One Final Warning

 Like many people, Pharaoh assumed that God had tried to negotiate because he didn’t want it bad enough to go all in to get his way.   By issuing an ultimatum, he had made it clear he was no longer willing to consider God’s position.    God did noyt just give in when he threatened to Kill them if Noses and Aaron came back, as Exodus 11:1 tells us.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.”  When God got done, Pharaoh would not just allow them to go, he would insist on their leaving.

 

For four hundred years, the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt.  Now it was time for them to be paid for their work.  While there was no way of making things right with previous generations, they could at least pay the ones who were slaves in that day, and the Egyptians could understand the justice of such payments.  Exodus 11:2-3 describes their response.  “Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.”  While Pharaoh would not acknowledge Moses, the Egyptian people respected him greatly. 

 

Moses did announce what was going to happen next, in Exodus 11:4-8.  “And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.”

 

God was going to make a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians so they could see the difference between worshipping God and worshipping the Egyptian gods.  Even after all the things God had done, Pharaoh clung to his old religion and refused to acknowledge God, as Exodus 11:9-10 tells us.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.  And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

 

While Pharaoh’s decision seems illogical and we may wonder why the people let him remain in power, we need to understand the final authority belongs to God.  Pharaoh was determined not to worship God, and God enabled him to cling to that attitude so that people could see God’s power, as Romans 9:17-23 explains.  “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

 

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

 

God created the world and established the laws or rules by which it is to function.   As the creator, he has every right to set whatever rules he wants, just as I have the right to destroy something I have made if it is not satisfactory, and use something else.  Part of living by faith is recognizing God has this authority and not insisting things have to be done our way.  When we insist on having our way, our attitude is almost the same as Pharaoh’s.  While God often gives people numerous chances to do what is right, there is a limit to how far he will let us go, as Genesis 6:3 tells us.  “ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”    Originally mankind were intended to live forever, but as a result of their rebellion  the human life span was limited to about a hundred twenty years.  Most people never get to be that old because God takes them out before that.  This was Pharaoh’s final warning, and he would not get another chance.      

 

 

Pharaoh Delivers An Ultimatum

 The people’s complaints got Pharaoh’s attention, as Exodus 10:8-11 describes.  “And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?

 

And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.

 

And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.  Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.” 

 

A true sociopath, maintaining and growing his power was Pharaoh’s primary concern, and he refused to even let them do as much as he had promised before, so god directed Moses to bring up the locusts, in Exodus 10:12-15.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.  And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.  And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.  For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.”

 

The locusts ate everything that grew, leaving the Egyptians facing famine and starvation.  Pharaoh finally admitted he had been wrong this time and asked Moses not to kill them all, in Exodus 10:16-19.  “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.  Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only. And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.  And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.” 

 

As soon as the threat disappeared, Pharaoh reverted to his old attitude, refusing to let the people go, so God sent a plague of darkness over the land, in Exodus 10:20-23.  “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

 

With all their crops and gardens destroyed, the people would need to forage for food, and the darkness made that nearly impossible.  After three days, Pharaoh realized he had to do something and called for Moses, offering to let them go and worship but refusing to allow them to take their livestock to use for sacrifices as described in Exodus 10:24.  “And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.”

 

The object of going was to offer sacrifices to God, and they couldn’t do that if they left their livestock behind.  It was very much like politicians today forbidding the churches to meet in person or to sing during worship services.  Moses pointed out that there was no point in going without the sacrifices, in Exodus 10:25-26.  “And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.  Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”

 

Pharaoh’s policies had bankrupted Egypt, but he refused to give up any of his control, and God enabled him to overlook what his actions were doing to the people.  Instead of allowing them to leave ha gave Moses and Aaron an ultimatum, in Exodus 10:27-29.  “But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.  And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.”  If they even suggested him giving them freedom again they would be killed.  Moses promised they wouldn’t bother him again. 

 

When a person presents an ultimatum, they have said they will not give any more consideration to the other side’s concerns.  They either have to give in completely, or call his bluff because her has refused to negotiate any more.    

God Doesn’t Bluff

 God did not immediately deliver Israel because he wanted the Egyptians to believe in him as well as the Israelites.  As part of that effort, he had made a distinction between those who believed in him, the the Israelites, and those who didn’t, the Egyptians when he sent the flies.  Next he sent a disease among their livestock, and again he distinguished between those who served them and those who did not, in Exodus 9:1-7.  “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.  And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.  And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

 

And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.  And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.”   The disease killed large numbers of every type of livestock, but none of those of the Israelites, costing Pharaoh and the Egyptians a great deal.   Pharaoh responded as if God were just some human adversary trying to coerce him into doing what he wanted and decided to call God’s bluff.

