Let my people go Part 2
Let my people go Part 2
In part one of let my people go God called a very reluctant servant to physically lead God's people out of bondage and slavery.
For 4 centuries the Hebrews languished in the abyss of despair.
So long in captivity, they had forgotten the God of their forefathers. Jehovah
But your Jehovah had never forgotten about them
He promised Abraham that his descendants would suffer 400 years in captivity to an oppressor, yet at the end God would deliver them.
it was not going to be easy. The struggle between God and the dynamic forces of the gods of Egypt would be an epic battle of the ages.
The plagues of Egypt were brought upon the people to bring them and their gods into submission to the will of the one and only living God, Jehovah as he demanded pharaoh, “Let my people go that they may serve me.”
10 times God's earthly deliverer of Moses demanded in Jehovah's name “let my people go” and ten times pharaoh ultimately rejected those requests.
Each plague was meant to make pharaoh and his people suffer, each plague brought and followed by the next being more intense each as a direct insult and assault against the gods of Pharaohs.
There are certain numbers utilized in the scripture indicating a certain significance 3, 6, 7, and 10
3 –
6- the number of men
7 - the perfect number of God and finalization.
10- fullness of quantity
The 10th plague represented the conclusion of them all.
“Let My People Go” rejected
Turned into blood.
This plague hit them economically by the death of fish life and trade
. Physically - the ruling class were About this personal hygiene they couldn't bathe in the Nile.
Spiritually Jehovah showed superiority over Hapi the God of the Nile.
Could you imagine the stench of all the rotting fish on the shore and floating?
“Let My People Go” Rejected
Frogs from the Nile.
This plague hit them physically, frogs getting squashed under their feet when they walked, frogs in the food, what fresh water they had left frogs in their clothes, in the beds, everywhere. Was the croaking of them mind blowing in sound?
Again, hygiene from this scat left by the frogs.
Spiritually another defeat for a God of pharaoh.
Heket - Egyptian goddess with the head of a frog
“Let My People Go” – rejected
Lice - these scholars believe the interpretation should be gnats.
either way the physical misery would have been about unbearable.
If it was lice could you imagine the itching and scratching if gnats, they swarm buzzing around getting in eyes, ears, nose and mouth hundreds of tiny bites all over.
spiritually another victory for God. Jehovah 3 - demon gods 0
another God of pharaoh this time Geb, God of the earth humiliated.
Aaron handled these first three all the others Moses would facilitate the Hebrews were affected too by these.
“Let My People Go”- Rejected
Flies – Only Egyptians 4 – 10.
Physically - imagine not just a few flies buzzing around your house.
the noise would be maddening.
Flies in their drinking water, and wine in their food, in their beds, their hair, flies sucked into their mouth and throat. What if they were like a horse fly?
Once again hygiene, woes, flies laying eggs, on the dead fish, the dead frogs, a colossal health nightmare.
“Let My People Go” – ultimately rejected.
Death of cattle and livestock
the word murrain is used here which means a pestilence and disease.
Remember each unleashed plague is worse than the prior one.
Disease ridden livestock.
Economically this was a disaster God hit them in the wallet.
Disease cattle and livestock died. this affected the food supply from the populace and for the military. Cattle were used also for transportation, farming etc
now another crisis is alluring. Spiritually God 5 demon gods 0
Jehovah's powered trump the god Hathor - goddess of love and protection she was depicted with her head of with a head of a cow.
“Let My People Go” – Rejected
Ashes turn 2 boils and sores.
this plague was unannounced.
This was directed upon the Egyptian people themselves.
Moses took ashes from the furnace of the affliction and threw them in the air.
The wind blew them throughout Egypt.
It's settled on man and beast alike and boils and sores broke out on them.
None upon Hebrews.
The plagues have now been personal to the Egyptians. Physically Egyptians had become religiously unclean. Ceremonial rites to the gods could not be offered, so the people languished in this state.
Emotional trauma would have been tough. if you're keeping score, it is now 6-0.
Hail raining down from the sky and turning into fire.
Barley and flax crops destroyed.
This was an economic blow; these crops were mainly used in clothing and libations.
Libations being alcoholic beverages beer, Meade, ale etc.
These were a personal favorite of many and also used in ritual ceremonies.
The hail was massive #114 each it would kill anything in its path and to top it off it exploded when it hit the ground and turned into fire.
No harm to the Hebrews again. God 7 – demon gods 0
The Egyptian Goddess of the sky (nut) was brought low.
“Let My People Go” – Rejection
Swarms of Locusts
A total nightmare of destruction.
Any crops left was consumed, all vegetation wiped out.
Economic, physical, and emotional and spiritual devastation. The God of storms and disorder Seth was defeated.
“Let My People Go” – rejection.
Complete darkness
The second unannounced plague. Ra the sun God was the most worshipped entity in Egypt except one. Darkness was a representation of death, judgment and hopelessness. God was proving his total control over the earth and the heavens. Ra Should come to Jehovah 9-0
“LET MY PEOPLE GO” – NO
The cumulation of them all.
The gods and goddesses of Egypt were proven to be nothing, Jehovah would now focus on the pharaoh himself the self-proclaimed God of all gods.
On this night all the first-born sons of the Egyptians, livestock and all will be killed. This is your last chance to let my people go so they may serve me.
Since plague 4 the Hebrews were protected, now they are told that unless they place the blood of a lamb upon the doorways their sons would die as well. They did, the Egyptians paid the great price of pharaoh's rejection and every household tasted the judgment of death.