A) INTRODUCTION.

B) SERPENT.

C) WATER TURNED INTO BLOOD.

D) FROGS.

E) LICE.

F) FLIES.

G) MURRAIN.

H) BOILS.

I) THUNDER AND HAIL, ALONG WITH FIRE UPON THE GROUND.

J) LOCUSTS.

K) DARKNESS.

L) DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN.

M) SOME INTERESTING CONCLUSIONS.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

It is to be noticed that originally Moses only entreated Pharaoh for a “three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God,” Exodus 5:3 (as God instructed in Exo. 3:15).  It should also be noticed that Moses knew beforehand that “Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you,” Exodus 7:4.  And another thing to notice is that God tells Moses beforehand that Pharaoh will not let Israel go until after God had performed His many “wonders,” Exodus 3:20, upon Egypt.  Why?  So that the Egyptians would know Who the true God is (see Exo. 9:14).

 

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to understand is that all of these plagues were about “worship.”  Thus, an attack upon the false “gods” of the Egyptians is the point that the True God was attempting to impress upon the Egyptians and Israelites, and ultimately upon all of humanity.

 

Notice that the first three plagues attack the Egyptians comfort.  The next three attack their possessions.  And the next three cause death and destruction.  With the last one being the most severe and close to one’s heart.  Thus, our Lord works with us, always attempting to get our attention until He can no longer reach us through, “Come, let us reason together,” Isaiah 1:18.

 

 

B) SERPENT (Exo. 7:10).

 

 

Although this is not a plague, I include it because it is a miracle performed for the purpose of Pharaoh to let the Nation of Israel go.  It also is to be noted that Egypt’s magicians likewise performed this miracle; of which they accomplished with the first and second plagues; thus, making this event as important as all of the plagues, i.e., deserving of mention.

 

As we take a closer look at the plagues themselves, we should understand that each plague was particularly selected by our Lord to demonstrate His power over the false Egyptian gods of which the people worshipped.  Thus, our Lord was teaching everyone (us) that He is the Only true God and the Only God worthy of worship.

 

Some wonder how or why God would allow the Egyptian sorcerers to duplicate His first two plagues and the serpents.  It must be observed that although they multiplied what God had multiplied, they could not get rid of them.  Even God had to have His one serpent eat up all of the other serpents, and the Egyptian Pharaoh had to ask Moses to talk to his God and have the frogs taken away (Exo. 8:8).

 

An important thing to notice (I will mention it here as opposed to waiting to site this observation in miracle number 2about the frogs), is that Pharaoh’s magicians’ miracles were really those performed by “three unclean spirits like frogs [which] come out of the mouth of the dragon,” Revelation 16:13.  Here is the magician’s true source of power.  Mess with Satan and both God and Satan will mess with you.

 

 

C) WATER TURNED INTO BLOOD (Exo. 7:20).

 

 

The Nile was held sacred by the Egyptians, as well as the animals it contained, to which they annually sacrificed a young girl, or as some other Bible Commentators state, both a boy and girl.  Now why would our God want to stop such acts as these?  The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Hapis,” or “Apis,” alternatively spelled “Hapi-ankh,” the Egyptian god of the Nile.

 

Two other gods relating to the Nile River were “Khnum,” guardian of the Nile.  And the other was “Osiris,” god of flooding, who was said to be reborn each year whenever the Nile River overflowed its banks.

 

Two months elapsed between Moses’ first and second interviews with Pharaoh; the former in April, when the Israelites were scattered throughout all Egypt gathering the stubble of the harvest just reaped (the reapers leaving the stalks standing and cut close to the ears; Exo. 5:12), the latter in June at the time of the Nile’s yearly overflow when Pharaoh would “goeth out unto the water,” Exodus 7:15, to offer his devotions to “Apis,” the Egyptian God, whose embodiment was the rivers of Egypt.  Thus, this plague began in the month of June.  Apparently, this plague only lasted, “seven days were fulfilled,” Exodus 7:25.

 

 

D) FROGS (Exo. 8:6).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Heket,” or “Heqet,” the Egyptian goddess of Fertility, Water, and Renewal.  Also related to the annual flooding of the Nile River.

 

Three months elapsed before the next plague.  This plague of frogs attacked the Egyptian worship of nature under that revolting form of Heka, a female deity with a frog’s head, the symbol of regeneration and wife of “Chnum,” the god of the inundation.  “Seti,” father of Rameses II, is represented as offering wine to an enshrined frog, with the legend “the sovereign lady of both worlds;” this was in September, when the inundation is at its height of frogs.  It is to be noted that the Egyptian magicians also copied this plague (Exo. 8:7).

 

Of special note is the fact that Pharaoh entreated Moses to, “Intreat 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.”  Exo. 8:8.  This is the first sign of Pharaoh yielding to the power of God.  Also to be noticed, is that apparently the Egyptian magicians could bring up frogs, but could not get rid of them.  This, rather than the next plague, of which they could not duplicate, should be the starting point of the recognition of the true God, as Pharaoh’s words also indicate.

 

 

E) LICE (Exo. 8:17).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Geb,” the Egyptian god of the Earth.

