Word: Exodus 10:22-23, 11:4-7, 14:26-28
Title: Ten plagues (5) 1994. 10. 2.
Last time, we talked about the plague of hail and the plague of locusts. If a person remains hardened and does not repent, the consequences may become increasingly severe. The hail destroyed much of what the Egyptians valued, and the locusts consumed what remained. These plagues show the seriousness of continuing in hardness without turning back.
The ninth plague was the plague of darkness. Darkness covered Egypt, and it represents a condition approaching death and destruction. A person may lose what he values and still refuse to repent and turn back. An unbeliever may continue to reject God, while a believer may refuse to repent and stand fully in the truth. Spiritually, departing completely from God, losing faith, and abandoning the way of life also leads toward death. Yet God is merciful and gives opportunities to turn back. When a person reaches a situation that seems like a cliff with no way out, he should repent and acknowledge God. Pharaoh, however, continued to harden his heart despite the plagues and rebelled against God to the end.
Then came the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn. The firstborn sons throughout Egypt died, from Pharaoh’s household to the households of his servants and people, and the firstborn of the livestock also died. After this, Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt. Yet after they had gone, he changed his mind again and regretted letting them go. This shows how deceitful and changeable the human heart can be. A person may repent during a difficult situation and promise never to return to sin, but after some time passes, he may return to the same sin. Therefore, true repentance must lead to genuine change. Pharaoh mobilized his army and pursued the Israelites in order to bring them back.
When we begin walking toward God and eternal life, the enemy does not simply leave us alone. Satan tries to bring doubts, temptations, trials, and fleshly thoughts so that we turn away from God. Jesus Himself was tempted by the devil after fasting for forty days, but He overcame every temptation with the Word of God. Luke 4:13 says that after the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Therefore, we should have the Word of God planted in our hearts and meditate on it continually. When temptation comes, we must overcome it with the truth rather than follow doubt or fleshly thoughts. First Peter 5:8 warns that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Therefore, believers must remain alert and stand firm in faith.
Pharaoh and his army pursued the Israelites until they reached the seashore where Israel was encamped. The Israelites became afraid and began to complain against Moses. The Red Sea was before them, and the Egyptian army was behind them. Humanly speaking, there appeared to be no escape. In the same way, when people first begin a life of faith, difficulties may cause them to wonder whether they should return to their former way of life. They may see other people enjoying worldly pleasures and wonder why they should continue living according to God’s Word. When faith is still weak, even a relatively small test can feel very difficult.
This is also why believers should care for those whose faith is weak. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “I stand at the door and knock.” Those who are spiritually strong may be able to continue their life of faith without much assistance, but those who are discouraged, suffering, or weak in faith may need prayer, encouragement, and patient care. Even when someone initially refuses help, we can continue to pray for that person. The purpose is not to force anyone but to help those who are struggling return to faith and experience God for themselves.
The Israelites had seen the ten plagues and the works God performed through Moses, yet when a severe trial came, fear caused them to complain. This teaches us something important about faith. It is easy to rejoice and give thanks when circumstances are favorable. The real condition of our faith is often revealed when difficulties arise. When the Red Sea is before us and the Egyptian army is behind us, what will we do? Instead of complaining, we should remember what God has already done and trust His power. There is nothing impossible for Almighty God. Therefore, even when we cannot see a way forward, we can pray and depend on Him.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea as God commanded. The Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind throughout the night, turning the sea into dry land and dividing the waters. The Israelites crossed through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like walls on their right and left. A pillar of cloud stood between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp. Darkness covered the Egyptian side, while God gave light to Israel. When the Israelites had crossed, the Egyptian army pursued them into the sea. Then Moses stretched out his hand again, the waters returned, and Pharaoh’s army was overwhelmed. Thus God delivered Israel from Egypt.
A question may arise: the Israelites still had very little faith, so why did God perform such a great work for them? Their faith was still like that of young children. A small child cannot overcome every obstacle by himself; a parent must protect and carry him through situations beyond his strength. In a similar way, the Israelites had only recently left Egypt. They had obeyed God’s command concerning the Passover, prepared themselves to leave, and followed Moses out of Egypt. Their faith was immature, but God was leading them.
