Jesus In Exodus

Chapter 8

· Exodus 8:1-7, Seven days passed after the Lord struck the Nile. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on you people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.'" 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land. 7 But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

This plague like the first one was directed against the idolatry of the Egyptians. The Nile River was sacred in the eyes of the Egyptians, and so God turned the water into blood. The frog was an object of worship among them, so God caused Egypt to be overrun with frogs. They were particularly obnoxious creatures and their numbers indicates the severity of God’s judgment.

The moral significance of the frogs is revealed in Revelation:

· Revelation 16:13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Frogs are used to symbolize the powers of evil and stand for uncleanness. So we see that the intent is to portray the character of the Devil as evil and unclean. I think it is interesting that the magicians only produced more frogs instead of eliminating the ones that God produced. And once again, notice that Pharaoh was warned before the plague was manifested.

· Exodus 8:16-19 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats." 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 18 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals. 19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.

This third judgment comes without warning and was aimed at the Egyptian people. The key to the moral significance of this plague is found in the source from which the gnats came. Upon the fall in the Garden of Eden, God put a curse on the ground. When Aaron struck the dust and it became gnats, it was showing the awful fact that man by nature is under the curse of God.

Notice that God restrained the magicians in this case and they could not bring forth gnats from the ground. It is the same with Satan. God has control over him and he can do only what God permits him to do. After this admission of the magicians, we do not see them again. How this portends the confession that in the last days every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

· Exodus 8:20-32, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they are. 22 "'But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.'" 24 And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies. 25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land." 26 But Moses said, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us." 28 Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me." 29 Moses answered, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD." 30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31 and the LORD did what Moses asked: The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

This plague marks the beginning of a new series of three plagues. Notice in the next plagues, God makes a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. The Israelites had also suffered from the first three plagues, because they were sinful people and were subject to the influence of Satan. But now that the Lord was about to destroy the property of the Egyptians He would spare the Israelites.

The deeper meaning of this plague is found in the nature of its effects, and from the fact that the Israelites were exempt form it. It has to do with the tormenting of the bodies of the Egyptians, thus looking forward to the eternal judgment of the lost, when they would be tormented forever.

I’d like for you to notice the continuing deceit of Pharaoh. In this case he offered to let the people go but then changed his mind. He first said that they could do their sacrifices in the land, but Moses said no. Then he said they could go into the desert but not too far. Then he changed his mind.

Chapter 9

· Exodus 9:1-7, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field--on your horses and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats. 4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'" 5 The LORD set a time and said, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land." 6 And the next day the LORD did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 7 Pharaoh sent men to investigate and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

This judgment was directed against the possessions of the Egyptians and a fatal disease hit their livestock. But notice again that God did not affect the livestock of the Israelite. How this points us to the sovereignty of God. He chose not to have the disease affect the livestock of His chosen people. Of course, there is a spiritual meaning to this plague. The livestock affected with the disease were the work animals of the Egyptians. The death of these animals tells us that God will not accept the labor of the unregenerate

· Exodus 9:8-12, Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land." 10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and animals. 11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.

This is the third plague in the second set of three and we notice that there was no warning given, as was the case in the third plague in the first set of three. Some think that the furnace mentioned here was an altar on which human sacrifices were offered. These sacrifices may have been given to placate their gods to avoid plagues. But Moses, acting on God’s instruction tosses the ashes in the air causing a plague.

· Exodus 9:13-35, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now. 19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every man and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.'" 20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field. 22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt--on men and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt." 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; 24 hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields--both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. 26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were. 27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said to them. "The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer." 29 Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God." 31(The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom. 32 The wheat and spelt, however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.) 33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the LORD; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. 35 So Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.

This plague begins the third set of three. The next three plagues clearly point to heave as the place of their origin. And the staff appears again, since we did not see it in the last three.

The severity of this plague is seen in several particulars. It was the worst hailstorm; the lightening ran across the ground; and the hail struck all of Egypt. This judgment was an expression of the wrath of a holy God. But this is small compared to the wrath that will be demonstrated during the Great Tribulation.

Chapter 10

· 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 so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them 2 that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD." 3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to 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. 4 If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. 5 They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields. 6 They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians--something neither your fathers nor your forefathers have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.'" Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh. 7 Pharaoh's officials said to 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 ruined?" 8 Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go, worship the LORD your God," he said. "But just who will be going?" 9 Moses answered, "We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD." 10 Pharaoh said, "The LORD be with you--if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil.   11 No! Have only the men go; and worship the LORD, since that's what you have been asking for." Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence. 12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts will swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail." 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; 14 they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. 15 They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail--everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt. 16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17 Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me." 18 Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 19 And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

East wind=hamsim  (pronounced  hom-seem). Locusts are one of the terrors of the east. They destroy the crops and eat all the vegetation. This plague, coming on top of the destruction of the livestock, created a serious food shortage in Egypt. Now notice that these locusts came to Egypt at God’s command. And they departed at His command.

