In this week’s class presentation we are looking at Moses’ and Arron’s interaction with the Pharaoh and the first nine plagues that will culminate next week in one of the most important events in the Old Testament known as the Passover. We will do this by covering answer for Exodus chapters 5-10 from last week’s homework. We will focus on some of the skeptics’ questions about the plagues of Egypt as part of our apologetics’ case-making, along with a focus on the foreshadowing of Jesus.

We will continue to take a look at Timothy Mahony’s “Patterns of Evidence” documentary series by focusing specifically on the first one simply called “The Exodus” which will help us understand the debate in academia today over the dating and events of this time period. Each week’s class includes prayer, an “apologetics” presentation, a review of last week’s Bible study, and a homework assignment. You will also find the presentation notes, Bible study questions and additional resources below.

Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

Joseph to Moses: Moses and the Plagues: Exodus Chapter 5-10

Prayer and Reflection

Write out your prayer cards and exchange them at the end of the class.

Bible Knowledge Practice (answers can be found in the introduction session of this class):

1. What are the five categories of the Old Testament books in the Christian Bible and what are the 39 books of the Old Testament in each of those five categories? (Hint 5-12-5-5-12)

2. What are the “Major Historical Events” – the “Major Players” involved in those events – and the “Major Covenants” found in Genesis and Exodus?

3. What is the “Big Picture” of the Bible (12 points to remember)?

4. What are the (8) most important focus points to watch for when studying the Old Testament?

Read, or recite, the memory verses out loud with your group:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 (NASB)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Review of last week’s Bible Study with Basic Answers: Exodus Chapters 5 – 10

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1. Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Answers will vary…

There is much evidence to date the needed Biblical events to the time of Joseph and Moses for the early Exodus date of 1446 BC:

Joseph’s time period

The city of Avaris with evidence of a Hebrew/Semitic population is found under the excavated city of Ramses – and this evidence is dated to the 12 Egyptian Dynasty (Biblical time of Joseph)
Palace of Joseph uncovered (Egyptian royalty yet distinctly Hebrew)
12 distinct graves found behind this palace
1 of the graves was a small pyramid with a statue that was Asiatic (it had red hair and multi-colors on the coat area)
Water way regulation canal built at that time, tradition calls it Joseph’s canal
There was a wealth and power shift to the Pharaoh at this time, from local city controls (“nomes”) due to Joseph’s famine policy (paying tribute to the Pharaoh)

Moses’ time period

Burial tombs evidenced more baby boy deaths than girls and show more females that reached older age 60 and were 60% of the population compared to 40% male (corresponds to time of Moses and the Pharaoh’s edict to kill all the newborn baby boys)
Brookland Papyrus: List of 100 slave names that are 70% Hebrew, from Avaris, in this time period (middle Egyptian Kingdom and Biblical period of Moses)
Names on the slavery list included many known Hebrew names such as Issacar, Asher and Siprah (the name of one of the midwives in the Exodus story)
Note: The name Ramses is also used in earlier Genesis, so not necessarily related to the later Egyptian Pharaohs

Read Exodus Chapters 5 through 10, then answer the following questions:

God sends Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh; The First Nine Plagues and Pharaoh’s responses

2. (Exodus chapters 5 and 6) In these two chapters Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh, but things do not go so well at first. What was the conversation Moses and Aaron had with Pharaoh, what did Pharaoh do to the people of Israel because of this conversation and how did the people of Israel respond (give a short summary of chapter 5)? What did God say to Moses concerning His Identity and Covenant, and what did He promise to do; and how did the people of Israel respond when Moses shared God’s message with them (6:1-13)? The rest of chapter 6 gives a genealogy. What tribe is Moses and Aaron from, and why were genealogies important to know?

Discuss: Review verses 6:10-13 and notice how God answers Moses’ complaint. How do we often respond when things don’t go according to what we think God’s will is; how did Moses and Aaron handle this type of adversity?

