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The final plague in Egypt was so significant that Moses wrote chapter 11 of Exodus to explain what it would entail. It is the only chapter during the plague narrative in which no plague actually takes place. Moses said that the first-born of every Egyptian family would perish and when it was over, the Egyptians would give silver and gold to the Israelites. Would the Egyptians believe him? Would the Israelites? There was only one way to prove it.

Moses described the plague of darkness in Egypt as a darkness you could "feel." Certainly, this was more than just the darkness of a night sky and more than the lack of natural light from the sun, or moon or stars. It also included the extinguishing of artificial light as well, no light from candles, oil lamps or torches. Some people think that God brought the darkness of hell to the land of Egypt. Whatever it was, those who experienced it suffered and struggled because of it. But in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived, there was no darkness during these days.

The plague of locusts is certainly one of the most well-known of all the plagues of Egypt. As one of the final three plagues, it directly threatened the lives of the Egyptians. As part of this plague, God told Moses why the plagues were necessary. The answer might surprise you. And we find a foreshadowing in the resolution of the plague that hints at the final outcome for Pharaoh and his army as well.

The plague of hail in Egypt was unique. It was the only plague which caused distress for all three at the same time...the people, the land, and the livestock. This plague also marked a big change among the people. Before the hail, the Israelites had turned to Pharaoh for help and mercy. Afterwards, not only the Israelites, but the Egyptians also began to look to Moses' God for their deliverance. Hearts are changing in Egypt, except for the heart of Pharaoh, which seems to be softening, until the hail stops!

The plague of boils began from a handful of soot which had been taken from the same kilns used by Pharaoh to make bricks, sometimes without straw, by the Hebrew slaves. God took the very thing Pharaoh used to cause pain for His people and used it to bring pain upon Pharaoh's people. These boils were so painful that the pagan priests could not practice their ceremonies, so during this plague only the Lord of the Israelites was being worshipped in all the land of Egypt.

When it comes to the plaque of the livestock, the Egyptians are given a choice by the Lord. They can obey Him and bring their livestock into a stable or a barn and the livestock will be spared. But if they choose to disobey Him and leave their livestock out in the field, then their livestock will die. This is the first plague that has permanent consequences. Up until now, the plagues have been a nuisance for the Egyptians, serious be temporary. There is no coming back from this one. The Israelites, however, will not have the same problem. God has promised that their livestock will not suffer death if left in the field. By doing so, God further separates His people from Pharoah's people.

Moses did not know how many plagues God would inflict upon Egypt before Pharoah would let His people go. In this episode, we learn that Moses must have thought enough was enough, so he made a deal with Pharoah himself. But Moses learned that his plan was not God's plan and that you cannot make God's Word say whatever you want it to say, just because it suites you.

God brings His third plague upon the land of Egypt through Moses, the plague of gnats (or lice, or mosquitos, or ?) which is distinctly different than the first two plagues. What made this one different? Pharaoh's magicians even testified that this plague was the "finger of God," although Pharaoh would not believe them. In this episode, we look at the plagues from both the Egyptian perspective and also from the Israelite perspective.

God brings the plague of frogs upon the land of Egypt, covering the land with them. How many were there? Where did they go once they were upon the land? In the first two plagues, God has shown His power by turning Egyptian gods of life and resurrection into judgement and death. We also learn of the "proximity paradigm" of the plagues: They come closer and get more personal one by one.

The time had come for plague no. 1 in Egypt, when God turned the water of the "mighty" Nile River, and all the water in Egypt (even the jars of water in homes) into blood for seven days. Before it was over, all the fish that had died were rotting and stinking and the river that represented the source of life to the Egyptians was turned into a place of death. God had showed His power over Egypt, and over Pharoah, but they refused to believe.

Moses failed the first time he confronted Pharoah on behalf of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt. As a matter of fact, things went from bad to worse because of it. Now Moses does not want to go back and engage with Pharoah again, but God gives him seven "I will" promises, including, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharoah." Before it is all said and done, the people will see that God is not just a promise maker, but a promise keeper.

When Moses first confronted Pharaoh upon his return to Egypt, the interaction between them did not go well. Even though God spoke through Moses with authority, proclaiming, "Let My people go," not a request, but a demand, Pharaoh refused. Pharaoh even retaliated against the Israelites, taking away the straw they needed to make the bricks which he required each day. Upon learning of this punishment, the Jewish overseers did not blame Pharaoh for their new predicament, they blamed Moses. And did Moses blame Pharaoh? No. Whom did he blame instead? I wonder.

As he received his marching orders from God, Moses was reminded that Israel was important to the Lord, and he was given a message of warning for Pharaoh: obey and let His people go, or Pharaoh would suffer the death of his first-born son. On the way back to Egypt, though, Moses was also called to obey the Lord within his own family or possibly be killed himself. To do so would anger Moses' wife, Zipporah. Could Moses do the difficult thing that God required?

As Moses headed back to Egypt, uncertain as he was, hesitant, fearful, unsure, he held tightly to the "staff of God." In the years ahead, whenever he felt anxious again, Moses would hold tightly to that same staff because God had promised him that it would be instrumental in bringing forth miraculous things. We don't have a staff like that today as Christians, but we have something even better to hold on to when we are anxious or unsure: we have God's promises as found in His Word!

Moses was worried that he would not be eloquent enough for God to use him, especially in the Egyptian royal court. And even though God assured him, "I will be with your mouth," Moses still hesitated. This angered the Lord, but He accommodated Moses by giving him, among other things, the "staff of God" to carry back to Egypt. What was that all about anyway?