Exodus 7 - 11 The Plagues

  The Children of Israel

A Plague of Blood

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go. So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff.”

“Then announce to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now you have refused to listen. So this is what the LORD says: “I will show you that I am the LORD.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the river.”’

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron to take the staff in his hand and stretch it out over the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they will become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.”

Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded and Aaron lifted up the staff, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the waters that were in the river 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.

But the magicians of Egypt came and did the same with their magic, and Pharaoh’s heart hardened. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

Satan can do miraculous signs and wonders. Don’t be fooled. Pharaoh’s “wise men” who were sorcerers, were able to duplicate the first three plagues called forth by Moses, under God’ direction. Through this we learn that Satan can also do sings and wonders, both then and now. In our present age, with miraculous “healings” and “wonders”, we must “test the spirits” by studying God’s word, to see if the signs and wonders are of God or of Satan (1 John 4:1). We must learn to know God so well, and study His word so diligently, that we know His voice, and know His ways. Otherwise “even the very elect” will be deceived (Matthew 24:24).

Pharaoh returned to his house and put the whole thing out of his mind. Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they could not drink the water for the Nile.

Seven days passed.

A Plague of Frogs

Then the LORD said to Moses, “God back to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus saith the LORD: “Let my people go, that they may serve me. And if you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your bedrooms and onto your beds! They will enter the houses of your servants and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all of your servants.”’

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron to raise the staff in his hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.”

So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

And Moses said, “When shall I pray for you, your servants, and your people?”

“Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

Moses said, “It will be as you have said. They you will know that here is no one like the LORD our God. The frogs will leave you and your houses, your servants, and your people. They will remain in the Nile River only.”

So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s house, and Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh. And the LORD did just what Moses said he would do. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land.

But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he hardened his heart, and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

A Plague of Lice

So the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron to raise his staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, lice infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into lice.

Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their magic, but they could not, so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But still Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.

A Plague of Flies

Then the LORD told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, “Thus saith the LORD: Let my people go, so they can serve me. If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your servants, and your people, and all their houses. The Egyptians homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them.”

“But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I am in the midst of the earth. I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow.”

And the LORD did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s house and the houses of his servants. The whole land of Egypt was corrupted from the swarm of flies.

Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us. We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, just as He has commanded us.”

“All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me!”

Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your servants, and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”

So Moses left Pharaoh’s house and pleaded with the LORD to remove all the flies. And the LORD did as Moses asked. The swarms of flies disappeared. Not a single fly remained.

But again, Pharaoh hardened his heart, and would not let the people go.

A Plague against Livestock

“Go back to Pharaoh,” the LORD commanded Moses. “Tell him, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, so they can serve me. If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, behold the hand of the LORD will strike all of your livestock; your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats, with a deadly plague.”

“But the LORD will again make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel’s animals will die! The LORD has already set the time for the plague to begin. He has declared that he will strike the land tomorrow.’”

And the LORD did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Children of Israel didn’t lose a single animal.

Pharaoh sent his servants to investigate, and they discovered that the children of Israel had not lost a single animal! But even so, the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

A Plague of Festering Boils

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and have Moses sprinkle it into the air while Pharaoh watches. The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land of Egypt.”

So they took ashes from a furnace and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses sprinkled the ashes into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike. Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the LORD had said to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.

A Plague of Hail

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, so they can serve me. If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you, your servants, and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.’ 

“By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose, to show through you my power, and to declare my name throughout all the earth (see also Romans 9:17).”

Romans 9:17, “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared thoughout all the earth.”

“But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any since the beginning of time. Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail comes down.”

Some of Pharaoh’s servants were afraid because of what the LORD had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields. But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt.”

So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning. It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field, people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed. 

The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived.

Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The LORD is righteous, I and my people are wicked. Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”

“All right,” Moses replied. “As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord. But I know that you and your servants still do not fear the LORD God.”

(The hail ruined all the flax and barley, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding. But the wheat and the rye were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)

So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the LORD, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his servants sinned again, and Pharaoh again hardened his heart.

Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the children of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

A Plague of Locusts

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have hardened the heart of Pharaoh and his servants so I can show my miraculous signs among them. Also that you may tell your children and grandchildren about the things I brought about in Egypt and about the signs I displayed among them, so they will know that I am the LORD.”

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can serve me. If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will bring a swarm of locusts into your coast. They will cover the land so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will devour what little is left of your crops after the hailstorm, including all the trees growing in the fields. They will overrun your house, and the homes of your servants, and all the houses in Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt have your ancestors seen a plague like this one!” And with that, Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s servants now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. “How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to serve the LORD their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “All right,” he told them, “go and serve the LORD your God. But who exactly will be going with you?”

Moses replied, “We will all go, the young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in holding a feast to the LORD.”

Pharaoh retorted, “The LORD will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan. Never! Only the men may go and serve the LORD, since that is what you requested.” And Pharaoh drove them from his presence.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the locusts. Let them cover the land and devour every plant that survived the hailstorm.”

So Moses raised his staff over Egypt, and the LORD caused an east wind to blow over the land all that day and through the night. When morning arrived, the east wind had brought the locusts. And the locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt, settling in all the coasts of Egypt. It was the worst locust plague ever, and there has never been another one like it, for the locusts covered the whole country and darkened the land. They devoured every plant in the fields and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you,” he confessed. “Forgive my sin, just this once, and plead with the LORD your God to take away this death from me.”

So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and pleaded with the LORD. The LORD responded by shifting the wind, and the strong west wind blew the locusts into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in all the land of Egypt.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart again, so that he refused to let the people go.

A Plague of Darkness

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with darkness, a darkness that you can feel.” 

So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, neither did they rise from their beds. But all the children of Israel had light where they lived.

(The days will be dark once more and Christians will have light see Isaiah 60:1-3; Ephesians 5:8,13,14).

Isaiah 60:1-3, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ² For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. ³ And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

Ephesians 5:8,13,14, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light... ¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and serve the LORD,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”

“No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD our God. All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. For we know not what we will need from among these animals to serve the LORD our God. And we won’t know how we are to serve the LORD until we get there.”

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go.

“Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”

“Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”

Death for Egypt’s Firstborn

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more plague. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave Egypt. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.”

“Now go and speak to the people, tell them to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the children of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of the servants, and in all the eyes of the people.)

Moses said to Pharaoh, “Thus saith the LORD: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die.”

“A loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. But among the children of Israel it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.”

Then all your servants of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your people with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with great anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.” 

Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.