Burunche’s Blog

Exodus 10:1 – 20 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields. They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.

Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”

“We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil. No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.” So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.” So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.”

“Before God brought the next plague, He told Moses that the Israelites would be able to tell their children of the things they had seen God do in Egypt and how it showed them God’s power. The eighth plague, locusts, again focused on Nut, Osiris, and Set. The later crops, wheat and rye, which had survived the hail, were now devoured by the swarms of locusts. There would be no harvest in Egypt that year.” (What was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt? | GotQuestions.org)

Locusts! Very few things are as destructive as locusts. Locusts will eat nearly any kind of plant matter and may also feed on dead insects. The locusts that covered Egypt were so thick that the ground was black and the houses were full. Any grains stored in the houses were consumed by the locusts. Any crops that had survived thus far were gone! Egypt had been stripped of every kind of food and all vegetation. Nothing was left for people or for livestock.

Even the corrupt officials who had been trying to curry favor with Pharaoh finally asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”

APPLICATION: Pharaoh’s heart is still so hard. The Bible states that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but God could not possibly have done that had Pharaoh not first made the decision himself. People are not puppets, and the whole universe tilts on the axis of free will. We can freely choose to accept or reject God. All along, God has been trying to warn the Egyptians and some of them have come to believe that the God of the Hebrews is the God of the earth.

Pharaoh is bent on getting his own way, no matter what. In recent years, there have been dictators in various countries who have acted in this fashion, spoiling once vibrant economies. Apparently, these men did not care for their own citizens but only wanted absolute power, even at the expense of reducing their countries to ash heaps!

We need to pray for world leaders, that no people will have to suffer as did the ancient Egyptians, but that the leaders will listen to God and follow His leading.

PRAYER: Father God, we lift up world leaders and beg you to give them hearts of compassion for the citizens of their various countries. Cause these men and women to truly become public servants and not tyrants bent on maintaining power at all costs. Lord, send a world – wide revival! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 9:13 – 35 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Still, you lord it over My people and do not allow them to go.

Behold, at this time tomorrow I will rain down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded until now. So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die when the hail comes down upon them.’”

Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.” So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation. Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree. The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”

Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the LORD our God.” (Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; but the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops.) Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.”

Before God sent the last three plagues, Pharaoh was given a special message from God. These plagues would be more severe than the others, and they were designed to convince Pharaoh and all the people “that there is none like me in all the earth.” Pharaoh was even told that he was placed in his position by God, so that God could show His power and declare His name through all the earth. As an example of His grace, God warned Pharaoh to gather whatever cattle and crops remained from the previous plagues and shelter them from the coming storm. Some of Pharaoh’s servants heeded the warning, while others did not. The seventh plague, hail, attacked Nut, the sky goddess; Osiris, the crop fertility god; and Set, the storm god. This hail was unlike any that had been seen before. It was accompanied by a fire which ran along the ground, and everything left out in the open was devastated by the hail and fire. Again, the children of Israel were miraculously protected, and no hail damaged anything in their lands. (https://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html)

This time Pharaoh really seems impressed and makes a promise….. right up to the moment that the thunder and lightning and hail and rain cease. At that point, it’s business as usual. As a divine being, Pharaoh likely believes that he has the prerogative to change his mind at any point without fear of contradiction. But many of Pharaoh’s followers aren’t nearly so convinced of his power and they swiftly bring their animals and servants into shelter so that they will not be killed.

APPLICATION: This story demonstrates God’s amazing mercy:

1. God promises to send ALL His plagues against Pharaoh and his officials and his people so that they would know that there was nobody like God in all the earth. God is still giving Pharaoh every opportunity to soften his heart, heed the warnings, and protect his workers and his livestock.

2. God informs Pharaoh that by this time He (God) could have wiped both Pharaoh and his people off the earth.

3. God tells Pharaoh that God has raised Pharaoh up so that God could display His power to Pharaoh and that God’s name might be proclaimed throughout the earth.

God is STILL giving Pharaoh the opportunity to change his heart and to acknowledge God as the One True Living God and to turn from worshiping all these idols.