“5 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” ²But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” ³Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” ⁴But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!” ⁵Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” ⁶So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, ⁷“You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.” ¹⁰So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I am not going to give you any straw. ¹¹You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.’” ¹²So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. ¹³The taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.” ¹⁴Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?” ¹⁵Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? ¹⁶There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” ¹⁷But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ ¹⁸So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.” ¹⁹The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.” ²⁰When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. ²¹They said to them, “May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” ²²Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? ²³Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.” ²God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord; ³and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. ⁴I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. ⁵Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. ⁶Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ⁷Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord.’” ⁹So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage. ¹⁰Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹¹“Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” ¹²But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?” ¹³Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁴These are the heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben. ¹⁵The sons of Simeon: Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. ¹⁶These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon and Kohath and Merari; and the length of Levi’s life was one hundred and thirty-seven years. ¹⁷The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. ¹⁸The sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel; and the length of Kohath’s life was one hundred and thirty-three years. ¹⁹The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. ²⁰Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was one hundred and thirty-seven years. ²¹The sons of Izhar: Korah and Nepheg and Zichri. ²²The sons of Uzziel: Mishael and ^[r]Elzaphan and Sithri. ²³Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ²⁴The sons of Korah: Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. ²⁵Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites according to their families. ²⁶It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.” ²⁷They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the sons of Israel from Egypt; it was the same Moses and Aaron. ²⁸Now it came about on the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, ²⁹that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you.” ³⁰But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”” Exodus 5:1-6:30 (NASB)

Moses and Arron’s conversation with the Pharoah; Pharaoh’s response and the people’s response

In the beginning of the conversation, and throughout the plagues, we see the theme of Moses and Aaron saying to the Pharaoh “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go’ – yet, as God predicted, the Pharoah will be hardened toward God and His people.
This specific time, at the beginning of Moses and Aaron’s interaction with the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh was obstinate and even directed harsher labor upon the Israelites as they were to make bricks without straw provided (they had to gather it themselves), but yet the same quota was required. The Pharaoh responds, in this case, saying, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go” – he had not yet experience God’s full power and wrath.
The people were now angry with Moses and Aaron, but God’s plan will play out through the plagues specifically attacking the “gods” of Egypt, including the belief that the Pharaoh himself was a god and therefore his son being “a son of god,” which will culminate in the final plague, again as God had said.
Note: Archeologist have found evidence of this type of mudbrick in ancient sites dating to this era of time including hieroglyphics that show foreigners do this type of work in Egypt.

God’s identity and Covenant Promise

In chapter six, God repeats His prophecy and promise, that under compulsion Pharaoh will eventually let the people go.
God reviews His identity (YHWH) that he had not revealed completely to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but has now done so for Moses
God repeats the Covenant promise originally made to Abraham concerning the land, and that He would now bring them back into it by rescuing them from their present bondage and condition (foreshadowing Jesus’ ultimate mission).

The Importance of Genealogies along the way

Moses and Aaron are from the tribe of Levi This is important information because:

Knowing what tribe a person was from gave them credibility and respect because they could trace their lineage back to an original “Son of Israel” (see 6:14 – “Heads of their fathers’ households”)
The tribe of Levi would soon be the tribe of Priests, serving and sacrificing to God for all the other tribes

Note: This genealogy list showed leaders from Reuben and Simeon, but stopped at the focus tribe of Levi (the 3rd son) because this is where the leadership credibility is given to Moses and Aaron – the tribe of Judah is not highlighted at this time, but will be later on as there is still a “Seed Carrier” within that tribe (See the genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3).

Discuss: how God answers Moses’ complaint and how we often respond in this type of adversity

(Answers will vary on our own responses) God is patient and gracious towards us, but He is also righteous and just, and His timing for all things is perfect – we can choose to trust Him and wait (Joseph set a good example); or we can complain, get upset, and/or walk away from God (He has given us freewill to do so).
The people rejected Moses and God’s Word at this point, and Moses says to the LORD in verse 12: ““Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?””
And then in verse 13, without correcting or demeaning Moses and Aaron, GOD RESPONDS WITH A SOVEREIGN DIRECTIVE: “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” And now the plagues will begin…

3. (Exodus chapters 7 through 8:15) In this section the plagues begin, and Pharaoh “hardens his heart.” What did God tell Moses and Aaron He was about to do, and why (7:1-9)? Before the plagues began God had Moses and Aaron perform a miracle. Describe the first miracle, and then describe the first and second plagues. Were the Egyptian sorcerers able to duplicate them (7:10-8:15)? If so…

Discuss how and why you think this may have been possible.

