Sermon Cloud

We have been studying the plagues sent upon disobedient Egypt for some weeks now…..

• …and we have seen these plagues grow in intensity
  • …they have become deadlier each week…..

 

 

We have also seen Pharaoh repeatedly harden his heart against the Living God

• …he has come closer to repentance…..

 

 

But for the past two plagues….Pharaoh has given false repentance

 

 

Pharaoh is sorry that these plagues are devastating Egypt

 

Pharaoh is sorry that this man Moses won’t leave him alone

 

…..but Pharaoh is not sorry for his sin….

• …we know because he repeatedly returns to his sin…..

Tonight we see a plague of different sorts…..

 

 

Because this is not a physical plague

• …in the sense of pestilence from frogs or gnats of flies
• ….or death from hail or locusts or boils….

 

 

Instead…..this is a plague of famine….

• Famine of light….

 

 

 

This is the well-known plague of darkness upon the land of Egypt

• …as we shall see….the most frightening plague that God has yet to send…..

 

 

 

Exodus 10.21-29

 

 

…There is certainly no gift from God that is unappreciated more than the gift of light…..

 

The sun rises each day……

• And it lights our world

 

We never give it another thought…..

• ….no one in this room gives a serious thought to whether the sun will rise tomorrow or not….

 

Even in our modern world today…

• …our world that is brightly lit by artificial light…
  • …even we could not survive without the daily rays of the sun….

 

 

 

Long ago….scientists made an unmistakable connection between vitamin D

• …(which we receive from the sun)….and depression
  • …when our bodies don’t get it….the result is cabin fever….depression

 

 

 

This is true for us today

• ….but this was vastly more true for the Egyptians…

 

 

 

 

You see…we have clearly seen how each and every plague was an attack against the Egyptian pantheon of false gods…

 

 

 

 

The initial turning of the staff into the serpent that ate the Egyptian serpents was a general attack on the Egyptians fascination with snakes of all types…

 

 

Turning the Nile to blood was a direct attack on the gods of the Nile, Osiris, Hapi, and Nu

• …the plague of the frogs was a direct attack on the frog goddess Heqet
• …turning the dust into gnats was a direct attack against earth god Geb
• …the plague of the flies was an attack on Beelzebub, the lord of the flies whose job it was to protect the land from flies
• …the plague of the death of the livestock was an attack on a whole host of bovine gods, chief of whom was Apis
• …the plague of the boils was an attack against a host of Egyptian gods who were supposed to control human health; chief of whom was Sekhmet, whose cult the court magicians undoubtedly belonged to
• …the plague of the hail was an attack of the gods who were supposed to control weather; Shu, Nut, and Tefnut
• …the plague of the locusts was an attack on another plethora of Egyptian gods of the crops and the harvest; Min, Isis, Nepri, Anubis, and Senehem

 

 

 

…and so all those plagues were a direct frontal assault on the Egyptian false religion;

• …but this one was different….this plague was attacking the main, central, most revered Egyptian god of all
  • .....the gods of the sun….

 

 

Above all else….

• …above their fascination with frogs
• …above the lure of snakes…
  • ….above their preoccupation with cows…
  • ..above all of that…..the Egyptians worshiped the sun above all else

 

They had several gods that represented the sun

• There was Horus; the god of the sunrise

-Aten; the god of the midday sun

-Atum; the god of the sunset

 

 

 

But the supreme deity of all was Amon-Re

 

 

Amon-Re was not only the supreme god of the sun….

• …but he was the supreme god, period (for the Egyptians)

 

 

 

The Egyptians believed that Amon-Re was the only god to come into existence on his own….he was uncreated

• ….he was believed to be the unique god…he had no opponent gods….

 

 

 

The Egyptians would sing to Amon-Re

There is none besides him

You mould the earth to your wish, you and you alone

All people, herds, and flocks

All that walk on earth on legs

All on high that fly with wings

 

 

To the Egyptians…..the god of the sun was the supreme being…

 

 

The Pharaoh was a worshiper of Amon-Re

• …but he was also considered to be the son of Amon-Re
  • …..in incarnation of the sun god
    • …the personal embodiment of Amon-Re

 

 

The Egyptians thus ascribed all majesty and eternity to Amon-Re

• …and by connection….to the Pharaoh

 

 

 

By this point….it should be much clearer something that we talked about when we began looking at the exodus;

• …if you recall….I labored the point that this was not a battle between Moses and Pharaoh

 

 

This was not even a battle between Egypt and Israel

 

 

This is a battle between good and evil….between God and Satan

• ….literally between Christ and anti-Christ

 

 

 

Because Pharaoh has assumed for himself all the attributes that belong only to the Living God

• …he has set himself up as anti-Christ……

 

…this is a battle between God and His arch-enemy…..

