LESSON 5:

God's Revelation through Judgment -- the PLAGUES, part 2

October 11, 2006 Exodus 9:8 -- 11:10

FAILURE

The previous plagues of frogs, gnats and flies do not ordinarily claim much of our attention. "They are nuisances we merely tolerate--at least until they get in our soup or crawl up our pants, or climb our walls or burrow their way under our bedsheets. Pharaoh, too, took these creatures for granted until they became
God's means to get his attention. Then Pharaoh listened -- for awhile. When relief came in answer to Moses' prayer, Pharaoh went back to his old ways." (notes, p. 80, NRSV)

What if this Pharaoh had been like the others we've encountered in the Hebrew scriptures--such as when Abram sought relief from a famine in the Negeb desert and decided to go to Egypt to survive. (Gen. 12:10-18)
That Pharaoh, after he had taken Sarai into his harem, listened to the message the afflictions brought ("great plagues" vs. 17, NRSV) upon his house and sought to learn what his offense was. Discovering that Sarai was Abram's wife, he was shocked at the deception and gave Abram immediate orders to leave.

Or, I wonder what this story would have been like if this Pharaoh had been perceptive like the person Joseph met 400 years ago. Even though the individual standing in front of him was a incarcerated penniless foreigner,
Pharaoh listened to the words Joseph spoke and acted on them. He was humble enough to know that he did not have all the answers; neither did his priests and government advisors. And I wonder what kind of story we would have if this Pharaoh had "remembered" who Joseph was!

Because the people of Egypt as well as the Hebrews had a limited remembrance of the events 400 years ago, a special event was in the future for both of them that no one could have predicted. Pharaoh acted as a Pharaoh, protecting his people from an eclectic assortment of people who were camping out on their land. They had odd habits such as sheep-herding and were multiplying outrageously. He "intensified their labor so as to minimize their leisure and thus opportunities for mischief." He also decided to "check further population by exterminating all newborn male infants--seen primarily as potential instigators of revolt." (New Bible Dictionary, p.360)

As we begin our assigned lesson in Exodus this evening we encounter yet another plague because Pharaoh has not understood the voice of YHWH. The fifth plague of pestilence, probably anthrax, on livestock was devastating to the Egyptians who worshipped many animals, including the bull-gods Apis and Mnevis, the cow-god Hathor and the ram-god Khaum. (NIV Study Bible, p.123) The livestock of the Israelites were spared. Even this did not alert Pharaoh to the message that God intended for him. Unfortunately, the Egyptian religion was again rebuked and ridiculed, but he did not back down. So Moses visits again; this time with the sixth plague of boils on animals AND people. This probably was skin anthrax, a black, burning abscess that developed into a pustule. But again, the Pharaoh would not listen. The seventh plague is predicted: hail, thunder, lightning--everything that is in the open field will be destroyed. Some Egyptians listened to this
prediction. They recognized that the events that Moses said would happen, actually DID! Yet, this Pharaoh continued to resist and perceive himself as an equal to the God that Moses "claimed" to represent.

Do you admire Pharaoh for standing up for his gods and his throne? This was a life and death struggle for him and he was tenacious. He knew what was right and he was going to continue to believe in his gods  since he was "the living examplar of the creator god on earth". (Ancient Egypt, p210) He was responsible for the well-being of his people and also sought by his actions to enhance his status before the people. He was not going to let a new god usurp his authority, his people and his land. ("Who is YHWH?" Ex. 5:2)

Moses and Pharaoh go around and around in a circle. Moses threatens with his big stick, and Pharaoh promises, then reneges. "Moses looks weak. Pharaoh looks strong. But Pharaoh's strength is not strength of character,
but the brick-wall stubbornness of entrenched attitudes that keep him in bondage. Being in control is the only mode of operation Pharaoh has known. Giving it up seems more threatening to him than having stars fall down
around him. In contrast, Moses can afford to take short-term losses because he knows who is ultimately in control." (notes, NRSV, p. 82)

Now come the locusts, plague # 8. This was greatly feared in ancient times and became a powerful symbol of divine judgment. Even Pharaoh's officials recognize that the end is coming and say: "Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?" (Ex. 10:7) "How long are you going to let this man harass us? Let these
people go and worship their God. Can't you see that Egypt is on its last legs?" (The Message) He scrambles when the swarm of locusts descend like a deadly horde which had never been seen before or after. (vs.14) But again, no true change of heart, even though he admitted that he had sinned. (vs.27) He sensed that if he let the
Hebrew people go peacefully to worship, they would NEVER come back. His economy would be ruined; he needed people to maintain and continue capital expansion. Again, he was looking out for the well-being of his country, just as a good king should. However, he didn't expect the answer he got this time in circling with
Moses.

Darkness was feared in Egyptian society. They always wondered if the sun-god, Re, would rise again in the east. The sun-god went down to the underworld when it was dark; Egyptians feared that those forces of darkness would be greater than the forces of light. When it did rise each morning, they worshipped Re. The Pharaoh was a "Son of Re". Now it was evident to everyone, that even the sun-god was under the control
of Moses' God, because there was light in Goshen where the Hebrews lived. What an insult to the sun-god, Re! Pharaoh must have known that he had failed his people. He had to give in to the Hebrew God. However, he only
went halfway: "The people may go, but not your animals." (vs.24) "Not acceptable", replies Moses and the two part with harsh words. (vs.29)

"The standoff between Moses and Pharaoh is coming to a climax. The hour is set: midnight is the turning point. It is an hour of deep darkness--the hour when all is still. It is the hour of expectation and decision--marking both an end and a new beginning. This story invites us to see the midnight hour both as a symbol of death
and of liberation." (notes, NRSV, p.84)

At this midnight hour, "every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die." (11:5) "Firstborn" has special meaning in the Near East. The firstborn was regarded as "the beginning of his strength", the "opener of the womb", emphasizing both paternal and maternal lines. The accompanying privileges were highly valued: a special paternal blessing, family leadership, and an honored place at mealtimes. It could only be forfeited by committing a serious offense. (New Bible Dictionary, p. 378)

For God to say that the "firstborn in the land of Egypt will die" was a devastating horror that went far beyond the fact that your very own child died. It was the ultimate disaster--supreme chaos. It indicated that your succession and blessings were also at risk. Your very person, your heritage, and your progeny were
now involved in this final plague. Moreover, judgment on the firstborn represented judgment on the ENTIRE COMMUNITY, even the slave girl. (NIV Study Bible, p.127) Additionally, in the Near East the firstborn was dedicated to one's God. Many cultures followed this belief in this geographical area. When this event
occurred in Egypt it showed all the other cultures around them that the Hebrew God was indisputably more powerful than ALL the gods of the most powerful nation then known, Egypt, and even their god representative, Pharaoh. "When a human being arrogates to himself the role of God, he must fail miserably. The Pharaoh who claimed to know nothing of YHWH, has come to know him all too well." (The Gifts of the Jews, p. 117)

Pharaoh failed to listen to the cries of the oppressed people; Pharaoh failed to recognize a God more powerful than he; Pharaoh failed as a Pharaoh.

I wonder how Pharaoh felt when he heard these words. (11:4-8)

I wonder if Pharaoh stayed awake until midnight.

I wonder what it would be like to wake up at midnight and listen for God.

I wonder what the significance of the term "firstborn" has when the New Testament talks about Jesus being the "firstborn". (Mt. 1:25)