Exodus 10 A Plague of Darkness
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” 22 So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.
This time, Moses doesn’t give any warning; he reaches out toward heaven and darkness descends. But this isn’t the ordinary darkness of night, for this is deep darkness, a total absence of starlight, moonlight, or even hope. When the Egyptians try to light lamps, the lamps refuse to function. The Egyptians feel as if they have ten tons of weight on their chests, with the presence of evil oppressing them spiritually. I John 1:5 tells us, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” But when God withdraws His presence, the darkness is total. Guzik points out “This was a dramatic show of greatness over the prominent Egyptian god Ra, thought to be the sun god.”
Those Israelites who live close enough to the borders of Goshen can look at the utter darkness and feel the cold of evil, but they aren’t suffering. While the Egyptians are groping in the dark, the Israelites are rejoicing in the light of God.
24 Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”
25 “No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. 26 All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.”
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”
29 “Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”
You have to hand it to Pharaoh; he’s nothing if not persistent, even if he’s persisting in stupidity. Once more, Pharaoh tries to compromise, bargaining with God, and once more Moses refuses. Pharoah gets so angry, he warns Moses never to return on pain of death. While this sounds like a curse, Moses responds, agreeing that Pharoah will never see him again. Eventually a time will come when Pharaoh might wish for Moses to return, but as he rejects Moses, he is also rejecting Moses’ God.
At this point, Pharaoh really is a special kind of stupid. Egypt is in ruins, its people destitute, its agriculture completely devastated. The Egyptians are living in torment while the Israelites are enjoying God’s favor, His light, and His protection. But Pharaoh is willing to allow Egypt to be reduced to an ash heap as long as he still rules the ash heap. The Egyptians have no peace while the Israelites are experiencing the deep abiding peace of God.
There are times when God grants us peace in the middle of storms. Several years ago, we endured a tribal war. While there were many frightening incidences, God gave us the peace necessary to keep working and expand the services our facility was offering. It’s no exaggeration to say that God built a hospital in the middle of that conflict. We learned that when we are in the center of God’s will for our lives, He gives His peace, no matter what might be happening around us.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to follow Your leading, knowing that You can give deep and abiding peace, no matter our outward circumstances. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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