Deal or No Deal? The Plagues of Exodus 7-11

One of the most popular game shows on TV at the moment is Noel Edward’s “Deal or No Deal” on Channel 4. If you have not watched it before, it is the game show in which any one of 22 players try and win up to £250,000. There are 22 sealed boxes with prizes from 50p to a quarter of a million pounds. A chosen candidate has to eliminate as many boxes as possible before guessing which one has the highest remaining prize. And during the programme the banker calculates the chances of having to pay out and offers the contestant a deal that will spread his own risk and hopefully tempt the contestant to make a deal. There are 22 boxes but only one question: “deal - or no deal”? The programme even has its very own website and you can go on a pilgrimage tour of the studios. Its not just a game of chance. It also involves the laws of probability and the psychology of risk.

In today’s study in Exodus God offers Pharoah a deal. The terms? “Let my people go so that they may worship me.” (Exodus 7:16). The deal? That “you will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 7:17).  God’s purpose? We see this in the promise he made earlier to the Israelites: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” (Exodus 6:7).

Was that promise just for the Israelites? No, of course not. Otherwise, we would not be here today. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:3-6)

And the Apostle Peter writes, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

And this is not simply a New Testament idea. The Lord God says through the prophet Ezekiel insists, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)

In Exodus 7-11, God is saying to Pharaoh, “I want to give you and your people an opportunity to get to know me. I want to give you a lesson on divine authority. What I want in return is for all my people, all their children, all their animals, all their property, because I want to take them into their own land.” We know that many Egyptians also came to know and fear the Lord. During those terrifying plagues, in compassion, God told Pharaoh how to avoid any loss of life:

“Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’ ” Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. But those who ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field.” (Exodus 9:19-21)

Many Egyptians survived because they obeyed God. And when the Israelites finally escaped, we are told in Exodus 12, “The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.” (Exodus 12:37-38)

Who were the ‘many other people’? Egyptians of course! God’s people have always been an inclusive people, have always incorporated those of other nations – on the basis of faith in the one true God. Membership of God’s people has never on the basis of race or racial purity (see Deuteronomy 23:7-8; Psalm 87:4), always on the basis of faith. What we have therefore in Exodus 7-11 is an object lesson – an evangelistic call if you will – a lesson in Divine Authority – The ultimate “deal or no deal?” God said to the Israelites “Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” (Exodus 6:7). And, chapter 7:5, he wanted the Egyptians to know Him too. “the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord…” (Exodus 7:5). And you know what, that’s the reason the story is in the Bible. He wants us to know that He is the Lord too.

1. Facts to Remember

Before we look at an overview of the ten plagues, we can observe three central facts.

1.1 God predicted the plagues

“But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.  So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.” (Exodus 3:19-20)

God knew what Pharaohs heart response would be. These acts of judgement, just as those that remain future, were not an afterthought but part of God’s salvation plan. Without this suffering the Israelites could not be saved. Without a hell there could be no heaven. God predicted the plagues.

1.2  Pharaoh’s nature required the plagues

“Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)

Pharaoh was saying to Moses, “Your God does not scare me, I am god.” Just before the first plague, God told Moses that Pharaoh had a stubborn heart. “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.” (Exodus 7:14). His deep rooted rebellious nature required drastic action. His defiant arrogance called for a severe judgment. God predicted the plagues. Pharaoh’s nature required the plagues.

1.3 Moses question prompted the plagues

When God told Moses to go back to Pharaoh, he tried to make excuses, “But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” (Exodus 6:30). Notice God’s reply, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.” (Exodus 7:1). The plagues were as much for Moses and the Israelites as they were for Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  God predicted the plagues. Pharaoh’s nature required the plagues. Moses question prompted the plagues. Facts to remember.

2. Plagues to Consider

When you read Exodus 7-10, there are three general observations you can make. First, each plague affected all of the Egyptians. None escaped the effects apart from the Israelites and those Egyptians who feared the Lord. God’s judgment was thorough. Second, each of the plagues was a contest between the Lord God Almighty and the pagan gods of Egypt. Third. None of the plagues softened Pharaoh’s heart. Even after the tenth plague, after losing his own first born son, after initially acquiescing and allowing the Israelites to leave, the fact that he then went after them with his army proves that he had not repented. Let’s consider each of the plagues briefly:

2.1  The plague of blood (7:14-18; 21-23)

The first plague turned the water of the Nile into blood.

It killed the fish and deprived the people of fresh water to drink. It ruined the economy for the River Nile is the life of the country. The Egyptian god defeated? The Nile god = Osiris, the all seeing eye – was defeated. The Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate the miracle but not reverse it. Deal or no deal? No deal.

2.2  The plague of frogs (8:1-2; 14-15)

A swarm of frogs came out of the waters and covered the entire land. Hard as it may seem, the Egyptians worshipped the frog. They were not allowed to kill frogs because they were a symbol of fertility. So God says, “you like the frog? Let me give you a lot of them. Enough to make you sick.”  The Egyptian god defeated? Heka = the frog headed god. Deal or no deal? This one got to Pharaoh and he promised to let the Israelites go if Moses removed the frogs – then reneged. No deal.

3.3  The plague of gnats (8:16-19)

This plague came without a warning. These gnats or lice were tiny black insects that would get inside the ears and nostrils and sting. They covered the entire land.
The Egyptian god defeated – Geb – the earth god. When the Egyptian magicians could not duplicate the miracle, they exclaimed “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19) but Pharaoh said “No deal”

2.4 The plague of flies (8:20-31)

In response to Pharaoh’s belligerence, God sent great swarms of insects to enter the homes of the Egyptians. Only the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived was free. The Egyptian god defeated – Hattok = represented as a fly. Deal or no deal? No deal.

