The Life of Moses (7)

The Lord had encouraged Moses by speaking about His covenant. That covenant stands firm and sure whatever may come against God’s work and no matter how impossible it may seem from our side. The Lord will not alter what He has spoken; therefore, Moses may go in the strength of the LORD and declare His Righteousness, even His only. That is also the strength and comfort for God’s servants and children in our days. The Lord had promised that the people of Israel would inherit the land that He would give them. He also said He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply His signs and His wonders in the land of Egypt.

Moses would be sent to the king of Egypt; however, he did not have to fear. Verse 1 says that the Lord had made Moses a god to Pharaoh and that Aaron his brother would be his prophet, that is, he would speak for Moses. That God would make Moses a god to Pharaoh, means that Moses would come with the authority of being sent by the Lord Himself. The Lord also would give him direction in what to say to Pharaoh.

Signs and wonders

God would specially speak through the ten plagues that came upon Pharaoh and his country. There was a progressive nature to those plagues:

Plagues 1-3 would touch the comforts of the Egyptians.

Plagues 4-6 would involve the possessions of the Egyptians.

Plagues 7-10 would bring desolation and even death among those people.

The plagues would be:

1) A public manifestation of the power of the God of Israel.

2) A divine visitation of His wrath, His punishment for Pharaoh.

3) A judgment from God upon the gods of Egypt.

4) A demonstration that Jehovah is high above all gods.

5) A complete testing of the Egyptians’ responsibilities.

6) A solemn warning to other nations. God will curse those who curse the Israelites.

7) A series of testing for Israel.

When the Lord speaks, then we should give heed to His voice and obey. By nature, however, we are not better than Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We maintain ourselves and refuse to bow before God. In His goodness and patience, the Lord still warns us also today to submit to His reign and to humble ourselves before Him, leave to the paths of sin, and return unto Him. As Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice…?” So also, we by nature show that we do not want Him to rule over us. When serious callings come to us as has happened in the world these last years, we may for a moment promise to return to Him and change our walk, but when the judgments seem to be taken from us, we continue our old ways. How foolish this is, to prefer the idols, as the Egyptians did, instead of seeking the Lord and serving Him who alone is God and worthy to be served.

The plagues

Moses and Aaron were at the shore of the river Nile. This river was served by the Egyptians as a goddess. They were dependent on the Nile for bread, fish, and water. Pharaoh was also at the shore of the Nile. Then we read in Exodus 7:20&21, “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.” What a testimony of the power of Israel’s God and the vanity of the idols of Egypt.

The second plague we find in Exodus 8:2b: “Behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs.” Those frogs covered the whole land of Egypt, and although the magicians with their enchantments would also bring up frogs upon the land, they could not take them away. Only the Lord could. We read in verse 11 of Chapter 8, “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.” Why did the Lord do this? In verse 10b we read “that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.”

The third plague brought lice. Exodus 8:17b: “Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast.” This made a deep impression upon the magicians who said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” However, here again we read, “And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”

Then, in verse 23 we read that the Lord would put a division between His people and the Egyptians. What a wonder it is in our life if we see that the Lord makes a difference where by nature there is no difference, and that will be evident in the following plagues.

The fourth plague was “a grievous swarm of flies.” It came in everyone’s house, including Pharaoh: “The land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.” Then it seemed that Pharaoh would bow. He called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.” This was no true bowing, however, for the people would be journeying into the wilderness outside of Egypt.

Then there is the fifth plague: “There shall be a very grievous murrain” upon the cattle and other livestock. What a serious calling this was for the Egyptians; it affected their livelihood. The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them, but still there was no bowing.

The sixth plague was “a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.”

After this came the plague of hail (Exodus 9:22), the expression of the wrath of a holy God. Did Pharaoh finally listen to the Lord’s voice? No!

There came locusts “over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they” (Exodus 10:14b). The people had never seen such locusts as these. The land was darkened, and the locusts did eat every herb of the land and fruit of the trees that remained after the hail. Finally, Pharaoh seemed to surrender. He called Moses and Aaron in haste and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.” He asked for forgiveness and that they would intreat the LORD “that He may take away from me this death only.” However, also this was but a morning cloud that quickly passed. The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the children of Israel go.

An even more severe warning came. Exodus 10:21a: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt.” So it happened. The people of Egypt could not even see each other or rise from their place for three days. Here also we see how the Lord made a distinction. We read in verse 23b, “But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” One more plague would come, and it would not only affect the land, their cattle, or their vision, but it would concern the oldest male son in each family.

A great privilege

Israel had light in their dwellings. This was the light of the favor of the Lord upon the Israelites. After three days the darkness was lifted from the Egyptians, but they did not receive the light of God’s favor and grace. It was the Lord’s hand that would lead His people out of the house of bondage, out of the land of Egypt. When that happens in a sinner’s life, his eyes will be opened to see the deadly danger in which he is—the awful rebellion of his heart and his God-dishonoring unbelief—and he will abhor and loathe himself before God. It is only by free and sovereign grace that Israel was spared and at God’s time delivered and that the Lord left the Egyptians over to their foolishness.

God is speaking loudly not only through His Word but also in the fearful events that are happening in this world. He comes to judge the nations, but we also must stand before Him. Ask the Lord for His grace. Harden not your heart against all the warnings that come to you, and let the example of Pharaoh’s disobedience and refusal to listen to the Lord cause you to humble yourselves before Him. For this, you will need His special grace. Seek it, young and old, while it is the time of grace. Is there light in your dwelling? Has the Lord sent His light of discovering and revelation in your heart? Give Him the honor, for there is no reason in you. He only will be glorified for His grace.

(To be continued)

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