Why doesn’t Pharaoh wake up and realize that his country is on the road to destruction? Pharaoh is so enthralled with his own power that he has completely lost touch with reality. The officials who are continuing to go along with Pharaoh’s decisions are likely those who have been feeding Pharaoh misinformation and telling him what he wanted to hear all along. Perhaps these officials have encouraged Pharaoh to remain in the palace where he would be far less likely to appreciate the devastation that has engulfed the land of Egypt. It’s likely that these officials are also the same ones who choose to ignore God’s warnings and who leave their workers and livestock in the fields to be killed by hail and heavenly fire. These decisions result in total disaster.

Amazingly enough, Pharaoh actually confesses that he has sinned and that he and his people are wicked! This is likely the only recorded instance when any Pharaoh made such a statement. Too bad that Pharaoh changes his mind as soon as the fire and hail stop. Again, those officials might have played a crucial role in this decision. The officials can manipulate a proud unyielding Pharaoh; they’ve been doing it for years. But a repentant Pharaoh with a soft heart? Who knows what this man might choose to do? Such a change of heart would represent total disaster for those men who have viewed themselves as the power behind the throne. No! Far better to encourage Pharaoh to go back on his promise once more.

If you are a leader, who is feeding you information? Who is pushing your buttons? Are you getting everything from a single source or are you trying to get a variety of opinions? Do you view anybody who argues with you as a trouble maker, never stopping to examine the validity of their opinions? For years I worked with one of the most talented theater nurses I have ever known. We argued several times a day; but inevitably at some point, my friend and I would look at each other and one of us would say, “You know, you are right and I am wrong.” We respected each other enough to listen to arguments.

God is a God of Truth and Light. The Bible says that in Him there is no darkness at all. If we are to follow the One True Living God, we must be willing to hear the truth, no matter how unpalatable it might be. And we should treasure those brave enough to tell us the truth when it’s difficult.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are a God of truth and that you also are a God of second chances. Had Pharaoh repented, the Exodus would have happened sooner but you would have cared for both the Egyptians and the Israelites. Help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives and never to shrink from your truth. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 9:8 – 12 “Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air. It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on man and beast throughout the land.” So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had told Moses.

The sixth plague, boils, was a judgment against several gods over health and disease (Sekhmet, Sunu, and Isis). This time, the Bible says that the magicians “could not stand before Moses because of the boils.” Clearly, these religious leaders were powerless against the God of Israel.

Boils! Anybody who has suffered with boils knows the torment and the pain. There are no comfortable positions; those afflicted may find themselves unable to sit, stand, lie down, or even to walk. Even bodily functions become incredibly painful. Once the boils break open, they may drain serum or pus. If the drainage is severe enough, those affected may even become dehydrated from the amount of fluid they are losing through the sores. Presumably Pharaoh also suffered from boils; certainly his magicians were totally incapacitated. And yet Pharaoh’s heart is even harder than before.

APPLICATION: One of the constants of all the Pharaonic tombs that have been examined is the portrayal of each Pharaoh as a perfect physical specimen. The paintings on the walls of the tombs, the statues, and even the death masks and coffins all portray the pharaohs as handsome, viral, conquering heroes. Obviously, physical appearance was extremely important to these rulers. With the plague of boils, God is not only demonstrating the lack of power of the Egyptian gods but also striking at Pharaoh’s pride in his physical appearance and his self image. Items retrieved from many tombs have included make up, alabaster perfume jars, and all kinds of other cosmetics and lotions – all intended for the use of Pharaoh in the afterlife.

Pharaoh not only believed that he was an intermediary but also that he himself was divine. God in his infinite mercy is trying to get Pharaoh to realize that he is not a god but only a man with limitations. If Pharaoh were truly divine or if the gods Pharaoh worshiped were real, then those gods should have been able to spare Pharaoh from the boils, but they could not.

In what are you trusting? What is the object of your worship? I read obituaries in my hometown area newspaper online as a means of keeping up with that community. It is always interesting but sometimes sad to see the things people feel are most significant about someone who has died. There is nothing wrong with being a passionate fan of a particular team or a particular hobby, but the day you die, those things cease to be important. The day you die, the one great question you must answer is this: What have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you ignored Jesus? Have you tried to tell yourself that attending church a few times a year was enough? Or have you truly committed your heart to Jesus and are you sincerely following him? Have you taken any thought for your soul?