“7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. ²You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. ³But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. ⁴When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. ⁵The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” ⁶So Moses and Aaron did it; as the Lord commanded them, thus they did. ⁷Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh. ⁸Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ⁹“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” ¹⁰So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. ¹¹Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. ¹²For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. ¹³Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said. ¹⁴Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. ¹⁵Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent. ¹⁶You shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now.” ¹⁷Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood. ¹⁸The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile.”’” ¹⁹Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, that they may become blood; and there will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” ²⁰So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. ²¹The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And the blood was through all the land of Egypt. ²²But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said. ²³Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house with no concern even for this. ²⁴So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the Nile. ²⁵Seven days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile.

8Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs. ³The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. ⁴So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.”’” ⁵Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” ⁶So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ⁷The magicians did the same with their secret arts, making frogs come up on the land of Egypt. ⁸Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” ⁹Moses said to Pharaoh, “The honor is yours to tell me: when shall I entreat for you and your servants and your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, that they may be left only in the Nile?” ¹⁰Then he said, “Tomorrow.” So he said, “May it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. ¹¹The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your servants and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.” ¹²Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had inflicted upon Pharaoh. ¹³The Lord did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, the courts, and the fields. ¹⁴So they piled them in heaps, and the land became foul. ¹⁵But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” Exodus 7:1 – 8:15 (NASB)

What God told Moses and Aaron He was about to do, and why

God told Moses and Aaron that he was going to make Moses appear like a god, and Aaron like his prophet, in the site of Pharaoh – This would most likely be the reason that Pharaoh did not have them killed, and instead allowed them to “compete” with his gods, and believing himself to be a god
God also told Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh would not listen, and God would harden his heart – He would then multiply signs and wonders in the land of Egypt so that the people (all the people, including the Egyptians) would know that He was the one true God
The importance here is going to be the humiliation and humbling of the gods of Egypt, especially Pharaoh (who was thought to be a god by the people as well)
Note: Aaron was 83 and Moses was 80 at this time

The first miracle and first and second plagues

The first miracle was done upon Pharaoh’s request – and, just as the LORD had said to do, Moses had Aaron throw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it turned into a serpent, but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.
First plague: After warning Pharaoh, and Pharaoh refusing to let the people go, Moses had Aaron stretch out his staff ”over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone” and the water turned to blood, but the Pharoah did not listen, and turned and went into his house.
Second plague: Again, Moses warns Pharaoh “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let My people go that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the house of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.’” But again, when the frogs were stopped the Pharaoh hardened his heart again.

The Egyptian sorcerers duplicate what Moses and Aaron do

The sorcerers (also known as wise men and magicians) were able to duplicate the staff turning into a serpent “with their secret arts”– HOWEVER, Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

Note: It is interesting to see that Moses’ staff will be used later on to heal the people who looked upon it, after they are bitten by serpents (Numbers 21:9) – and it is the medical symbol known worldwide today (a staff with a serpent wrapped around it) – picturing Jesus’ and the cross.

The sorcerers were also able to duplicate the first plague of turning the water into blood (although this would have made it even worse) Note: 7:24 tells us: “So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the Nile” – and this lasted for 7 days.
After the second plague of frogs, the Pharaoh recanted, but again, as soon as there was relief, the “Pharaoh hardened his heart.”

Note: If we look closely, it seems that the frogs only affected the Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

How the sorcerers were able to do this

The Egyptian sorcerers could only duplicate but they could not erase or reverse them.
Unless they were able to use “tricks of the eye” the sorcerers’ power could only come from one source:
Ultimately God is the only one who could decide to let them duplicate it, or not.
Cross-reference the New Testament for the names of two of these sorcerers…

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.” 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (NASB)

4. (Exodus 8:16 through 9:35) In these sections we find increasingly severe plagues that the sorcerers are unable to duplicate, yet Pharaoh still “hardens his heart.” Describe the third and fourth plagues (8:16-32). What did the sorcerers say, and what was the Pharaoh’s response? Now describe the fifth, sixth and seventh plagues (9:1-35). What differences do you notice about the effect of these plagues compared to the others?

Discuss any variations (ups and downs) you observe in Pharaoh’s responses after each of the plagues so far.