 

The only problem was, God wasn’t bluffing as we see in Exodus 9:8-11.  “And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.  And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.  And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.  And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.”

 

The boils were so painful even magicians ran away to try to find something to alleviate the pain.  Instead of acknowledging God’s power, Pharaoh got mad and God used his anger to make him more determined not to give in, so god upped the ante, in Exodus 9:12-19.  “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.  For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.  

 

And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.  As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?  Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.  Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.”

 

God warned that he was prepared to cause still worse things if Pharaoh did not let the people go.  He informed Pharaoh that God had put him in place as king specifically so that the Egyptian people would know that God was the only God, and that before everything was finished Pharaoh himself would die. 

 

After having seen the previous plagues, some of the people listened and believed God, making an effort to save the rest of their cattle from the hail.   Others stuck with Pharaoh, refusing to admit he was making poor decisions, as Exodus 9:20-21 describes.   “He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.”  They were no different than many people today, clinging to a political party and philosophy even though it is clearly compounding the problems, while others look at what is happening and make changes.   

 

God had decimated their herds with the disease, but the hail wiped out any cattle those who ignored the warning had left, as Exodus 9:22-26 describes.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.  And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.  So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.  And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.”

 

The description sounds almost like a storm cell such as produces tornadoes, with extreme winds, huge hailstones and torrential rain, and ground lightening igniting fires all around.  Trees lost branches, cattle were killed by the hailstones, and mature crops were destroyed as a result.  If they continued, Pharaoh might lose everything he owned.  Desperate to end the storms, he called for Moses in Exodus 9:27-28.  “And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.  Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.”  He swallowed his pride and admitted he had been wrong to refuse to let the people go. 

 

Moses agreed to ask God to stop the storm, to make it very clear it was God who had caused the storm, and not just some fluke of the weather, in Exodus 9:29-30.  “And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's.  But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.”  Although he would pray for an end to the Storm, Moses realized Pharaoh and his people were not yet willing to give up the status quo or believe in God, despite the evidence of his power.  Exodus 9:31-32 describes the extent of the damage.  “And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.  But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.”  The early crops were nearly ripe and the hail destroyed them.  The wheat and rye were only beginning to grow and were able to recover. 

 

As soon as the storm was over, Pharaoh changed his mind and refused to let the people go, according to Exodus 9:33-35.  “And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.  And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.  And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.”  Like most narcissists or sociopaths, Pharaoh would promise almost anything to get his way, but he had no intention of honoring the promises if he could keep from it.   

Political Leaders Are Not Gods

 John 1:18 and I John 4:12 tell us, “No man hath seen God at any time.  God had commanded Pharaoh to set Israel free, but because Pharaoh could not see God or his kingdom, he considered him unimportant.   God sent Moses to represent God to him.  Pharaoh was considered a god by his people, so God started by showing he could out do Pharaoh’s magicians.  It is helpful to understand that what we call magic is the application of scientific principles in ways we don’t understand.  The magicians were the scientists of their day, observing what happened and trying to explain why it happened.   As a result, they were able to do things that appeared miraculous to other people.  Pharaoh used those abilities to convince people that he had special powers.  When God changed the stick into a snake, then changed it back, it clearly demonstrated that God was a little more powerful than Pharaoh. 

 

The Egyptians, including Pharaoh worshipped the Nile River.  When God changed the water to blood, he demonstrated himself to be more powerful than the River, and when he brought out the frogs, and the magicians had to ask him to get rid of them it demonstrated he had powers they couldn’t match, and could use even the river against them.  Refusing to admit God had greater power, Pharaoh refused to allow the people freedom to worship.  God stepped up the pressure in Exodus 8:16-17, so that the people could realize Pharaoh’s limitations.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.  And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

 

God literally turned the dust into living insects.  Pharaoh ordered his magicians to do the same thing, but there was nothing in science that enabled them to bring inanimate things to life, as Exodus 8:18-19 tells us,  “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.  Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”  The scientists recognized that only God can make life, but Pharaoh refused to accept their statements. 

 

The lice were miserable on the people, constantly biting, but in his pride and determination not to listen Pharaoh ignored the impact of his decision on his people, just as our politicians have ignored the effect of the decisions on people during the Corona virus “Pandemic”.  He didn’t even ask the Lord to take them away.  The people would have to deal with them themselves. 

 

Next, God sent swarms of flies into the Egyptian delta region.  While they are small, even one house fly can be annoying so imagine having thousands of them.  Many kinds of flies have painful bites as well, making them even more annoying,   To top it off, they walk constantly lay their eggs in exposed flesh or fruit, producing millions of larva that eat the fruit and flesh, and cause spoilage, even on living animals.  Exodus 8:20-24 describes what happened.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.  And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.  And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.  And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.”