The tombs of the Pharaohs are still there, although many of them have been raided by grave robbers. The mummified bodies of the pharaohs are also there, as are their grave goods. But what of the souls of these rulers?

Jesus told his disciples a story about a man who was rich but who was really a fool. “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the mercy that you show to us daily. Thank you that it is not your will that anyone should go to hell but that everyone should follow you so that they will be with you in heaven forever. Lord, help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 9:1 – 7 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. But if you refuse to let them go, and you continue to restrain them, then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

The LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.” And the next day the LORD did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh sent officials and found that none of the livestock of the Israelites had died. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,a and he would not let the people go.”

The fifth plague, the death of livestock, was a judgment on the goddess Hathor and the god Apis, who were both depicted as cattle. As with the previous plague, God protected His people from the plague, while the cattle of the Egyptians died. God was steadily destroying the economy of Egypt, while showing His ability to protect and provide for those who obeyed Him. Pharaoh even sent investigators to find out if the Israelites were suffering along with the Egyptians, but the result was a hardening of his heart against the Israelites. (https://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html)

This is incredible! Egypt is crumbling! Everybody in Egypt has already suffered greatly and now things are about to get even worse. God is about to kill every bit of livestock in Egypt. Not only will there be no livestock to supply meat, but the donkeys and camels used for transportation will also die. Once these animals are lost, where will the Egyptians find replacements and even if they can buy some from another country, how would they pay for them? The common people of Egypt are being hit with one disaster after another. And God is making a clear distinction between the Isaelites and the Egyptians, sparing all the Israelite livestock. But Pharaoh is continuing to pursue his hard line course, no matter what. Why would any ruler be so foolish as to jeopardize the safety of his own people and the economy of his country?

As ancient Egyptian rulers, pharaohs were both the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people. The word “pharaoh” means “Great House,” a reference to the palace where the pharaoh resides. While early Egyptian rulers were called “kings,” over time, the name “pharaoh” stuck. As the religious leader of the Egyptians, the pharaoh was considered the divine intermediary between the gods and Egyptians. Maintaining religious harmony and participating in ceremonies were part of the pharaoh’s role as head of the religion. As a statesman, the pharaoh made laws, waged war, collected taxes, and oversaw all the land in Egypt (which was owned by the pharaoh). (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/pharaohs)

Pharaoh is a hereditary ruler, trained to believe that he is the divine intermediary between the gods and the Egyptians. During the famine in which Joseph served as administrator, the Egyptians sold all their land to Pharaoh and became Pharaoh’s workers just to survive. From Pharaoh’s standpoint, the lives of these commoners are cheap and he has little or no compassion for them. For Pharaoh, the whole matter is coming down to a power struggle between him as the spokesman for the Egyptian gods and the God of the Israelites, as represented by these two old men, Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh’s pride is so great that he refuses to acknowledge the damage his policies are doing to his country.

APPLICATION: While it’s easy to point fingers at Pharaoh, the question for each of us is this: have we ever blindly pursued a destructive course of action out of pride and arrogance? When we have headed organizations or businesses or groups of people of any sort, how much compassion have we had for those under us? Are we willing to listen to negative feedback, or do we only listen to those who would flatter us? Remember that if you are not willing to hear both sides of a situation, you run the risk of being manipulated.

Where is the evidence of God’s mercy in this situation? God is warning Pharaoh ahead of time about the plague and when it will hit. At any point in the 24 hours preceding the arrival of the plague, Pharaoh can still relent, saving his people. God is giving Pharaoh every opportunity to change his mind, but Pharaoh chooses to harden his heart. Also realize that those who harden their hearts against the One True Living God will ultimately suffer the loss of the things they prize the most.

PRAYER: Father God, please give us soft pliable hearts and ears to hear your leading. Help those of us who head any group to have compassion on those for whom we are responsible and to lead as you would have us lead. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 8:25 – 32 “Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.” But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us? We must make a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.” Pharaoh answered, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

“As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will pray to the LORD, so that tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, and the LORD did as Moses requested. He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.”

