Are you tired of telling your kids the same story about Moses and the plagues?
Maybe you’re tired of the same story of Moses and the plagues?
Been there. Done that. But after I began reading the Bible inquisitively, I began to see things in a different light. We will break this down into several “Are You Curious” segments. Today’s post is for the first five plagues.
Every time I read through the Bible and I get to this story, something new always pops up. Last year when I read through the plagues, I made an excel spreadsheet documenting who God told the information to – Aaron or Moses, the plague, the length of the plague, and the results. It was very interesting to see the plagues laid out analytically.
This year, I’m wondering if you are curious enough to read the story about Moses and the plagues. See if you have some of the same questions I do.
Plague #1 – Water to Blood
- After Aaron turned the water to blood, the magicians of Egypt were brought in, and they replicated the plague. Why would anyone want to make more water turn into blood? Wouldn’t it have been more advantageous if they could have reversed the plague? Wouldn’t that have been more helpful?
Plague #2 – Frogs
- After Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt and the frog came up, the magicians were called again. The magicians replicated the frogs. WHO WANTS MORE FROGS!? Why not perform some act that would take away the frogs? Wouldn’t that have been wiser?
- Moses asks Pharaoh when he would like the frogs to be gone. Pharaoh’s answer in Exodus 8:10, “Tomorrow.” Who waits 2 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours to want frogs to be removed? Pharaoh, that’s who. He wants his people, the Egyptians to endure the frogs for just a little bit long. Why on earth?
- And just so we’re clear, the frogs didn’t just go away. They died! Exodus 8:13. Can you imagine the smell? Everywhere you stepped or sat was a dead frog. Dead frogs in your bed, in your shoes, in your pantry. Dead frogs everywhere.
Plague #3 – Gnats
- After Aaron stretched out the staff and struck the dust, the gnats swarmed. Then the magicians were brought in. Were they brought in to reduce the number or gnats or get rid of them? NO! They were once again trying to replicate God’s plague by producing more gnats. Isn’t that helpful? More gnats? Thankfully, the magicians could not duplicate this plague. The magicians said this was the “finger of God.”
- Open your mouth, and gnats would fly in. Open your eyes, and gnats would fly in. Try to drink a glass of water, gnats were floating. How would they eat or drink anything?
Plague #4 – Swarms of Flies
- Guess who was NOT called! The magicians.
- Exodus 8:23 states the flies did not enter Goshen where God’s people lived, but they would swarm against Pharaoh, his officials, his people and his houses. And God told Pharaoh it would happen “tomorrow.” And tomorrow came, and the flies swarmed just like God said. Why did God choose tomorrow? Why not right then?
- Tomorrow comes, and the swarm of flies enter so thickly they ruined the land. Then Pharaoh begins trying to negotiate a settlement, and when he finds out God does not negotiate to Pharaoh’s terms, he rescinds his offer. How often do you try to negotiate with God for God to change His will to conform with your’s?
- God removes the flies “tomorrow” as Moses requests. Pharaoh wasn’t asked when he wanted the flies gone this time. Moses told Pharaoh when the flies would be gone. If Pharaoh was in no hurry to get rid of the frogs, why would he be in any hurry to get rid of the flies?
- This time God removes the flies and not one is left. Why does he choose to leave some plagues for the Egyptians to clean up but removes the others?
Fifth Plague: Death of Livestock
- Guess who was NOT called. The magicians. Apparently there was no livestock left to kill, and they were unable to breathe life into the livestock they did have. Was this because they could not undo what God decreed to occur?
- Nothing the Israelites owned died. Only the animals owned by Pharaoh and the Egyptians died. God has the authority and power to delineate between not only people but their possessions. Why are we so worried with what’s mine?
- Think about the carcasses of all those dead animals, the smell, the bloating. Who would want to live in Egypt around all of that stench?
So, have I asked any questions or made any points that has made you look at this story differently? What questions have come to your attention?