THE PLAGUES

God used miracles to try to convince Pharaoh of His power. The king saw Aaron's rod become a snake and the water in the Nile river become blood. But these miracles did not change Pharaoh's heart. Instead he hated the Israelites more. The king's magicians led Pharaoh to believe that these miracles were performed by magic. But he had all the proof of God's power he needed in the way the plague of frogs was stopped. God could have made the frogs turn into dust in a moment's time. But He did not do so because He did not want the king and the Egyptians to say that the plague of frogs was a magic trick.SRme 1.452

When the frogs died, the people had to gather them together in heaps. Everyone could see the dead frogs. The smell of their rotting bodies filled the air. The king and all Egypt had proof that plague was not a work of magic, but a judgment from the God of heaven.SRme 1.453

When the plague of lice happened, God did not allow the magicians to make lice too. God took Pharaoh's excuses away. The magicians had to say, "This is the work of God."SRme 1.454

Next was the plague of swarms of flies. These flies were not the same as the flies that bother us today. They were large and poisonous. Their sting was very painful to people and to animals. God separated the Israelites from the Egyptians by not allowing the terrible flies to come where the Israelites lived.SRme 1.455

Then the Lord sent a plague of disease on the Egyptians' cattle. But the Lord kept the Israelites' cattle from getting the disease and dying.SRme 1.456

Next God sent terrible sores on the Egyptian people and their animals. The magicians were not able to protect themselves from the sores.SRme 1.457

Then the Lord sent a plague of hail, fire, lightning, and thunder on Egypt.SRme 1.458

Before most of these plagues happened, God, through Moses, told the Egyptians the exact time when the plague would begin. God did not want the people to say the plagues just happened by chance. These plagues showed the Egyptians the whole earth was under the command of the Israelites' God. Thunder, hail, and storm obey His voice.SRme 1.459

Proud Pharaoh once asked, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?" Now he humbled himself, saying, "'I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and my people and I are in the wrong'" (Ex. 9:27). Pharaoh begged Moses to ask God to stop the terrible thunder and lightning.SRme 1.460

The Lord next sent a dreadful plague of locusts. Pharaoh chose to receive the plagues rather than to give in to God. He continued to be stubborn when his whole kingdom was suffering from these terrible judgments.SRme 1.461

Next the Lord sent darkness on Egypt. Light was taken from the people, and the air became so heavy that the air was difficult to breathe. At the same time, the Israelites were blessed with pure air and light in their homes.SRme 1.462

God would bring one more terrible plague on Egypt. The plague would be the worst of all the plagues. The king and the idol-worshiping priests stubbornly refused to give in to the requests Moses made. The Egyptian people wanted the Israelites to leave. Moses informed Pharaoh and the Egyptians about this terrible plague. The plague would cause great terror for the Egyptians, but it would be glorious for the Israelites. On the night of the plague the first solemn Passover ceremony was held.SRme 1.463

The Egyptian king and his proud, idol-worshiping people had a difficult time doing the will of the God of heaven. Pharaoh was very slow about giving in. Every time a terrible plague would happen, he would yield a little. But when the plague stopped, he would take back all he promised to do. So plague after plague was brought on Egypt. Pharaoh yielded no more than he was forced to by the fearful plagues. After Egypt was ruined, the king continued in his rebellion.SRme 1.464

Moses and Aaron explained to Pharaoh what would happen after each plague and what the results would be if he refused to let Israel go. Each time he saw the plague happen exactly as he was told the plague would happen, but, he would not yield. At first, Pharoah was willing only to give the Israelites permission to offer sacrifices to God in the land of Egypt. Then, after Egypt hadSRme 1.465

suffered so much from the plagues, he was willing to let the men go. When the plague of locusts nearly destroyed Egypt, he was willing to let the women and children go. But he would not let them take their cattle.SRme 1.466

Moses then told the king God would send an angel to kill all of the Egyptians' first-born children. Every plague had come a little closer to the king and had been more severe than the plague before. This was to be the worst of all. When the king heard this warning, he became very angry, but he did not humble himself to obey God. The Egyptians saw the Israelites getting ready for that terrible night. The Egyptians made fun of the sign of blood God's people were putting on their doorposts.SRme 1.467