Despite the fact that God has already exposed several of the Egyptian gods as being worthless by graphically demonstrating that they have no power, Pharaoh still doesn’t really believe it. And Pharaoh still thinks he can negotiate with God. Pharaoh wants the Israelites to stay within Egypt; however, the animals the Israelites need to sacrifice would cause the Egyptians to riot.

Pharaoh’s next argument is that he will allow the Israelites to go into the wilderness to make sacrifices, but they must not go very far. Pharaoh still has the idea that he is in control; he hasn’t yet realized that things are rapidly deteriorating. Moses and Aaron fully realize that Pharaoh is not really serious and that he’s going to change his mind. But Moses is willing to act in good faith and to see what Pharaoh will do.

APPLICATION: Big men are everywhere – bosses, politicians, department chairmen or chairwomen, and leaders in various organizations, including churches. And many of us are more or less at the mercy of the “big people.” But what do you do when you know what God wants you to do but the “big man/big woman” is pushing you to compromise? How far are you willing to go to defend the truth?

During our missionary careers, we have seen several missionaries face this question. Sometimes the individuals sent to analyze a possible project do not have the necessary experience or knowledge for the task. Sometimes missionaries encounter unexpected problems that develop in the course of a project; meanwhile, their sending agencies refuse to believe their reports. Sometimes the problems stem from national church leaders who would rather have a succession of fledgling missionaries than to have more experienced missionaries who might detect fraud or mishandling of funds.

Things may be no better off the mission field. Recent political events have exposed corruption at a number of levels in both government and business. Many righteous workers have found themselves being persecuted for telling the truth. Currently some arbiters of social media are attempting to muzzle any opinions that do not agree with theirs. Some day we will have to stand before God. At that point, the question will be simple: did we take a stand for righteousness?

1 Corinthians 10:13 states “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.” The temptation to compromise is always there; however, God also will provide us means of escape from that temptation. Sometimes the only way we can escape is by telling the truth and trusting that God will protect us.

When the Declaration of Independence was being signed, those signing it mutually pledged “Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Those signing realized that they had made themselves targets by signing that document. Many of those signing eventually paid a high price, either with their lives, or with their fortunes. But despite all the odds, despite all adversity, they maintained their sacred honor to the end. Is your honor sacred to you, or can you be bought? Today in some parts of the world, Christians have had to pay the ultimate price when they refused to reject Christ. We must search our hearts and ask God to help us so that in the time of trial we will remain faithful.

PRAYER: Father God, raises up leaders who will swear to their own hurt and who will not change! Cause those of us entrusted with truth to refuse to compromise. Protect our families! Protect the innocent! And help us to be steadfast, even when circumstances become extremely difficult. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 8:16 – 19 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” This they did, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, gnats came upon man and beast. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast. “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.”

For sheer torment, few things are more disturbing than a swarm of gnats. Gnats are so small that they are difficult to see, but when they bite, it feels as if they have little chain saws and are attacking you. Animals attacked by swarms of gnats can literally go berserk, running helter skelter and trampling anything or anybody in their path. In some countries during gnat season, people take special precautions and even daub animals with some kind of protective salve that repels the gnats.

The third plague, gnats, was a judgment on Set, the god of the desert. Unlike the previous plagues, the magicians were unable to duplicate this one and declared to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” The Egyptian magicians weren’t stupid! They knew what their magic would do and gnats were not included in their powers. The magicians realized that they were in the presence of a superior Power and tried to advise Pharaoh, but Pharaoh wasn’t listening.

Exodus 8:20 – 24 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.

But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’” And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies.”

The fourth plague, flies, was a judgment on Uatchit, the fly god. In this plague, God clearly distinguished between the Israelites and the Egyptians, as no swarms of flies bothered the areas where the Israelites lived. There are all kinds of flies in the world; it’s likely that these flies were large biting flies. When the flies died, a layer of dead flies several inches thick carpeted everything. The flies ruined anything into which they could enter and they entered everywhere! For anybody who had been mindlessly worshiping Uatchit, this should have been a wake – up call that their worship was worthless. What kind of a god is it that allows its representatives to die? (Is this where the expression “die like flies” got started?)