 

[…]

 

This also sheds some light……one why this plague was so terrifying for the Egyptians

 

 

 

To be without any source of light is un-nerving

 

 

 

If you’ve even found yourself lost in the forest on a dark night without a flashlight…..

• …or trapped in a dark room with no light….

 

 

…being without light is un-nerving….

 

 

I recall that I once went cave-exploring…..

 

 

We were a little more than a mile past the entrance to this cave

• ….and the guide has everyone to turn out their lights….

 

 

 

…that is an unsettling experience….

 

 

 

So, we can only imagine what it was like for these Egyptians to be without light for three days;

• …but now….knowing what we know about worshiping the sun-god and the supreme being
  • …..how terrifying this must have been for them

 

 

 

It would be similar to us being in complete darkness for three days

• ….and then, somehow….we find out that our God is not real, at the same time….

 

 

 

 

Can you imagine the panic that would sweep through the land…..?

 

 

With no sunlight…there is no life…..

 

 

 

 

Life cannot exist without the sun….

 

 

 

Sunlight is necessary for plant growth

• ….plants are critical for the food chain….
  • …with no plants for the animals to feed on….there is no food….

 

 

It’s truly hard to imagine the level of despair and panic that this must have created in the hearts of the Egyptians….

 

 

 

And notice, also, how complete the darkness was in the land

 

 

v 22

there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days

 

 

 

Now…I believe that this means that they even had no artificial light

• …that somehow….even their lamps could not give any light
  • …as if….the spiritual darkness that had enveloped them was so consuming
    • …..that it literally sucked the light away from even their fires and their lamps

 

 

Moses says; they couldn’t even see each other….

 

Complete….total….absence of all light

 

 

Imagine the despair…..imagine the emptiness…..imagine the hopelessness…..

 

This must be some small indication of what eternal torment must be like

 

 

[…]

 

 

 

The Bible also ascribes great significance to darkness

 

Time and time again….The Bible speaks of walking in darkness….and loving darkness

• …and all of that is a metaphor for sin and evil and rebellion against God

 

 

And likewise….it speaks of walking in the light, and loving the light, and being a light, and a lamp to our feet

• …that is a metaphor for goodness, and purity, and holiness

 

 

 

Egypt is literally living this metaphor right now…

 

 

And I find it hard to believe that the Egyptians would not have also picked up on the spiritual significance of this….

 

 

 

[…]

 

 

Now, again…..each of the plagues are demonstrating that God can un-make everything that He made

• …on the very first day of creation…..He created light and separated it from the darkness
  • …now, He has taken that gift away…

 

 

 

Peter Enns writes;

Creation is at God’s command both to deliver his people and to destroy his enemies.  The plagues are creation reversals: animals harm rather than serve humanity, light ceases and darkness takes over, water becomes a source of death rather than life:  the climax of Genesis 1 is the creation of humans on the last day, whereas the climax of the plagues is the destruction of humans on the last plague

 

 

[…]

 

 

 

So…in the midst of this most severe plague…

• …in the spiritual and emotional torment that these people were suffering….
  • ….Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron

 

 

v 24

Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind."

 

So Pharaoh calls to Moses…and Moses comes;

• ….now….we’re not told how it is that Moses can see to come to Pharaoh

 

 

…verse 23 tells us that the Israelites had light where they lived

• …but we don’t know if that meant that the light followed Moses
  • …so that he could see to go to Pharaoh….

 

 

 

But, in any case….

 

 

Pharaoh may be a fool….but he’s not stupid

• …He knows that these Israelites will not go far without their source of food…

 

 

[…]

 

 

 

Pharaoh has bargained with Moses in chapter 8 over how far away they would go

 

Pharaoh has bargained with Moses in chapter 10 over who would go

 

 

And now, Pharaoh tries to bargain with Moses once again

• …over what they will take with them

 

 

…Pharaoh is constantly holding back…

• He is constantly bargaining with God
  • He is constantly trying to get one over on Yahweh

 

 

 

Pharaoh was refusing to give up his sovereignty

• ….he was still insisting in dealing with God on his terms
  • …he was still insisting on treating God like an equal….

 

 

 

…but look at Moses’ reply;

 

 

v 25

But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there."

 

 

 

Moses is saying this;

• ….we don’t know exactly what it is that God will require of us to serve Him
  • …but we know this; what God requires is everything we have

 

[…]

 

 

 

…what God requires of us is nothing less than everything we own

                                                                             -everything we have

                                                                             -everything we are

 

 

….that’s….what our God requires of us

• …and we’re not leaving here with anything less than what it takes to serve our God….