 

Even the Israelites had been affected by the water turning to blood, the frogs, and the lice.  Because we live in the world, many times Christians deal with the same problems the world faces, but sometimes, he works differently in our lives to drive home the differences in our beliefs and lifestyles.   While the flies were corrupting everything along the river, they did not come into the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived.    

 

Even Pharaoh was not able to escape the infestation of flies, and offered to let the people go, but insisted on them doing things the way he wanted.  Moses told him it would have to be done the way God wanted, and desperate to end the frustration, Pharaoh agreed, in Exodus 8:25-28.  “And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.  And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?  We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.” 

 

Like many of the politicians during the “Pandemic”, Pharaoh was unwilling to give up control and let people do what they felt was right.  While Moses agreed to ask God to take away the flies, but he didn’t trust Pharaoh not to reverse his decision once he had what he wanted.  Exodus 28:29-describes what happened.  “And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.  And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.  And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.”

 

One thing we learn from history is that once politicians gain power they will not give it up voluntarily.  Exodus 8:32 tells us, “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.”  This was Pharaoh’s own stubbornness and hunger for power.  God did not harden his heart this time.  He was just like the politicians who promised to lift the restrictions when certain conditions were met, but are now insisting they must maintain them to prevent a second wave.  They are still ignoring God’s authority and power, unwilling to admit they are not gods and cannot control people’s life and health.    

God is Not Willing That Any Should Perish

 God had stated that part of his purpose was to make the Egyptians realize who God is.  The Egyptians had been using a trick to convince the people of their godlike powers.  God actually did what they had been pretending to do.  Unlike the Magician’s snakes, Aaron’s snake turned back into a stick when he picked it up, but Pharaoh ignored the difference.

 

The Egyptians worshipped the Nile river because it not only supplied the water to irrigate their crops but washed in fresh rich soil every spring, and provided a steady supply of fish and drinking water all year.  Wanting the Egyptians to realize he is more powerful than the Nile, God demonstrated his power over the river next, as Exodus 7:14-21 describes.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.  Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.  And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.  Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.  And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.

 

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.  And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.  And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.”

 

Using the same walking stick that had turned into a snake, Aaron stretched it out over the river and the water turned to blood, killing the fish in the water, both in the river itself and in the irrigation canals and ponds.  The magicians were able to do something that looked much the same, putting die or paint into a container of water, as Exodus 7:22-23 tells us.  “And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.  And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.”  Once again, Pharaoh blew it off, as being the same thing his magicians had done. 

 

It wasn’t nearly as easy for the common people to blow it off, as Exodus 7;24-25 tells us.  “And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.  And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.”  It took a full week for the river to wash away all the pollutants.  During that time the people had to dig holes alongside the river and let the water filter through the soil into the holes where they could dip it out.  Since the Jews lived in Goshen and did not eat as much fish, they were less affected than the Egyptians by the pollution in the river than the Egyptians. 

 

Since amphibians such as frogs do not breathe through gills, the blood in the river did not affect them very much.  God would cause something to affect them next, causing them to leave the rivers in swarms.  Needing protection from the sun, they would invade the house along the river, as described in Exodus 8:1-6.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.  And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

 

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.  And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

 

The magicians were able to put something in the water that drove out even more of the frogs, convincing Pharaoh they still had similar powers.  Knowing that it would take several days for the pollution to wash away, and that the magicians could do nothing to speed it up, Pharaoh asked Moses to have God get rid of the frogs, promising to let them go and worship God, in Exodus 8:7-8.  “And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.  Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.”

 

Pharaoh had servants to get fresh water and to sweep frogs out of his house so these were just minor annoyances to him, just as the Covid-19 have been for most of our political figures.  When asked when he wanted the infestation to end, Pharaoh said it could wait until tomorrow, in Exodus 8:9-11.  “And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?  And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.  And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.”

 

Like many political figures, Pharaoh had little understanding of the possible effects of their decisions.  When Moses prayed, the frogs started dying immediately, right where they were, as Exodus 8:12-14 tells us.  “And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.  And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.  And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.”  It would be weeks before they could get rid of all the rotting frogs, and they would have to live with the smell.  As soon as Pharaoh thought the problem was over, the changed his mind, breaking his promise to let the people go, as Exodus 8:15 tells us.  “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”

 

While God could have easily wiped out the Egyptians or killed Pharaoh, he chose not to do it that way because as II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  Living by faith requires us to understand that God has not broken his promise if things don’t go as we think they should, but that he is also concerned what is best for other people as well.  God was giving the Egyptians a chance to turn to him.  In the process, the Israelites would have to put up with some of the same inconveniences as the Egyptians. 

God’s Ways Are Greater Than Ours.