APPLICATION: The One True Living God will not be mocked, now will He give His glory to demons. Whatever is most important to you is the object of your worship. The Egyptians had become used to worshiping all kinds of reptiles, insects, the sun, the Nile River, etc. While we may feel superior because we wouldn’t do such a thing, consider that as this devotional is being written, there are those who are pushing for school children in one state to chant the names of ancient Aztec gods. Such a proposal denies the existence of the One True Living God and substitutes summoning demons instead.

How do these plagues demonstrate God’s mercy? God wants everyone to have the opportunity to accept Him. It is not God’s will that anyone should die outside the love of God. Even as God was sending the plagues, God was trying to demonstrate to the Egyptians to the Israelites that He was the sovereign God and worthy of worship.

Whom or what are you worshiping? If you aren’t sure whether or not God actually exists, pray and ask Him to show Himself to you.

PRAYER: Father God, please show Yourself to everyone who reads this. Let them know how much You love them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 7:14 – 25 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now. This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood. The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’”

And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.” Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water from the river. And seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.”

If there was one thing the Egyptians really relied on, it was the Nile River. The Nile provided drinking water, fish, transportation, commerce, and a host of other benefits. When the Nile flooded, it would bring fresh new dirt to help rejuvenate farm lands. The Egyptians had a whole series of irrigation canals to divert water from the Nile into their fields. Everybody in Egypt depended on the Nile, until the morning that Aaron stretched out his hand, struck the waters, and all the Nile water turned to blood. Not only did the water in the river turn to blood, but every bit of water that had been collected from the river, including all the water in every storage vessel. The water smelled like rotting blood, and all the fish died, making the stench far worse. The only means of getting drinking water was to dig shallow wells away from the river and hope the water would be fresh.

This miracle is the first plague to hit Egypt at the hands of Moses and Aaron. From now on, the plagues will escalate. What must Moses and Aaron have thought when they saw that water turn to blood? “WHOA!!! IT REALLY WORKS! GOD WASN’T KIDDING!” The poor Egyptian commoners probably were frightened and confused. The Israelite elders were probably amazed, although they too may have had to dig wells to get water. But the one man in the situation who had control refused to acknowledge that there was anything wrong.

APPLICATION: Sometimes you may find yourself caught in a dilemma: you know there’s something major wrong, but you cannot convince the people over you to re-examine the situation. James 1 tells us that God does not tempt us but that we are led away by our own desires; in other words, we choose to believe false concepts. During our missionary careers, we have witnessed several examples of wishful thinking. In one case, the mission group knew ahead of time that the businessman with whom they were working was not really a Christian; however, this group wanted so much to get that particular project going that they ignored all the warning signs, including warnings from knowledgeable people who visited the project. In another case, an outside NGO (Non – governmental organization) failed to thoroughly investigate before channeling money into a project.

Another problem is the “Big Man” syndrome, as in “The Big Man is always right!” There are many reasons that someone reaches a post of superiority and control over others. Sometimes these positions are earned honestly; however, in the case of the Egyptian Pharaoh, his post was a hereditary one. The Pharaoh with whom Moses and Aaron contended had been groomed from childhood to assume that position. At the same time, those teaching the young Pharaoh had also deferred to him and had made sure that he was aware that he would be an all – powerful ruler. When two scruffy old Hebrews showed up with their requests, Pharaoh was not impressed; besides, his magicians could duplicate the first two miracles that these men performed. No, these two were just trouble makers. Of course, the Egyptian commoners might have had a different view, but who cared about them? From the time of Joseph, the land of Egypt had become Pharaoh’s property, and he controlled all the people anyway. At this point, all Aaron and Moses could do was to hang on and see what God wanted to do next.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that YOU are the Lord of the Universe and not some man! Thank you that you care for us, that you are the very embodiment of light and truth. Cause your face to shine upon us and let your truth be known in our lives. And help us to continue to follow you, even when we meet stiff opposition. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

S

Exodus 8:1- 15 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’” And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’”

So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?” “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered.