^“16Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” ¹⁷They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. ¹⁸The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast. ¹⁹Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said. ²⁰Now the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²¹For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell. ²²But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. ²³I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”’” ²⁴Then the Lord did so. And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt. ²⁵Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” ²⁶But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? ²⁷We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us.” ²⁸Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.” ²⁹Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I shall make supplication to the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” ³⁰So Moses went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the Lord. ³¹The Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained. ³²But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, ³behold, the hand of the Lord will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. ⁴But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’” ⁵The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” ⁶So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died. ⁷Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. ⁸Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. ⁹It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. ¹¹The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. ¹²And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses. ¹³Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ¹⁴For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. ¹⁵For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth. ¹⁶But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. ¹⁷Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go. ¹⁸Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. ¹⁹Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’” ²⁰The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; ²¹but he who paid no regard to the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. ²²Now the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” ²³Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. ²⁴So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. ²⁵The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. ²⁶Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail. ²⁷Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. ²⁸Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” ²⁹Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. ³⁰But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” ³¹(Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. ³²But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) ³³So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the Lord; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. ³⁴But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. ³⁵Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.” Exodus 8:16-9:35 (NASB)

Third and fourth plagues; the sorcerers’ and Pharaoh’s response

Third plague: This was a plague of gnats (some versions read lice or insects)
This was the first time that the sorcerers could not duplicate the plague, and they said to the Pharaoh “This is the finger of God,” but Pharaoh did not listen.
Fourth plague: This was a swarm of flies (some versions read insects) – most likely “dogflies” that were common to the area and could cause blindness to the individual it infects. (Note: It did not infect the people of Israel).
The response by Pharaoh to the fourth plague was to partly concede to letting the people sacrifice, but in Egypt – Moses said no because it would be an abomination to the Egyptians and “they may stone” the Hebrews – So Pharaoh agreed to let them go into the wilderness, but when Moses made supplication to the LORD to stop the swarm Pharaoh hardened his heart again and did not let the people go.

Fifth, sixth and seventh plagues, and their differences

Fifth plague: This was pestilence upon the livestock in the fields (horses, donkeys, camels and the herds), but ”the LORD made a distinction between the livestock of the Hebrews and the Egyptians.” The text seems to indicate that even if the Hebrew livestock was with or near the Egyptian livestock, they would not be affected, and also any livestock that had not been in the fields.
Sixth plague: This was a plague of boils, and it affected only the Egyptian people and their beasts, not the Hebrew people nor their beasts – the sorcerers could do nothing because they were sick with the boils as well. This was not necessarily a deadly plague, but one that crippled both human and beast.
Seventh plague: This was a plague of hail, “a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day is was founded until now. (the flax and barely were ruined, but the wheat and spelt were not ruined for they ripen late)” – It is here we note in v. 20, “the one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses,” yet there was no hail in the land of Goshen.
Note: The fifth through eighth plagues affected the animals and then the crops, which would ultimately damage the economy by destroying and limiting their food sources – only those who stayed inside and were not in the fields were saved [from the fifth and seventh).

Before the seventh plague and Pharaoh’s response after:

(9:13-17) “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. For this time I am going to send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. For had I now put out My hand and struck you and your people with plague, you would then have been eliminated from the earth. But indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name throughout the earth. Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.”

Pharaoh’s response after the seventh plague was over:

(9:27-28) Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
This was the first time, it seems, that Pharaoh became scared, but it was not a true repentance because as soon as the hail stopped Pharaoh “sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants… and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.” (v. 34-35)

5. (Exodus 10:1-29) There are two more plagues before the tenth and final one, and even though it seems he may relent, Pharaoh continues to “harden his heart.” Describe the eighth and nineth plagues and the effect it had on the people. How did the Pharaoh and his servants respond to these two plagues? What was the last conversation Moses had with the Pharaoh (10:28-29)?

Discuss: Skeptics try to write these plagues off as just natural occurrences. What are some things you see in the narrative that tell you they must be miracles of God?

Going Deeper: There are differing views on the “hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.” Discuss your thoughts, and any previous teachings, or research you’ve done on this topic.