 

The lice or mosquitoes, Hebrew, “kinnim,” penetrates into the nostrils and ears, or rather it could have been the tick (the size of a grain of sand, which when filled with blood swells to the size of a hazel nut), which came soon after the frogs, early in October, one month later.  The highlight of this plague is that the Egyptian magicians could not duplicate it (Exo. 8:18) and they, like Pharaoh in the previous plague, admit that “This is the finger of God,” Exodus 8:19.  The important thing to notice here is that it is at this point that the magicians are never seen of or heard from again.  Once Satan is defeated he leaves.  Just as he did with our Lord when tempting Him.  So it can be with you.  Not that he won’t come back (but through another or different avenue; not through the avenue you have overcome; the purpose of our lives now; see Rom. 12:21; 1Jo. 2:13 & 14; 4:4; Rev. 2:5 & 7 & 11 & 17 & 26; 3:5 & 12 & 21; 11:7; 13:7; 17:14; 21:7).

 

However, of special note is that it is not stated whether or not Israel was exempt from this particular plague, but most likely they were not do to the statement in Exodus 8:23, where it is stated by God that He would then (later) “put a division between My people and thy people.”  Note the rest of the verse, “to morrow shall this sign be.”  What “sign?”  The “sign” of Who the true God is.  This is further affirmed in Exodus 9:4, “And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt.”  In addition, despite the report from the Egyptian magicians, Pharaoh was not moved to the action that Moses would want him to, i.e., to let the Israelites go (Exo. 8:19).

 

 

F) FLIES (Exo. 8:24).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Khepri,” the Egyptian god of creation, movement of the sun, and rebirth, which had the head of a fly.

 

Known as “dog flies,” Hebrew, “ ‘arob,” whose bite inflames severely, and particularly the eyelid, it was difficult to stand against a swarm of them; and one must find cover in order to resist them.

 

There is also evidence that these could have been “Dung Beetles,” which were worshipped by the Egyptians as the symbol of creative and reproductive power.  To this day you can find “Dung Beetles” in Egyptian rings and necklaces and other jewelry.  The reasoning is that wherever you went along trails, there animals would drop their dung, and out of seemingly nowhere, appeared these “Dung Beetles.”  Thus, creation came about from nothing, as did the “Dung Beetle.”

 

Also, the Egyptian sun god was represented as a beetle; thus, their god was fittingly made the instrument of their punishment, inflicting a painful bite, and consuming various articles.  This plague, which exceeded the former in severity, came in November, one month later, at the critical time to Egyptian agriculture when the Nile’s inundation has subsided.

 

It is to be especially noticed that this is the first plague where the land of Goshen was severed from the rest of Egypt (Exo. 8:22) and spared the rest of the plagues (other than the darkness and the first-born if not complying with its conditions).

 

It is also to be noted that the, “three days’ journey into the wilderness,” Exodus 8:27, is repeated as to all that the Israelites required of Pharaoh.  Notice also that Pharaoh attempts to compromise with Moses in Exodus 8:28.  This is how Satan works.  Once you compromise with God’s Ten Commandment Law, Satan has you on his ground.

 

 

G) MURRAIN (Exo. 9:6).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Hathor,” the Egyptian goddess of Love and Protection.

 

The plague of murrain came upon the beasts of Egypt, striking at its very resources.  It was a contagious epidemic which broke out in Egypt often after the annual inundation had subsided.  The cattle retire to the fields from Decemberto April, the change from the stalls to the open air and to fresh pastures predisposing them to it.  Israel is also spared from this plague (Exo. 9:4).

 

What is interesting to note is that Pharaoh is not even moved by this plague (Exo. 9:7), having hardened his heart to a point where it would not listen to reason.

 

 

H) BOILS (Exo. 9:10).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Isis,” the Egyptian goddess of Medicine and Peace.  Other Egyptian gods effected were “Sekhmet,” which was the lioness goddess of war and destruction, who could unleash plagues or heal diseases with her breath; and “Shu,” the god of the air.

 

According to Exodus 9:11, of special notice is that the Egyptian magicians would not even stand before Moses because of the boils on their bodies, meaning they would have stood before him in opposition as previously, just as their Pharaoh did.  Also, only the Egyptians were experiencing this plague.  Also to be noticed, is that Pharaoh still does not entreat Moses to rid Egypt and its people from this plague, continuing in his hardened heart position.

 

 

I) THUNDER AND HAIL, ALONG WITH FIRE UPON THE GROUND (Exo. 9:23).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Nut,” the Egyptian goddess of the Sky.  Also included would be “Osiris,” the crip fertility god; and “Set,” the storm god.

 

The hail, which as in the present day prevails from the middle of February to the beginning of March.  The flax being “boiled,” i.e. in blossom, marks the time as the middle of February, when also the “barley” is “in the ear (Exo. 9:31-32).  Wheat and rye, rather spelt or durra, are not ready until April.

 

Moses for the first time warns Pharaoh to bring all the cattle out of the field on pain of their destruction (Exo. 9:19).  In Goshen alone was there no hail (Isa. 32:18-19).