“May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.” After Moses and Aaron had left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD for help with the frogs that He had brought against Pharaoh. And the LORD did as Moses requested, and the frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died. The people piled them into countless heaps, and there was a terrible stench in the land. When Pharaoh saw there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.”

The ten disasters that God inflicted on Egypt constituted a systematic unmasking of the Egyptian gods as worthless and powerless. The first plague, turning the Nile to blood, was a judgment against Apis, the god of the Nile, Isis, goddess of the Nile, and Khnum, guardian of the Nile. The Nile was also believed to be the bloodstream of Osiris, who was reborn each year when the river flooded. (The turning of all Nile River water to blood proves that God has a sense of humor: “You think this is the bloodstream of Osiris? Fine! You’ve got blood!”) The river, which formed the basis of daily life and the national economy, was devastated, as millions of fish died in the river and the water was unusable. Pharaoh was told, “By this you will know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:17).

The second plague, bringing frogs from the Nile, was a judgment against Heqet, the frog-headed goddess of birth. Frogs were thought to be sacred and not to be killed. God had the frogs invade every part of the homes of the Egyptians, and when the frogs died, their stinking bodies were heaped up in offensive piles all through the land (Exodus 8:13–14). (Source: What was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt? | GotQuestions.org)

APPLICATION: Even in these plagues, God was still trying to have mercy on the Egyptians just as much as on the Israelites. The love of God always has been for all people, not for just a chosen few. Through these signs, God was reaching out to the Egyptians. It was as if God was crying out, “Here! Look to me, the One True Living God! Why are you worshiping worthless things when you can worship me? Why won’t you let me give you the eternal life you long for so much that you try to preserve your dead, thinking that is the way to life after death?”

Recently on one of the satellite TV channels there have been programs about the treasures of ancient Egypt. Splendid gold – covered items, plus food, water, etc., were buried with the pharaohs for their use in the afterlife. But the pharaohs died and their bodies decayed, their treasured items stolen by tomb robbers. None of those treasures did anything for them.

In what are you trusting? What is your source of security? Are you trusting in your job? your business? your family? Your life savings? If the COVID pandemic has not taught us anything else, it should have taught us that businesses and jobs can disappear overnight, leaving people unable to pay mortgages or rent. Several years ago, many who thought they had wisely invested in retirement savings plans found themselves greeting people at Walmart when those savings plans evaporated in Ponzi schemes. Americans who have trusted that Social Security would be there for them are finding it anything but secure.

There is an old hymn, the first stanza of which reads, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but only lean on Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Now more than ever, that hymn is true. Only the love of God as expressed in Christ Jesus, His Son, will save us from our sins and from ourselves.

PRAYER: FATHER GOD, THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD! THANK YOU THAT YOU NEVER CHANGE OR FAIL! You are the One in whom we can hope. You are the One who can save us from our sins. You are the One who can deliver us in the midst of terrible circumstances. Lord, help us to love you and to praise you all of our days. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 7:1 – 13 “The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ you are to say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a serpent. ”

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs. Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.”

Moses and Aaron are back at Pharaoh’s court with a message from God. This time God has instructed them to perform a miracle, even though God is already warning them that Pharaoh is not going to listen. But God is promising to multiply sings and wonders in the land of Egypt. Why signs and wonders if Pharaoh isn’t going to listen?

There are actually three different audiences involved here: Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the Israelites, and Moses and Aaron themselves. These signs and wonders are important for each group. God wants to impress on everyone involved that He is the One True Living God. Unlike the multiple demons that the Egyptians are worshiping, God is the real Ruler of the universe.

1. The signs and wonders are going to come in an escalating fashion so that by the end of them, Pharaoh and the Egyptians will literally drive the Israelites out of Egypt.

2. At the beginning of this story, the Israelites have only a dim view of who God is, how big and how powerful He is, and how much He can do. They need to have their faith built up.

3. Moses and Aaron are going to have to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Just like the other Israelites, Moses and Aaron really need to learn about God.

Moses and Aaron deliver their message, and Pharaoh demands a miracle. Somehow the Egyptian magicians are able to turn their rods into snakes through their magic and the power of evil. But Aaron’s rod that has become a snake swallows up the other snakes, indicating that Aaron’s God is bigger than that of the magicians. Pharaoh is probably impressed, but he isn’t impressed enough to release the Israelites.

