It was well known throughout the ancient world that Egypt was a polytheistic society. God had a two-fold purpose in his deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. He first wanted all people everywhere to know that there is only ONE GOD who is above ALL! It is for this reason that God brought plagues to display:
A. His power over their false gods.
1. Frogs Ex. 8:5-6
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.”
Wiersbe writes “The goddess Heqt was pictured as a frog, the Egyptian symbol of resurrection. The plague of frogs certainly turned the people against Heqt! “
2. Lice V16-18
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.”
Wiersbe continues “The lice and flies brought defilement to the people--a terrible blow, for Egyptians could not worship their gods unless they were spotlessly clean.”
3. Flies V21, 24
“I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.”
B. His power over their false prophets.
The Egyptian’s were also pantheistic. They worshiped different parts of creation as gods. Amidst these plagues not only had their gods failed them, but so had their false prophets.
V 18 “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
LESSON -With God’s power displayed over the Egyptian gods, 3 truths became clearly evident:
1. There is one God over all.
V19a “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God:”
2. Those who reject Him harden their hearts against God.
V19b “and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”
3. Those who receive Him are protected by Him.
V22-23 “And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.”
This explains why the divisions within our culture are widening every day! Judgment is on the horizon!! Are you ready?
~Mike
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