RUSSELL SANDERS
11-13-2024
THE LIFE OF MOSES – LESSON 21
THE NINTH PLAGUE – DARKNESS
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Exodus 10:21-29 now describes the ninth plague, a judgment of darkness. God brought this without Moses’ warning Pharaoh ahead of time.
Moses, by God’s command, stretched out his hand toward heaven. Three days of darkness came that were so black it could be felt. As the saying goes, “so dark you could cut it with a knife,” a darkness like they had never known. Only Israel had light where they lived in Goshen.
Pharaoh, perhaps terrified by it, called for Moses, and again attempted to negotiate a compromise. He told Moses that they could go with their families and the children, but not their flocks. Moses refused the compromise, saying they needed their flocks for the sacrifices. All the herds had to go with them because he did not yet know exactly which animals God would require for the sacrifices.
Pharaoh was greatly incensed by this. He threatened Moses’ life. The king ordered him out. He said to Moses in Ex. 10:28, (my paraphrase), “Watch out for yourself. Don’t you dare ever come before me again for any reason, because if you do, I will kill you.”
Moses agreed that they would never meet again. The thick darkness ended. Nine judgments were completed. The tenth and final judgment yet to come would set God’s people free from the land of sin and bondage.
There is also coming a time when we will be set free from this land of sin, this world, as seen in Revelation. Satan rules this world of sin just as Pharaoh ruled his land of sin. Just as the Hebrews were delivered out of their land of sin, so will we be delivered out of our land of sin, the planet earth.
The Old Testament is revealed prophetically in the New Testament. Tomorrow we will look at some interesting parallels between the plagues of Egypt and those of the end times as seen in the book of The Revelation.
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