The Plagues Of Egypt

The Ten Plagues of Egypt

The 10 Plagues of Egypt from the Book of Exodus is one of the most well known events from the Bible. Some people are familiar with the details of the plagues themselves, but not everyone understands their full impact on Egypt. The plagues not only decimated Egypt both physically and economically, but more importantly they decimated them spiritually. All the plagues targeted a specific one or combination of the Egyptian Gods or Goddesses.

The Bibles time line would place the plagues at about the 15th century B.C.

It is difficult to pinpoint exact time since the Bible does not give the specific name of the Pharaoh.

It took about 1 year for all the plagues to unfold. We learn this by studying the seasons of planting and harvesting crops in Egypt, Moses age when he first spoke to Pharaoh(Exodus 7:7)

Skeptics and Scientists have tried to explain these events as natural events that could have unfolded in Egypt. They cannot explain how Moses was able to give advanced warning to Egypt before some of them happened or how some affected only Egypt and not Israel.

Historians also point to there being no historical records of the plagues. If you were in charge of all the scribes in Egypt, would you want a record of your biggest defeat at the hands of a God you didn’t even believe in?

Why did God send the plagues?

The Bible says that the plagues were brought upon Egypt so that the Pharaoh would know “The Hebrew God”.

Exodus 7:3-5

3 But I will cause Pharaoh to be stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will crush Egypt with a series of disasters, after which I will lead the forces of Israel out with great acts of judgment. 5 When I show the Egyptians my power and force them to let the Israelites go, they will realize that I am the Lord

God wanted to prove to Egypt who he was firsthand. He wanted to display his power so they would know him.

“Know” is the root word of “knowledge”

Proverbs 1:7

7 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline

Fear- filial (pertaining to becoming a son or daughter) regard mingled with awe; reverence

In essence, God wanted Egypt to come to know him as “The Father” just as he wants all of us to become sons and daughters of his. Just as a child looks at a parent with awe, God wanted Egypt and Israel to realize who he was.

Why 10 Plagues?

“10” in The Bible represents completion

Why didn’t God simply destroy Egypt to show his power?

Because of his mercy.

Lets now look at the 10 Plagues and who/what they affected.

There is a distinct progression in the plagues with the long term effect it would have on the land.

Some areas of Egypt had different names for the same God. Some Gods were responsible to more than 1 area of life. If you were to research these names you may find alternative names or more names of Gods that the plagues could have targeted.

Plague #1-Waters Become Blood Exodus 7:14-24

Pharaoh was warned in advance of this plague.

This plague targeted the Egyptian God Hapi who was the “God of The Nile” and was also know as the “Spirit of The Nile”. The Goddess Anqet who was a water goddess. The God Khnemu who was a water god and one of Egypts oldest known Gods.

All the waters(the river and stores of water) were affected

Pharaohs priests were able to duplicate this (the Bible does not say how except “secret arts”) but they were unable to reverse it.

This plague affected both Egypt and Israel.

Plague #2-Frogs Exodus 8:1-15

Pharaoh was warned in advance of this plague.

This targeted the god Heqt. She was a frog headed goddess and represented resurrection

Pharaohs priests were able to duplicate this but were unable to reverse it.

Pharaoh told Moses to have God take away the frogs and he would let the Israelites go.

Moses told Pharaoh to set the time for them to be gone. God took away the frogs at the appointed time(the next day) but Pharaoh changed his mind.

This plague affected both Egypt and Israel.

Plague #3-Lice or Gnats Exodus 8:16-19

This targeted the god Kheper who was the God of beetles and flies

Pharaoh’s priests tried but could not duplicate this. They told Pharaoh that this was “the finger of God”

This plague affected both Egypt and Israel.

The Israelites were probably growing angry at Moses at this time because they were suffering also.

Plague #4-Flies Exodus 8:20-32