APPLICATION: Once more, we must realize that even fulfilling God’s perfect will for your life does not mean that others will be impressed or that they will pay attention to your message. It’s very interesting that God starts out with a very simple message and a very simple miracle. Could Pharaoh have listened and agreed? Of course! Pharaoh had free will and could make decisions. But God already knew that Pharaoh was going to harden his heart.

In spiritual growth and the walk of faith there are no shortcuts. We have to start by believing for very simple things before we can believe for something bigger. Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick was a brave believer who challenged the forces of darkness and brought the light of the Gospel to Ireland. But in the beginning, Patrick had to move slowly and learn what God wanted him to do before he could go forward. Eventually, Patrick did many miracles; however, it took time to reach that point.

Do you feel that you have taken a stand for righteousness but nobody is listening? Go back and ask God. If you are saying what God wants you to say, sooner or later, God will open ears and hearts. But there is nothing instant in the life of faith.

PRAYER: ST. PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE

I arise today 
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

[Note that people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.]

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Exodus 6:10 – 13 “So the LORD said to Moses, “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.” But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then how will Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?” Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.”

At this point, Moses is caught between the proverbial rock and the hard place. The Israelite elders are furious because they feel that if Moses had just not come along and disturbed things, everything would still be fine, thank you. Of course the Israelites would still be slaves suffering under Egyptian oppression, but the elders aren’t thinking clearly. Moses tries the argument about being an unskilled speaker on God once more; however, God ignores his complaints. And at the end, God simply orders Moses and Aaron, charging them to speak to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. The pressure on Moses is enormous!

APPLICATION: Have you ever prayed earnestly about a situation, only for it to get worse? Just when you were looking for some relief, the pressures mounted and you found yourself stuck with only one option, to keep going.

There is a famous painting of General George Washington kneeling in the snow and praying at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This incident really happened. Washington was in a desperate situation with few troops suffering from a bitterly cold winter and with all the forces of the British Army opposing him. Many of those living in the colonies at that point did not support Washington and hoped that if they just could placate the British that all would be forgotten and they would be welcomed back into the British Empire. The situation was desperate, and it was in that hour that General Washington turned to the only One who could help him, the One True Living God.

Washington prayed, and God answered. The success of the American Revolution stemmed partly from that snowy prayer session. In many ways, George Washington faced a number of the same problems that Moses did. Washington had a number of leaders who thought revolution was a great idea until they actually had to suffer. At that point, many leaders changed their minds and became some of Washington’s severest critics. Had Washington not prayed and had he listened to his critics, America might never have been born.

Following God’s will can lead us into all kinds of problems. Family and friends who fail to understand are likely to criticize and raise doubts. The farther along we go, the fewer people will continue to support us. At some points we may feel that we are totally alone.

In the middle 1990’s our small Ghanaian village was caught up in an ethnic conflict. We were the only source of medical care for nearly 100,000 people and my husband and I were the only ones who could safely travel out to buy supplies for the medical center. Communication was difficult if not impossible. There were no cell phones and routine phone calls could stall before they made it out of the country. Mail service was spotty at best and frequently quite slow. It was at this point that one supporting church chose to write to us, indicating that they had decided that we did not fit into their missions program, so they were stopping support. “Lonely” does not begin to describe the way we felt when we received that letter.

I tell this story to illustrate the fact that following God’s will can lead you into very tight places. But remember that if God has led you into a difficult place, He is the One responsible for helping you get out of it. God’s mercy is not limited and God is not Santa Claus. God wants to perfect each of us into His Image, and sometimes that process is painful and difficult. But remember that God cares for you so much that He does not want to leave you wallowing in the mud of your own shortcomings. There’s a country Gospel song that says “I’m just an old lump of coal, but I’m going to be a diamond some day!” Remember that it takes huge amounts of pressure to turn coal into diamonds. Are you under pressure? Hang in there! Some day you will be a diamond fit for a King.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are continuing to help us, to nurture us, to perfect us. Help us to wait patiently and not to give way under your pressure, knowing that you love us too much to leave us as lumps of coal. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.