October 10, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 10
The Eighth Plague: Locusts
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”
3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5 and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, 6 and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.
7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?” 9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” 10 But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. 11 No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15 They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
The Ninth Plague: Darkness
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- The first verse indicates that God not only used the plagues against the Egyptians to show that he was the supreme God over all of their gods, but that the Israelites might know him as the Lord as well. God desires for lost people to know him, but he also works in ways for believers to know him more deeply.
- How does Pharaoh’s request of Moses in verses 16-17 compare to what Jesus commands believers to do in Luke 6:27-29?
- Is there anyone that has hurt you that you find it difficult or even impossible to forgive and pray for? If so, ask God today to help you to forgive them and pray for them?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for freeing me from sin and bondage. I am not freed for my benefit alone, but to be free to worship and serve you! I am also freed to be a testimony to others about you Lord. Oh Lord, give me a heart for the lost and broken souls of this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Padre amado gracias por liberarnos del pescado y la esclavitud gracias porque eres nuestro Dios onnipotente el que todo lo puede Señor te pido por todo tu pueblo por todas las naciones llévate este COVID porque sólo tú puedes hacer milagros en ti confiamos mi Dios líbranos de toda enfermedad y ataques del diablo, guíanos protégenos padre que tú presencia no se aparte de mi un momento llámame de tu espíritu santo dame sabiduría mi Dios para no endurecer mi corazón humilde dame la paz que sobre pasa todo entendimiento y sólo tú sabes dar mi Dios amado libera mi mente padre celestial gracia por ser uno de tus elegidos gracias por hoy y por todos los días venideros mi padre úsame como un grano de sal en la tierra no como piedra de tropiezo mi Dios en ti esperamos y en tu nombre oramos Cristo bendito nuestro Salvador amén y amén ?
You alone are Lord.
Being hurt by someone, especially family members, can be very difficult to overcome. Forgiveness comes as you allow God to fill you with His unconditional love as you heal and move forward. There may never be reconciliation; however with God’s spirit and power you can use past hurts to grow and help others. Lord, help me to be a testimony for You!
Unlike being a people under bondage and suffering physically we are under other harmful circumstance
Hear is prayer God put on my hard for my LG Sunday and I thought I would share it
Let’s remember the individuals in Louisiana who have been hit by hurricane Delta. God has not spoken to me through a divine revelation, but we can be thankful because the last two hurricanes first Beta came through Houston as a tropic depression and now Delta has missed Houston, but if you have watched any hurricane predictions you have seen that cold high level winds have been responsible.
None of us know why it happened that the cold fronts came at the right time to spare Houston from destruction by the two hurricanes.
Remember when Jesus was at the temple with his disciples, Luke 18 : 9 – 14, there were two individuals, a Pharisee and a tax collector. Let us not pray as the Pharisee did, we know we are Godlier than the Louisiana individuals, but like the tax collector who humbled himself before God and gave thanks. We should be humble as the Tax collector and just give God thanks.
Thank you God for sparing us from destruction but help those in Louisiana to recover from the storm.
Lord, just as your loving forgiveness has softened my heart to repent and be transformed, use my forgiveness of others to soften their heart to your transformative spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for freeing us from the bandage of sin and help us to remember that we now have a mission field to serve. May we always let our light shine and have a heart for the unsaved. Please heal our land of this covid virus. In Jesus ‘ name . Amen.