The plagues: God wants everyone to repent
Last week, we saw a discouraged Moses try repeatedly to obey God’s plan. While Moses did what God said, the Israelites remained slaves in Egypt. Pharoah simply would not let God’s people go! But we learned that we should never give up on God’s plan – God surely hadn’t. He isn’t done with Pharaoh yet! He tells Moses what to do next-
Exodus 7:14-15 | Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still 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 that turned into a snake.”
Moses and Aaron obey and once again deliver the same message to Pharaoh- let God’s people go! But because Pharaoh will not, God sends a consequence, the first plague-
Exodus 7:20-21 | So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly the whole river turned to blood! The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.
This is not only gross, but a real problem for everyday life. Yet still-
Exodus 7:22b | Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.
God is not surprised and again, He is not done-
Exodus 8:1-4 | Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 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 bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”
Sure enough, Pharoah doesn’t let the Israelites go and plague number two - frogs, is released all across the land. The frogs really bug Pharaoh and he begs Moses to ask God to remove the frogs. He promises that when the frogs are gone, he will let the people go.
Exodus 8:15 | But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.
Great piles of stinky, dead frogs were left everywhere, but still, Pharaoh didn’t let God’s people go.
This process happens again and again. Moses says ‘let God’s people go.’ Pharaoh refuses. God sends a plague. Pharaoh gives in. God removes the plague. Pharaoh changes his mind.
Plague number three brings gnats that cover all the people and animals in Egypt (Exodus 8:16-19).
Plague number four brings flies that cover the people, the houses, and every part of the ground.The swarm of flies is so thick it throws everything in Egypt into chaos (Exodus 8:20-21).
Plague number five brings a deadly plague to all the cattle (horses, donkeys, camels, cows, sheep, and goats) in Egypt (Exodus 9:6-7).
Plague number six causes all the Egyptians and their animals to break out in painful, festering boils that make it even too painful to stand (Exodus 9:8-9).
Plague number seven brings destructive hail that destroys the crops and kills everything and everyone outside at the time (Exodus 9:22-26).
Plague number eight brings locusts that devour any plant or tree that was left after the hailstorms. They overrun everything in Egypt (Exodus 10:12-15).
Plague number nine brings a darkness so deep and thick it could be felt. It lasts for three days and “during all that time, the people could not see each other, and no one moved” (Exodus 10:23). (Exodus 10:21-23)
After the nine plagues, Moses doesn’t have to go to Pharaoh again. This time, Pharaoh comes to him–
Exodus 10:24 | Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”
Pharaoh is trying to ensure that the Israelites return and Moses knows that this isn’t what God commanded. God had instructed Israel to go into the wilderness to worship, which involved sacrifices. They needed their livestock for this to happen. So this time, Moses refuses Pharaoh’s offer.
Exodus 10:27-28 | 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!”
Pharoah threatens Moses and still hasn’t let God’s people go.
If we didn’t know better, we might look at this part of Moses’ life and think that God had failed nine times to save His people. Plague after plague comes and none of them are powerful enough to convince Pharoah to let God’s people go. But even this was part of God’s plan!! He tells Pharaoh through Moses-
Exodus 9:15-16 | 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 you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.
God has spared Pharaoh’s life and prolonged the plagues to show His power, to spread His name throughout the earth, and so even the Israelites would know He was the One True God–
Exodus 10:2 | I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them- and so you will know that I am the Lord.
He has also given Pharoah many chances to choose to obey God’s command.
God works this way in our lives too. Sometimes we see someone disobeying God over and over again and wonder why God allows them to continue sinning, especially when it seems like we mess up in a small way and feel the consequences of that immediately! You might also look around at the sin, sickness, sadness, and pain around you and wonder why God doesn’t just send Jesus back right away. But God explained this too–
2nd Peter 3:9 | The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Our timeless truth today is: God wants everyone to repent (but He won’t wait forever). Even Pharaoh was given many chances to repent and follow God. While Pharoah does not, we’ll see next week that he isn’t allowed to go on sinning against God forever. We will also see that just like God planned, God’s name and power has spread throughout Egypt and because of it, many of the Egyptian people will bless the Israelites as they leave.
In your life, remember, God wants everyone to repent. Because of this, he lets people hear the Good News of Jesus over and over again, even if they reject it. God hopes that His grace and mercy will lead people to repentance–
Romans 2:4 | Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
But He won’t wait forever. There will be a last opportunity for people to turn from sin and follow God. Like Pharaoh, they might not know when that time has come. If you are still waiting to repent from your sin and turn to God, hear His message today: God wants everyone to repent (but He won’t wait forever).
What is something you learned or that stood out to you from Moses & Pharaoh's story today?
How long did God wait before acting on Pharaoh's choice to reject him over and over again?
Why did God wait so long to act or show His power?
What didn’t God wait even longer?
Who do you know that still needs to repent, or turn away from their sin and to God?
When will it be too late for them to repent?
What can you do in the meantime to encourage them to give their life to God?