and this message is nothing new (Exo 9:13-19). The table below breaks down the content of this message.
What lesson is God teaching Egypt through these events? Certainly this shows God's power and because of that, He is a God that is worthy to be feared. But these acts also shows us that God is to be feared also for His wisdom, compassion, because He speaks, because He is the God of the Hebrews. All that we learn about God should cause us to tremble before Him. It is not a fear that is merely afraid of death. It is a fear that recognizes the majesty and glory of God and trembles before this God. This is what Isaiah experienced in Isa 6. This is why Peter declared “depart from me” when he saw who Jesus is.
In Exo 9:27, we encounter Pharaoh's admission and his plea for Moses to stiop the plagues. What do we do with verse 27? Are those words of confession? Exo 9:34 helps us to see that Pharaoh was not truly repenting, because he hardened his heart once again once the plagues were removed. God detests false repentance. God detests a heart that is just going through the motions and knows what to do to remove the outcome and the inconvenience of disobedience and once that is gone, he (or she) goes back to living life without God. How many times have we sat in church on Sunday mouthing the words but our hearts are far from it? Are we any different from Pharaoh, sitting unaffected as words of mercy and compassion come to us?
(B) Number 8: Locusts of ruin (Exo 10:1-20)
God's message to Moses differed slightly in Exo 10:1 and another purpose is being introduced here. In 10:1-2, God also says that the plagues are things that they ought to recount to future generations. It becomes a part of their cultural identity and who they are as a people. God in His kindness and wisdom has thought how giving them a place to anchor their identity. This is also something that they could teach and pass on to future generations. They were meant to see God's love and how that translates into Him acting on their behalf. If ever they wondered if God loves and cares for them, all they had to do was to go back to this event. This is why the Psalms has many mentions of this. Look at Ps 105:26-35. These are the words God’s people sing as they remember who they are and what God they serve! Do we doubt that God loves
us? Remember what He did for our fathers.
In fact, this is something that is not altogether foreign to us today! This is a form of discipleship, and God was giving them parenting ideas. The plagues were a perfect illustration of the need to obey and follow God, and the consequences of disobedience. Parents were also to disciple their children to know who they are! What are we teaching our children? How do we know God loves us? Exo 10 is a reminder that in our lives, there is a bigger story than what we make our lives out to be, and this is our security.
Exo 10:8-11 records the exchange between Pharaoh and Moses, and they get into a bargaining war. This is the second time out of four bargains. Pharaoh seems to relent (Exo 10:8), but begins bargaining about who is to go (Exo 10:10). He would allow them to go on his terms. He
wanted to keep the women and children as a form of assurance (Exo 10:11). The issue here is about the totality of God’s people being safely brought out. God would not leave anyone behind. Not a single one will be lost, even the ones that Pharaoh wants to hold on to.
As a result, God sent the locusts on Egypt to completely destroy what the hail had left (Exo 10:13). In Exo 9:31, the wheat and emmer were not destroyed by the hail and it is this that the locusts feed on now. Pharaoh "hastily called Moses and Aaron" thereafter (Exo 10:16), to plead with them to “remove this death from me”. He knew that the locusts that have bankrupted and destroyed the country were from God. Moses did that, but Pharaoh's heart remained hardened (Exo 10:20).
(C) Number 9: A darkness to be felt (Exo 10:21-29)
A ninth plague is sent, and this was different from the last eight. In this plague of darkness, God demonstrates His complete and utter sovereignty over all there is (Exo 10:21). The entire Egyptian culture and life is organized around the worship of Ra and Pharaoh is to be his manifestation. God completely disrupts and destroys their lives that they are unable to leave their house. But this was only over Egypt, and not over Goshen (Exo 10:23). This was to show that God was with His people, but not in Egypt.
In case there is any doubt, we see once again that God is completely and utterly in control over all things. Is this the kind of God that you know? Do you see that He has this kind of power?
Pharaoh calls Moses and allows them to leave, but he still held back their livestock (Exo 10:24). He still tried to bargain with God despite the clear signs that God has demonstrated. This was the last bargain, after Exo 8:25, 8:28, 9:7. Why would anyone still bargain after being in darkness and their country lies in ruin? And yet he will still want to rob them of their livestock? The way of the wicked is like deep darkness (Prov 4:19).
This passage also calls us to examine our own hearts. We may not be a ruler like Pharaoh, but our hearts could be just as sinful. Does sin have a strong grip over your heart? Are we still trying to bargain with God and restrict the things that He can have? If this is you, hear the words of Jesus on the cross – “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do”. As He hung on that cross, a deep darkness fell over the earth (Lk 23:44-47). All of the judgment that He poured out on rebellious, hardened hearts was borne by Jesus. Jesus did not die just for Israel. He died for hardened hearts that these hearts might be softened. Tremble not only because of His judgment, but also for His compassion and love for sinners.