Lesson 4: The Plagues

[Chief]

Lesson 4: The Plagues

Memory Text:
“So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses” (Exodus 9:35, NKJV).

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[Chief]

Exodus 9:35 highlights Pharaoh’s hardened heart, symbolizing resistance to divine authority. This lesson explores the plagues as God’s strategic dismantling of Egyptian idolatry and His call to liberation.

Key Themes and Daily Insights:​

1. Sunday: God vs. gods (Exodus 7:8–15)
   • The plagues targeted Egypt’s 1,500+ deities, proving Yahweh’s supremacy:
     • Rod→snake: Defeated serpent-god Wadjet (Pharaoh’s crown symbol) and myth of Nehebkau.
     • Symbolism: Moses’ rod prefigured Christ’s shepherd-authority (John 10:11), confronting spiritual bondage.
2. Monday: Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart? (Exodus 7:3, 22; Romans 1:22–24)
   • Pharaoh’s initial defiance (Exodus 5:2) triggered divine strengthening of his choice, illustrating:
     • Human agency: Pharaoh chose pride (Matthew 12:31–32).
     • Divine sovereignty: God used his stubbornness to glorify His power (Exodus 9:16).
   • Warning: Rejecting truth hardens hearts irreversibly.
3. Tuesday: First Three Plagues (Exodus 7:14–8:19)
   • Water→blood: Defeated Hapi (Nile god), turning life-source to death.
   • Frogs: Humiliated Heqet (frog goddess); God controlled their removal.
   • Lice/gnats: Defied Geb (earth god); magicians confessed God’s power (8:19).
   • Pattern: Plagues escalated to challenge Egypt’s theological foundations.
4. Wednesday: Flies, Livestock, Boils (Exodus 8:20–9:12)
   • Flies: Spared Goshen, exposing Egyptian gods’ impotence.
   • Livestock pestilence: Killed sacred animals (e.g., Apis bull), mocking Hathor.
   • Boils: Afflicted all Egyptians; magicians incapacitated (9:11).
   • Pharaoh’s folly: Rational evidence ignored (Proverbs 4:23), a warning against unguarded hearts.
5. Thursday: Hail, Locusts, Darkness (Exodus 9:13–10:29)
   • Hail: Shattered sky-god Nut; offered shelter to repentant Egyptians.
   • Locusts: Devoured crops, defying fertility gods; Pharaoh bargained (men only → rejected).
   • Darkness: Blotted out sun-god Ra for 3 days; Pharaoh conceded (without flocks → rejected).
   • Divine patience: Each plague gave opportunity for repentance.

Final Thoughts (Friday):​

• Cosmic Conflict: Plagues reversed creation order (Genesis 1), undoing Egypt’s idolatrous perversion.
• Mercy in Judgment: Darkness (9th plague) invited reflection; God delayed the final plague to prompt repentance (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 272).
• Enduring Lesson: God liberates the oppressed (Exodus 3:7–8) and defeats false powers—then (Egypt) and now (spiritual bondage).

"The plagues declare: Yahweh alone is God. His authority breaks chains, His patience calls the hardest heart to surrender, and His mercy shines brightest in darkness."