 

Once again Israel is spared this plague (Exo. 9:26), but they most likely heard and felt the effects of the thunder.

 

Of special notice is that after two plagues where Pharaoh was not moved to pleading with Moses to entreat the Lord, with this particular plague he breaks down in submission (Exo. 9:28), and Pharaoh for the first-time cries, “I have sinned this time, Jehovah is righteous, I and my people are wicked,” Exo. 9:27.

 

Also of special interest is that both Pharaoh and his servants harden back their hearts (Exo. 9:34).  However, the servants are finished with the mere threatening of the next plague (Exo. 10:7).

 

 

J) LOCUSTS (Exo. 10:13).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Senehem,” the god that protected against “locusts.”  Also, “Seth,” the Egyptian god of Storms and Disorder.

 

The locusts followed, when vegetation is then at its full, in the middle of March.  The locusts come from an East wind, upon Moses’ stretching his rod over Egypt by Jehovah’s command.  By contrast, locusts oftener come from the Western deserts, but sometimes from the East and Southeast.  On Pharaoh’s confession of sin and entreaty (Exo. 10:16-17), Moses besought the Lord and they disappeared as quickly as they came, before a wind from the sea, i.e., a “[North]west wind,” Exodus 10:19, sweeping transversely all of Egypt and casting them into the Red Sea.  This Northwest wind makes total sense in that it would be opposite of the locust’s normal flight pattern for that time of the year.

 

 

K) DARKNESS (Exo. 10:21-22).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Ra,” the Sun god.

 

These three days (Exo. 10:22) of “darkness which might be felt,” most probably owing to the South-West wind from the desert after the spring equinox filling the air densely with fine sand, such that men and beasts hide (Exo. 10:23), and this darkness could literally be “felt.”

 

Of special notice is that the Israelites not only escaped this plague, but had “light,” Exodus 10:23, most probably miraculously made by God.

 

Another note of special interest is that Pharaoh orders that Moses would not see his face again lest he die (Exo. 10:28), but even this command can Pharaoh not perform when Moses is found to be standing in front of him without any harm coming to him (Exo. 11:8).

 

 

L) DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN (Exo. 12:29).

 

 

The corresponding Egyptian god that our Lord specifically was demonstrating His power over was, “Pharaoh,” The Ultimate Power of Egypt:

 

With the carrying out of this plague, Moses is told that pharaoh will let the people go (Exo. 11:1).  If the people of Israel were not preparing to leave Egypt before this point, they should surely be preparing for a departure now.

 

Of special note is verse 7, of Chapter 10 of Exodus, in that, “not a dog move his tongue.”  The implication is that no matter how badly the Egyptians might want to have some type of revenge, the fear of God would prevent them (see also Exo. 11:3).

 

Also, according to Exodus 12:2, “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months:  it shall be the first month of the year to you.”  Also, Exodus 12:14 states: “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”

 

 

M) SOME INTERESTING CONCLUSIONS

 

There are probably more Egyptian false gods that these plagues were designed to attack, since Egypt had about 2,000 of them; but I only focused upon the main ones effected per each plague.  Attach the ones you like to each plague (interesting study; but I don’t like focusing upon their gods, but my God).  Also, a most important statement is given for our Lord handling the plagues of Egypt the way He did.  He wanted to be sure He went “against all the gods of Egypt,” in order to “execute judgment,” Exodus 12:12.

 

The first three plagues are attributed to Aaron and his staff, although it is most likely that all of them (except the 10th) are accomplished in the same manner (see Exo. 4:30; 7:8 & 19; 8:5; 9:8).

 

That the reason for all of these plagues was to introduce God as being the Only One GOD Whom worship was due, see:  Exodus 7:5 & 17; 8:10 & 22; 9:14 & 29 & 30; 10:2; 11:7.

 

All of the plagues are introduced by the same formula, “And the Lord Spake unto Moses:” Exodus 8:1 & 16 & 20; 9:1 & 8 & 13; 10:1 & 12 & 21; 11:1.

 

In connection with each plague the “hardening” of the heart of Pharaoh is mentioned:  Exodus 7:22; 8:15; 9:7 & 12 & 34 & 35; 10:1 & 20 & 27; 11:10.  See my Bible Study:  “HARDENING OF PHAROAH’S HEART, THE.”

 

With plagues one (1), four (4), and seven (7), they are to be announced by Moses on the following morning to Pharaoh (Exo. 7:15; 8:20; 9:13), while the others are announced beforehand.

 

Egypt’s magicians only play a prominent role in the first three plagues, but are powerless to rid themselves of them.

 

Israel, or the land of Goshen, is only spared (for sure) from the 4th through 10th plagues (Exo. 8:22; 9:6 & 26; 10:23; 11:7).

 

Even though Pharoah told Moses not to come into his presence any more (“see thy face no more”), or Moses would “die,” Exodus 10:28, and Moses acknowledged that command (Exo. 10:29), God had Moses go before Pharaoh again one last time (Exo. 11:8-10), but Moses walked out safely.

 

The plagues took about a year’s time to accomplish.

 

The tenth plague is handled by God Himself (Exo. 12:12).