Arms Reaching

Greetings Everyone – Today’s text comes from Exodus 10-12 and describes more plagues for the people of Egypt; the Plagues of Locusts, Darkness and the Firstborn. Today’s text concludes with chapter 12 which details the Passover and the Feast of unleavened bread. You can find the text on biblegateway.com

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/beginning/2023/01/21?version=NIV

Things to Ponder – Day 21

Interesting side note – During these plagues the Israelites were protected from the plagues of the Egyptians in the Land of Goshen, Goshen being specifically mentioned in the Plague of the Flies and the Plague of the Hail. Perhaps that is the origin of phrase “Land O’ Goshen.”

Why did God perpetuate these plagues on Egypt?

Why did God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?

Things to Ponder from Day 20

How did the Pharaoh’s magicians respond to the plagues?

After Aaron introduced each plague from the Lord with his staff the Pharaoh’s magicians would attempt to duplicate this feat through their “secret arts”. Interestingly scholars have two trains of thought regarding the magicians ability to duplicate the miracles of the Lord. One theory is that Satan, a fallen angel, was able to give the magicians some powers, while the second theory is the the magicians were not preforming miracles but preforming illusions. I lean towards the illusion theory myself, as today’s magicians are able to preform amazing illusions, and Pharaohs magicians did not do anything different then those of Aaron. When Aaron’s staff became a snake they duplicated bringing forth snakes, yet in an ominous sign the the magicians, Aaron’s snake devoured theirs. However the magicians were unable to duplicate Aaron’s efforts after the Plague of Frogs and after Aaron turned the dust in gnats the magicians said to Pharaoh “This is the finger of God.” Regardless of the source of the Pharaoh’s magicians power they were just not able to match the power of GOD!

How do these events compare to those foretold to Abraham by the Lord in Genesis 15:13-14?

In Genesis chapter 15, God forges his covenant with Abram. In verses 1-3 God tells Abram “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” ² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

God tells Abram “this man will not be your heir” and through the remaining verses of Genesis 15 God revels his promise to Abram. In verses 13-14 God tells Abram, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.” Now in Exodus the Israelites are realizing the fruition of this promise.