“10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, ²and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” ³Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ⁴For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. ⁵They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what is left to you from the hail—and they will eat every tree which sprouts for you out of the field. ⁶Then your houses shall be filled and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.’” And he turned and went out from Pharaoh. ⁷Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?” ⁸So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God! Who are the ones that are going?” ⁹Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Thus may the Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Take heed, for evil is in your mind. ¹¹Not so! Go now, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desire.” So they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. ¹²Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, even all that the hail has left.” ¹³So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. ¹⁴The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled in all the territory of Egypt; they were very numerous. There had never been so many locusts, nor would there be so many again. ¹⁵For they covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Thus nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field through all the land of Egypt. ¹⁶Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. ¹⁷Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and make supplication to the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.” ¹⁸He went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the Lord. ¹⁹So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt. ²⁰But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go. ²¹Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.” ²²So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. ²³They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. ²⁴Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.” ²⁵But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to the Lord our God. ²⁶Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the Lord.” ²⁷But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. ²⁸Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!” ²⁹Moses said, “You are right; I shall never see your face again!”” Exodus 10:1-29 (NASB)

The eighth and ninth plagues

Eighth plague: A plague of locust, “The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled in all the territory of Egypt; they were very numerous. There had never been so many locusts, nor would there be so many again. For they covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Therefore nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt”. 10:14-15
Ninth plague: A plague of darkness, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.’ So Moses reached out with his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.” 10:21-23

The Pharaoh’s and his servant’s response

Before the eighth plague Pharaoh’s servants said to him: “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?” But the Pharaoh would only tell Moses that the men could go, but then recanted saying “they only have evil in their hearts” and thus God enacted the plague of locusts.
After the eighth plague: (10:16-17) Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. So now, please forgive my sin only this once, and plead with the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.” But as soon as the locust were gone, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again.
After the nineth plague, the plague of darkness, Pharaoh agreed to let them go, but not with their livestock, and then his heart was hardened again, and this time…

Moses’ last conversation with the Pharaoh

Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful, do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you shall die!” Moses said, “You have spoken correctly; I shall never see your face again!” 10:28-29 (NASB)
This would be the last real interaction Moses had with the Pharaoh, except for his command for Israel to leave after the tenth and final plague devastates the people of Egypt and the Pharaoh himself.

Discuss: Skeptics try to write these plagues off as just natural occurrences. What are some things you see in the narrative that tell you they must be miracles of God?

In these miracles we see God using the things that exist in His creation, but at heighten levels (as He did with the Flood of Noah’s time and will again with the Rea Sea Crossing).
The sorcerers could not duplicate the miracles after the second plague, and they even exclaimed that it “was by the finger of God” knowing that only God can alter all things in the creation.
In most of the plagues, the people of Israel and the land of Goshen were protected, and the plagues only affected the Egyptians, their possessions, their land, their gods and ultimately their Pharaoh.
The wall of protection for the Israelites was an obvious supernatural event.

Going Deeper: Views on the “hardening of Pharaoh’s heart”

In the Hebrew, according to Dr. Bill Creasy, the God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart refers to “pressure” placed on his heart by God. Just like a rope that has been knotted and tied up in the water, the tighter you squeeze it, the more the water comes out until there is none left. The pressure (hardening) on Pharaoh’s heart squeezed out any “love” for the one true God and the wisdom that could have saved him and his people, leaving him dry, and with only evil left in his heart.

Also note: The text tells us that in the beginning, Pharaoh hardened his own heart, it was only later that God put the pressure on, thus hardening his heart permanently.

The following is a quick overview of what Biblical scholars study and debate, theologically, concerning predestination versus freewill:

Calvinism or Reformed view:

Calvinism is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Calvin and other Reformation-era theologians.
This view emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the authority of the Bible, with varying levels of thought on pre-destination, or God’s pre-determining of all events and situations throughout history.
Weakness in this view: Minimizes freewill

Arminian view:

Arminianism is a branch of Protestantism based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic supporters known as Remonstrant(s).
This view asserts that God’s sovereignty and man’s free will are compatible, and that God’s election was an election of believers and therefore was conditioned on faith.
Arminius argued, God’s exhaustive foreknowledge did not require a doctrine of determinism.
Weakness in this view: Can maximize human freewill and diminish God’s control or sovereignty.