It is clear that this plague is a manifestation of God’s wrath, like the previous plague, but there seems to be something more inferred by the locusts. In both Joel and Revelation there is a species of: infernal” locusts that come from the bottomless pit, and the Antichrist is said to be their king. So we may conclude that this plague anticipates the future punishing of the lost.

Additionally, I think it is significant that God sent the plagues and He removes it. He is able to remove the future punishment from those who come to Him in repentance.

Then comes the final plague.

· Exodus 10:21-29, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt--darkness that can be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind." 25 But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD." 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die." 29 "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again."

In Egypt the sun was worshipped under the title of Ra; the name conspicuously present in the kings of Egypt, Pharaoh, or Phra, meaning  “the sun”.

Not only was the source of light and heat removed from the Egyptians, but the god they worshipped became powerless, proof that a mightier power than the “sun” was dealing with them in judgment. What a fitting climax to this third series of plagues.

How shall we interpret it? God is light: Darkness is the withdrawal of light. Therefore, this judgment of darkness plainly intimated that Egypt was now abandoned by God. And the darkness lasted three days. (What do you make of this part of the plague.

The three days of darkness which fell over the land of Egypt reminds us of the three hours of darkness over all the earth when Jesus hung on the cross. This expresses the idea of God’s abandonment of Jesus as He bore our sins. And this three days of darkness is a warning to all who are rejecting Jesus.

This was a terrible darkness. It was so dark that it was “thick” or “could be felt”. They could not even see one another. But isn’t it interesting that the very next verse tells us that the Israelites had all the light they needed.  (And what do you make of that?)

Their light was as supernatural as the darkness was to the Egyptians. No doubt this was light from the Shekinah glory. The Egyptians had a darkness they could not light up and the Israelites had a light that could not be extinguished.

We are now going to do a little back-tracking that will be useful in taking a look at where we have been from another point of view. In the fourth chapter when God is telling Moses to go to Egypt, He says:

· Exodus 4:22-23 Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"

Two truths are revealed here. God is saying that Israel is His adopted son. This adoption is not individual as with us, but as a nation. This denotes that Israel was singled out by God for His special favor.

· Jeremiah 31: 9 I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

What does God’s firstborn suggest to you? The firstborn speaks of a place of honor and privilege. Now remember that God frequently did not honor the firstborn of other biblical characters, but this is His own firstborn.

You may remember that God told Moses that there were three things he was to tell Pharaoh:

· that they were to go into the desert to sacrifice

· they were to serve Him

· they were to hold a feast unto God.

The order of these three things is very significant. The thought of sacrifice comes first. Sacrifice is required to avoid God’s judgment. Only as the sinner places the blood of Jesus between himself and God can he stand in the presence of God. Next comes service. No one can serve God acceptably until they are reconciled to Him. Following this, we have fellowship and joy.

These three things, in the same order are an illustration of the Prodigal Son. First, the wayward one was reconciled, then he took his proper place, (he asked to be made one of his fathers hired servants) and then a feast was prepared when the fatted calf was killed.

Do you recall that in chapter 8 Pharaoh said that the people could go and worship in the land? But God’s instruction to Moses was clear: they were to go into the desert. The meaning here is that God requires a complete separation of His people unto Himself. They were to serve God in the wilderness; that is, away from Egypt, the world.

Pharaoh’s attitude was, “surely you can worship and serve your God here in the land as well as you can in the wilderness of the desert.” But this is Satan’s lie, just like in the Garden of Eden. God says we are to be separate. (People say I can serve God as well on the golf course as I can in church.)

Referring to this and other incidents, Paul said:

· Corinthians10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

In this connection Jesus had some very penetrating words in:

· John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Another position taken by Pharaoh was that he would let the people go but they must leave the children behind. Here is an important principle for Christian parents. The training of children is a solemn responsibility and becoming increasingly difficult in the present age when there has developed a philosophy that children should be allowed to think for themselves and should not be “brainwashed” by parents as to what they are to believe. I believe this passage tells us that parents have a responsibility to direct the orientation of their children.

· Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Can’t you just hear Satan? Be a Christian says Satan, if you really must, but don’t force religion on the members of your family and especially do not tease your children with it. They are too young to understand such things. Let them be happy now; time enough for serious things later when they grow up. If you press spiritual things on them now, you will just turn them off and drive them away. Sounds like Dr. Spock.

But in fact, the training cannot start too early. God has put into the parent’s hands the reins of government and the rod of authority, but if they fail to exercise them we should not be surprised if children grow up lacking respect for authority. The evidence is all around us.

· The standard which God sets for Christian parents today is certainly not a lower one than He set for Israel of old. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Question: How do you think this passage should be applied today or should it be applied today? What is the basic message of these verses?

Finally Pharaoh says that they can go but they must leave their flocks and herds. Moses said that he would not leave one hoof behind. What are we to learn from this? The issue is whether or not God has title to all that we have. Satan would say, “Give yourself to God if you must, but don’t devote everything you have to Him.”