2.5 The plague on the livestock (9:1-7)

The fifth plague was brought about through a terrible epidemic on the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats owned by the Egyptians, without harming the animals belonging to the Hebrews. Egyptian god defeated – Hathor – goddess with a cow head; Apis – the bull god of fertility. The second largest temple in Egypt was built to Apis. There they still have mummies of sacred bulls. Deal or no deal? No deal.

2.6  The plague of boils (9:8-12)

Like the third plague, this one came without warning. Moses took soot from the kiln and threw it into the sky. It became painful boils breaking out on the skin of people and animals (9:10). Even the magicians were afflicted. And we are told for the first time that “The Lord hardened (or strengthened) Pharaoh’s heart” (9:12). Strenghtned him so that, despite the pain, he would not give way. His stubborn heart continued to resist. Deal or no deal? No deal. The Egyptian god defeated – Sekhmet = goddess over disease; Sunu = the god over pestilence; Isis = the goddess of healing.

2.7  The plague of hail (9:13-35)

With Egypt’s fish and meat supply already destroyed, God turned his attention to the crops and vegetation – the bread basket of Egypt. He sent the worst hail storm in the history of Egypt. So powerful they struck down people and animals, even trees (9:25). If you find it hard to envisage, remember the residents of Thomasville, Georgia.  On January 28, 1995 the residents went through a storm that dumped hail the size of cricket balls. The Egyptian god defeated – Nut = the sky goddess; Osiris the god of crops; Set = the god of storms. This plague prompted a momentary repentance and another promise to release the Israelites (9:27-28). But when the storm’s ceased, Pharaoh “sinned again and hardened his heart” (Exodus 9:34).

2.8 The plague of locusts (10:1-20)

“So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.  If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow.  They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields.” (Exodus 10:1-3)

The passage indicates that even Pharaoh’s advises are freaking out. “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?” (Exodus 10:7)

This is where starvation has begun to set in. Locusts in giant swarms strip fields completely bare of all vegetation. What had not been destroyed by the hail was consumed by the locusts. There was nothing green left in the whole land of Egypt. (10:15). The Egyptian gods defeated – Nut = sky goddess; Osiris – the god of the crops. Once more God strengthened Pharaoh’s heart. No deal.

2.9 The plague of darkness (10:22-23)

Once again, without warning Pharaoh, the Lord uses Moses to perform another terrifying miracle. “So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” (Exodus 10:22-23). The Egyptian god defeated – Ra – the sun god.

In response to this oppressive plague, Pharaoh softens, momentarily, “Go worship the Lord, even your women and children, may go with you.; only leave your flocks and herds behind.” (Exodus 10:24). But when Moses tells Pharaoh he must release the Israelites and their livestock, in frustration, Pharaoh loses it. No deal! “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” (Exodus 10:28).

Moses is not intimidated, “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.” (Exodus 10:29). Prophetic words, because as we shall see next week, the tenth and final plague which God brought upon Egypt secures the release of the Hebrews.

It also sets the context for not only the Passover but also the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the tenth plague – the Passover, Pharaoh would see his first born son die as the price to set God’s people free. God’s people would be saved when the angel of death would pass over them because of the blood of the lamb on the lintel and doorposts of their homes.  Three facts to remember. Nine plagues to consider.Lets conclude with:

3. Three Truths to Ponder

3.1 When God judges, he does a thorough job.

If you have not placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour – if you are hardening your heart against him – then you remain under the wrath of God. Charles Swindoll writes, “As much as he desires to cleanse you from all wrongdoing, he cannot allow you to go unpunished for your sins. Don’t wait for his judgement to fall. Today is the day of salvation. On the other hand, if you are a Christian, then do not take God’s grace lightly. Because his love is so great, he will not permit us to continue in an ungodly lifestyle without disciplining us (Hebrews 12:5-11).  Remember from the story of the plagues that when God judges he does a thorough job.

3.2 When God convicts, he does so for our good.

God is offering you and me a deal. He is willing to exchange our sin for his sinlessness. He is willing to forgive our rebellion and bring us into a right relationship, to live in eternity knowing, loving and serving Him. But we must recognise that apart from Jesus, we are gambling with our lives and we are guaranteed to lose. Deal or no deal?

Don’t try and negotiate with God, like Pharaoh because you always lose. God wants to deal with you but on his terms. As Chuck Swindoll says, “God is not some doting grandfather who treats disobedient children with a soft touch. He is the King of the universe. When he speaks he expects his subjects to sit up, listen and obey. If they stubbornly refuse, then they risk … his wrath.”

The longer you wait to make the deal with God, the more you suffer. But deal with God you must sooner or later. The longer you put this off, the more you suffer so deal with him today. Remember from the story of the plagues that when God judges he does a thorough job. When God convicts, he does so for our good.

3.3 When God blesses, he holds nothing back.

While Egypt was experiencing the wrath of God, the Hebrews were revelling in the blessings of his grace. They had food instead of hunger. They had light instead of darkness. They had health instead of sickness. And as we shall see next week, they had life and deliverance instead of death and judgement. Swindoll concludes, “If you will just step out of the darkness of sin and set foot in the light of his mercy then he will give you the abundance of his love both now and forever more.” So which is it to be? Deal or no deal?

With grateful thanks to Charles Swindoll and his Bible study book, Moses, God’s Man for a Crisis (Word) and also Joe Mann of Calvary Chapel, Fort Wayne, http://www.ccfortwayne.com/documents/Notes/2008/Exodus_7-11_1227452400.pdf