 

 

 

 

Many of you here tonight bargain with God the same way;

 

God….I’ll come to church every week….just don’t ask me to give up my football

 

God…I’ll give my tithe to the church…just don’t ask me to witness to strangers

 

God…I’ll come to you on my terms…but I’ve got these certain things that are off the bargaining table…..

 

 

 

When God calls us to Himself…..

• …He desires….He deserves….and He expects everything that we have
  • Everything that we are
    • Everything that we treasure
      • Everything

 

…..If God is receiving anything that is less than all of you

• ….then you are in the same position as Pharaoh

 

 

 

…by giving God less than everything we have….we are despising God

 

 

 

You say…..wait a minute…..that’s pretty harsh

• ….you can’t say that we are despising God if we give God anything less than 100% of our life…
  • ….you’re right….I can’t say that…..but God can

 

 

[…]

 

 

God eventually rescues His people from bondage

• …and He delivers them to the land of Canaan
  • ….but they disobey Him…..they rebel against Him
    • ….they profane His name

 

They despise the Living God

 

 

 

 

And God confronts His people through His prophet Malachi

• …and God says this;
  • You are despising My name

 

But the people react…much like we react tonight

• …wait a minute….we’re good Christian people here
  • ….we go to church…we read our Bibles…..we don’t engage in open sin

 

 

How can you say we are despising Your name?

 

 

They say the same thing;

 

 

Malachi 1:6

…'How have we despised your name?'

 

 

God answers them…

 

 

Malachi 1:7-8

By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised.

►     When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

 

 

 

 

God is saying this;

• …when you bring me blind animals for your sacrifice…..you are despising Me

 

 

When you bring Me animals that are lame

• …and when you bring Me animals that are sick

 

 

 

IOW; when you give Me less than your best…..

• ..when you give Me less than everything

 

 

…God says you are despising Me….

 

 

 

Then God says; present that to your governor

 

 

 

What God says there is this;

• ….give your employer the same that you give to Me….and see how long you still have a job

 

 

 

Give your friends that same thing you give Me;

• …and see how long they are your friends

 

 

 

Give your family what you give Me;

• ….and see how long your family stays together

 

I am personally tired of hearing evangelist tell people;

• …just walk this aisle and say this prayer
  • ….and receive Christ…..it’s that easy….

 

 

 

No_it’s_not

 

 

 

Saving you was so hard that it took God to do it

 

 

 

Your salvation will require your life….

• …it will require everything from you….
  • ….Jesus said if anyone is not willing to pick up a cross….he cannot follow Me….

 

 

 

Our churches are filled when people that when it comes to salvation

• …their attitude is….that’s something I took care of a long time ago

 

 

 

 

Listen….if you’re not taking care of that each and every day

• …it’s not taken care of….

 

 

Salvation is a life-long process that is not complete until we have endured to the end

 

 

Paul says;

 

2 Timothy 2:12

…if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

 

 

[…]

 

 

 

To come to Christ is to declare that there is no

• Command we will not keep
• Sin we will not forsake
• Duty we will not perform
• Talent we will not employ
  • …in our ambition to bring glory to the name of Christ

 

 

We cannot follow Christ with anything less than all of us

• …just as Moses cannot lead God’s people out of Egypt with anything less than everything they have…
  • …right down to the last hoof….

 

 

…and calling ourselves by His name….when He has anything less than all of us

• …is despising His name….

(Matthew 16:24-26)

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

 

 

 

[…]

 

 

 

And so…Pharaoh once again

• …hardens his heart….
  • ….and does not submit to the Living God

 

 

v 27

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die."

Moses said, "As you say! I will not see your face again."

 

 

 

So…Moses receives a death threat from the Pharaoh

• ….if I see you again….you’re a dead man

 

He is the second Pharaoh to condemn Moses to death

 

 

Recall. Back in chapter 2

 

 

Exodus 2:15

When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses…

 

 

 

Moses is now under a double death sentence;

• ….Pharaohs keep on wanting to kill Moses

 

 

 

 

This all started when Moses had to be saved from the Nile

• …now, two Pharaoh’s have sought to kill him

 

When we follow Christ…..we will have enemies in this life….

 

 

Jesus says;

 

Matthew 10:34-36

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

 

 

Does Christ mean that much to you?

 

 

Does Christ mean more than mommy and daddy

• …and getting along with the in-laws
  • ….and peace in the family

 

 

 

Does Christ mean more to you than stuff and trinkets and football and a retirement account?

 

 

Hebrews 11:23-26

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

 

 

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