1. No warning is given

As was the pattern with the previous plagues, the third in this set of three came without warning. God brought darkness on all of Egypt. This is a harken back to the first day of creation when there was darkness and no light. It is like this is being undone.

2. A supernatural darkness

It was pitch black and described as “darkness to be felt.” For three days, no one in Egypt saw another person or left their house.  The darkness did not affect the homes of the Israelites. It is like a complete undoing of creation and the separation that God had made in Genesis between the light and the dark. It is interesting that it is three days of darkness. There was darkness for 3 hours when Jesus in on the cross and Christ was dead for three days before his resurrection.

It seems that God did not even allow artificial light sources to work! The Egyptians could have used candles and lamps but it seems they were unable to produce light. The only light was with the Israelites.

This is a judgment against the chief God of Egypt – the Sun god – Ra. This is a complete shutdown of all human action. It highlights the blindness of Pharoah. With the locusts there was a natural reason to explain the darkness. With this plague there is no explanation.

3. Pharaoh’s final negotiation

Pharaoh called Moses and gave him permission to worship in the wilderness but required the Hebrews to leave their flocks and herds behind. Moses told Pharaoh they needed to take their animals because they would need to make sacrifices to the Lord. Not a hoof will be left behind. They must be let go completely and there is no room for further negotiation. It is beyond the natural order.

There is a famous proverb dating back centuries that reminds us that seemingly unimportant acts or omissions can have grave and unforeseen consequences.

“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not let the people go. He told Moses he would kill him if he ever saw his face again. There have been nine extraordinary plagues and still things seem inconclusive but the final and greatest plague is set to come.

Through each of the previous plagues, God has demonstrated His absolute control over nature and the impotent gods of Egypt. The plagues are not random acts of destruction but are purposefully directed to reveal Yahweh’s supremacy over all other “so called” gods and that includes Pharaoh.

The Battle against Compromise with the World

Egypt is a picture of the world in the Bible. There is a “boxing match” that takes place between Moses (God’s representative) and Pharaoh (Satan’s representative) during the 10 plagues as Pharoah tries to bully, threaten and compromise to try and negotiate  a “deal”. Pharoah offered four compromises as he begins to lose his grip and his temper.

1. Worship God in Egypt (Exodus 8:25) – This comes after the plagues of blood, frogs, lice, and flies. Moses replies that they will be stoned by the Egyptians if they sacrifice here.
2. Leave Egypt, but do not go far (Exodus 8:28) – Moses replies that they must go where their God directs – not Pharaoh.
3. The Men can go as far but your women and children must stay here (Exodus 10:11) – This comes after the plagues of boils and hail. Moses replies that they are taking their families.
4. The families can go but your livestock must stay (Exodus 10:29) – This comes after the double punch of the plagues of locusts and darkness. Moses replies that they are taking everything.

We are in the world but need to be separate from it where it matters most. It is not our final destination or the place of our treasure. There is an element of being safe making bricks for the tyrant. You can be comfortable but still be in slavery. God has shown up and it is decision time. Do you want to free and join his Kingdom?

Categories: Exodus

Tags: bible, Exodus, god, moses, pharaoh