The Book of Exodus | Week 05
Week’s Passage: Exodus 7-10
InTro
Searching For Control
The passage explores the human tendency to seek help or control in times of trouble. People often rely on trusted friends or family for support in areas like food, money, shelter, or emotional comfort. But when no help is available, they may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like social media, addiction, or toxic relationships.
Historically, people faced similar challenges. In ancient Egypt, the people depended heavily on River Nile for survival, but they couldn’t control its flooding patterns. To manage this unpredictability, they turned to their gods, hoping for divine influence over nature. However, this reliance on false gods eventually led them into direct conflict with the true God of the Hebrews, an encounter that proved devastating for Egypt and its deities.
InGest
Snakes Alive!
The ten plagues of Egypt were a direct contest between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Hebrews go revealed his disbelief in God. In response, God sent a series of supernatural signs, not just natural disasters to show His power. The first nine plagues came in three sets, each beginning with a warning except the third in each group. The plagues exposed the weakness of Egypt’s gods and demonstrated that the God of the Hebrews is the one true, sovereign God.
InTerpret
The Showdown Begins
The plagues were a targeted attack on Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s pride. God started by turning the Nile to blood, then sent frogs and lice. At first, Pharaoh’s magicians copied the signs, but they later admitted it was the “finger of God.” Despite this, Pharaoh kept hardening his heart.
As more plagues followed, flies, livestock disease, hail, locusts, and darkness, Pharaoh kept offering partial freedom but never fully obeyed. God protected the Israelites to show His power. Even Pharaoh’s officials urged him to listen, but he refused. After the ninth plague, Pharaoh angrily sent Moses away, setting the stage for the final judgment.
inVite
God’s Goodness
The plagues were not just punishments, they were acts of mercy and warnings from God, giving Egypt chances to repent and recognize His power. Even before the worst plagues, God gave clear warnings and time to respond. Yet Pharaoh remained stubborn.
Just like in Jesus’ time, people saw miracles but still refused to believe. Whether through plagues or miracles, God shows His power but each person must choose to believe or reject Him.
inSight
Counterfeit Miracles
Ellen G. White in Patriarchs and Prophets [1890], 264, 265), explains that Pharaoh’s magicians did not truly turn their rods into serpents, instead Satan created a convincing illusion to deceive. Only God has the power to give life and Satan can only counterfeit. Although Moses’ serpent swallowed the others, Pharaoh still saw it as a superior form of magic, not as a divine sign.
Satan used these counterfeits to harden Pharaoh’s heart, make the Egyptians doubt God’s power, and weaken Moses and Aaron’s faith. More deeply, Satan aimed to undermine belief in Christ’s future miracles by making people think all supernatural acts could be tricks or magic. His ultimate goal was to destroy faith in Jesus as the Son of God and keep humanity from accepting salvation.
inQuire
- What do you think drove Pharaoh to continually refuse God’s requests?
- Have you ever read about the Egyptian gods? Look some of them up on the internet (e.g., www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses). Why would God want to attack the gods of another country?
- What do miracles accomplish, and what do they not accomplish?
- Are miracles important to the Christian experience? Why or why not?
- What significance do you see in some of Pharaoh’s servants believing and supporting Moses?