Molinism’s view:

Molinism is an attempt to provide a solution to the classic philosophical problems associated with God’s providence, foreknowledge and the freedom of humanity.
This view may be traced to the 16th century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina.
Specifically, it seeks to maintain a strong view of God’s sovereignty over creation while at the same time preserving the belief that human beings have self-determined freedom, or libertarian free will.
Molinism holds that God’s knowledge consists of three logical moments. These “moments” of knowledge are not to be thought of as chronological; rather they are to be understood as “logical.” In other words, one moment does not come before another moment in time, rather one moment is logically prior to the other moments.
Molinism differentiates between three different moments of knowledge called natural knowledge, middle knowledge and free knowledge of God:

Natural Knowledge – This is God’s knowledge of all necessary and all possible truths. In this “moment” God knows every possible combination of causes and effects, and all the truths of logic and morality.
Middle Knowledge – This is God’s knowledge of what any free creature would do in any given circumstance, also known as counterfactual knowledge. It is sometimes stated as God’s knowledge of the truth of subjunctive conditionals.
Free Knowledge – This is God’s knowledge of what He freely decided to create. God’s free knowledge is His knowledge of the actual world as it is.

Weakness in this view: Rejects some ideas of freewill yet can seem to suggest God does not have advanced knowledge of all things (most difficult to comprehend)

Bible Study

Each week, we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be part of the next presentation. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1. Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Read Exodus Chapters 11 through 15, then answer the following questions:

The last plague and the Passover; the Exodus; the Red Sea crossing; and Moses’ Song of Praise

2. (Exodus 11:1-10) In this chapter God sends one more plague on the Pharaoh and Egypt. As God describes the last plague to Moses, He tell Moses to have the people of Israel ask their Egyptian neighbors for supplies and possessions. What did God say to Abraham about this in Genesis 15:12-16? What did they later use all these things for (cross-reference Exodus 25:1-8)? What did God say, through Moses, would happen at about midnight, why, and how did the Pharaoh respond?

Going Deeper: Set up a chart of the “ten plagues” and in you headings include, 1) the type of plague; 2) the result of the plague; and 3) the Egyptian god(s) or idol represented in each plague (showing YHWH’s supremacy over all of the Egyptian gods and idols).

Going Even Deeper: Are there any similarities in these plagues with any of those found in the book of Revelation? (If so list them in your chart)

3. (Exodus 12:1-13:2) In this section God prepares Israel for their quick departure from Egypt in the middle of the night known as the “Exodus.” What was the purpose of the “Passover Lamb,” what were God’s specific instructions concerning what the people were to do with the lamb and its blood, and why do you think this was important (12:1-28)? What then happened at midnight, and how did the Pharaoh respond (12:29-32)? God instituted the Passover for future generations, what were some of the regulations He placed on it, and what did He say about the firstborn (12:43-13:2)?

Discuss: After Pharaoh directed Moses and Aaron to depart from the land, who went out that night besides the people of Israel, and how might this affect the people’s obedience to God later on (12:38)?

Going Deeper: What foreshadowings/pictures of Jesus do you see in the “Passover” event? (Make a list)

4. (Exodus 13:3 through 14:31) In these chapters we find Israel fleeing Egypt as the Egyptians were mourning and burying their dead, and God demonstrates His sovereign power over His Creation in one of the most epic events in all of Scripture. What was the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” and what was its purpose (13:3-16)? Moses writes of a specific path that the Israelites took. Where did the Israelites end up camping, and why did God lead them that way (13:17-22)?

Discuss: Summarize the story of the parting of the Red Sea; include why the people were grumbling, Moses’ conversation with God, and what ultimately happened to the Egyptian army.

5. (Exodus 15:1-27) In this chapter we find Moses, Miriam and the people of Israel singing songs. What type of songs did they sing, and what are some specific things said in these songs that characterize them? Is there any evidence in these songs for the type of water crossing they made and the way the Egyptian army met their final demise? Where did Israel go from the Red Sea, what happened along the way and what did God promise them if they would be obedient to Him?

Discuss: Why is praise important as part of our regular prayer, even when things in life seem difficult?

Going Deeper: Define the meaning of the word miracle. How do we view miracles in the Bible – do they have a specific purpose or are they just random acts of God’s power?

Sharing a testimony: If comfortable, share a miracle story that has happened in your life, or the life of someone you know.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament, Joseph to Moses!”

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15