Pharaoh continues to ignore Moses’ and Aaron’s requests to let the Israelites go. Initially, the magicians were able to imitate the plagues Moses created. When they could no longer recreate the plagues, they realized that it was the finger of God sending the plagues. They understood the authority and control God had and that they were powerless to come up against God. They knew what Pharaoh refused to understand. That God was in control, not Pharaoh. Then, some of Pharaohs’ leaders realize this and protect their property — slaves and cattle — placing them under cover. Even they could not convince Pharaoh to heed God’s warnings.
Pharaoh is warned about some of the plagues, yet he does not care. He says yes and then refuses to honor those commitments. His word meant absolutely nothing. Our word is our witness as to how we truly view God in our lives. We need to be sure we honor our commitments being careful before we commit.
The plagues have different effects on the land. The Nile river was the life blood of Egypt. Without safe water, they could not drink or have irrigation for their crops and they needed the silt to come up along the banks as fertilizer.
The next plague: frogs. Frogs were believed to have divine power and when Pharaoh wanted them removed, he chose the next day rather than immediately. Was he hoping the frogs would suddenly disappear so Moses and God could not take credit for this? Lice or gnats were next. They could not reproduce this plague, which should have told Pharaoh something.
The last plague in this section is flies, which starts the next sequence of plagues. Finally, Pharaoh was willing to negotiate with Moses saying they can go and worship but only in Egypt. When will Pharaoh realize he was never in control?
When the way seems impossible how do your respond? Do you depend on your own abilities or depend on God’s strength and power in your life?
Eleanor Chew