 The first time Moses went to ask Pharaoh to let Israel go, Things got a great deal worse, and the people blamed Moses.  While he believed God, even Moses was a little hesitant to go back, as we see in Exodus 6:28-30.  “And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.  And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?”   Moses was not representing some powerful and well known group who Pharaoh would recognize as a threat, so why would he listen? 

 

God realized Pharaoh would feel that way, and planned to make Pharaoh realize he was not the only person with power.  Since the Egyptians considered their Pharaoh as a god, God would make Moses appear as a god to Pharaoh, as Exodus 7:1-2 describes.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.  Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.”

 

God warned that before he would give in, like most political leaders, Pharaoh would have to be convinced that Moses had enough more power than he did that he couldn’t successfully stand against him.  Only when he and the Egyptians realized he was only a man but God was truly a god would he allow the people to go, as Exodus 7:3-5 tells us.  “And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.  But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

 

Although they were hesitant, Moses and Aaron had seen God’s power throughout their lives, and believing God, acted on his command believed God.  As Exodus 7:6-7 explains.  “And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.  And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.”

 

To maintain his appearance as a god to the Egyptians, Pharaoh had a group of magicians who would do “magic” tricks to convince the people of his miraculous powers.  When Moses claimed to represent God, Pharaoh would expect him to do similar tricks to show his power.  If Pharaoh’s magicians could do a similar trick, he could pass it off as nothing his own magicians couldn’t do.  God told Moses and Aaron what to do first, in Exodus 7:8-10.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.   And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.”

 

Because of people’s instinctive fear of snakes, throughout history religious groups have used snakes to prove their religious power, including snake charmers in India, the Hopi Indians in Arizona and some charismatic churches in the southern United States.  Pharaoh’s magicians had developed a system where by the snakes would lie absolutely stiff, looking like some kind of cane or stick until dropped on the ground.   Aaron had used his walking stick for years, and knew it was just a stick,   It was a miracle when it turned into a snake, but the magicians throwing their hypnotized snakes on the ground appeared to be the same trick, as Exodus 7:11-12 tells us.   “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.” 

 

Aaron’s rod quickly demonstrated it had more power than the Magicians snakes, but Pharaoh didn’t take that into account, as Exodus 7:13 advises.  “And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”  Since his magicians could do something similar, Pharaoh just became more stubborn, determined not to give in.  Notice the scripture says God hardened his heart. God caused him to react that way because God’s plan went beyond just getting Israel out of captivity. 

 

Unfortunately we tend to get caught up in our immediate goal and not look any further.  As a result we get frustrated when things don’t go our way immediately.   God may have some far greater purpose in delay than we understand.  We need to remember what God says in Isaiah 55:8-9.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 

Intellectual Belief Is Not Faith

 

God had called Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and like Gideon, Moses asked for a sign that it was really God directing him before he began.  Once he was sure, he returned to Egypt and met with the Israelites, in Exodus 4:29-31.  “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

 

The people readily believed Moses words, when he promised they would be delivered, but it was just an intellectual belief.  When Moses’ approach to Pharaoh made things worse, they accused them of lying to them in an effort to destroy them as Exodus 5:19-22 describes.  “And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.  And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.” 

 

Hebrews 11:6 defines faith as “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  To the Israelites at this point, the promises to deliver them were something they hoped were true, but there was no awareness of, or commitment to what would be involved for it to happen, much like most people who hope to make a million dollars someday.   When it didn’t happen immediately they gave up. 

 

Even Moses was stunned by the results of his meeting with Pharaoh, as Exodus 5:22-23 states.  “And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.”  He felt like maybe he had made a mistake in thinking this was what God wanted.  Sometimes even the most devoted Christians struggle with a sense of failure. 

 

God explained that he wanted Israel to see his power.  Egypt was at the time, the most powerful nation in that part of the world, and by showing how much greater his power was, they could begin to trust him when other problems arose.  He reminds them of their history, and his past promises, in Exodus 6:1-4.  “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.  And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.  And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.” 

 

Their captivity was just as much a part of the prophecy to Abraham as the promises to give them the land of Canaan.  Now it was time for the next part, when God would give them the land.  He was aware of their suffering, and was going to keep his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as he explained in Exodus 6:5-8.  “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.  Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.”

 

Moses believed God, but the people were so caught up in their discouragement and suffering they wouldn’t listen to him, according to Exodus 6:9.  “And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.”  Moses and Aaron would be forced to act alone the next time they went to Pharaoh because the people didn’t believe it would really happen.  Real leaders act on their faith and set the example, showing others the way even when no one is willing to follow, trusting God to do what he promised even if no one follows.   Israel’s escape from Egypt is more a testimony to Moses’ faith, than to that of the people.