The Israelites were also traveling under extremely difficult conditions. Exodus records about six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, and they also traveled with large numbers of livestock. They had belongings to carry, children and elderly people to care for, and no modern roads on which to travel. Their movement through the wilderness would therefore have been slow and difficult. The Egyptian army, by contrast, could pursue them rapidly with chariots.
There was a more direct route from Egypt toward Canaan through the land of the Philistines. Yet Exodus tells us that God did not lead the Israelites by that road because He knew that if they faced war immediately, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. Instead, He led them toward the Red Sea. This shows that God understood the weakness of their faith and guided them accordingly. If they had immediately faced battles they were not prepared to endure, they might have turned back.
This gives us another spiritual lesson. God knows the measure of our faith. When our faith is weak, He can guide us patiently, just as He guided Israel with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The wilderness was hot during the day and cold at night. The cloud guided them during the day, and the fire gave them light at night. God was teaching them to depend upon Him step by step.
But why did God allow the Israelites to face the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptian army at all? Could He not have divided the sea before the Egyptians arrived? Certainly He could have. Yet through such experiences, the Israelites had opportunities to learn faith. If we never face any difficulty, we may not discover what is hidden in our hearts. Fear, doubt, resentment, and unbelief may remain unnoticed. Trials can reveal these things and give us an opportunity to repent, change, and grow in faith. Through overcoming difficulties, we learn to trust God more deeply.
This does not mean that every difficulty is caused by a person’s sin. Scripture shows that faithful people also faced severe trials. Abraham was tested concerning Isaac. Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace. These trials did not come because they had abandoned God. Rather, through faith and obedience they overcame the trials and glorified God. Therefore, when difficulties come, we should first examine ourselves. If there is sin or wrongdoing, we should repent and turn back. If there is nothing to repent of, we should continue in faith, prayer, thanksgiving, and obedience.
The Israelites who continually refused to believe and obey eventually died in the wilderness, but the next generation reached the Jordan River and entered the land of Canaan. When the priests stepped into the Jordan according to God’s command, the waters stopped and the people crossed. Later, Israel obeyed God’s instructions concerning Jericho, and the walls fell. These events teach that faith is not merely believing something intellectually. Biblical faith is expressed through trusting God and obeying His Word.
First Peter 5:8–9 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” Satan seeks opportunities to tempt believers, but Scripture tells us to resist him through faith. First John 5:18 also teaches that the one born of God does not continue in sin and that the evil one cannot take hold of him. Therefore, rather than living continually in fear of Satan, believers should remain in God’s truth, resist sin, and stand firmly in faith.
The ten plagues ultimately show both the seriousness of hardness of heart and the mercy of God in repeatedly giving opportunities to turn back. Pharaoh was warned again and again, but he repeatedly hardened his heart. Each refusal brought further judgment. Therefore, when we recognize sin or disobedience within ourselves, we should not delay repentance. We should turn back while there is still opportunity. True repentance is not simply feeling afraid when consequences appear; it means changing our heart and direction before God.
The crossing of the Red Sea also teaches us not to judge everything merely by what we can see. The Israelites saw the sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. From a human perspective, there was no solution. But God made a way where they could see no way. Later, at the Jordan River and Jericho, Israel again experienced God’s work as they trusted and obeyed Him. Therefore, when we face trials, we should not immediately respond with fear, resentment, or complaint. We should examine ourselves, repent where repentance is needed, pray, trust God, and continue in obedience.
The essential issue is faith. When we recognize wrongdoing, we should repent quickly and turn back. When we encounter a trial that is not the result of wrongdoing, we should stand firm, resist temptation, and trust God. Pharaoh continued in hardness until there was no way back. We should learn from his example and not allow our hearts to become hardened. Instead, let us hear God’s Word, turn away from sin, remain firm in faith, and follow God in obedience.