Christ-Light Connections: Pharaoh Disobeys God & The Plagues

The theme this week is some people refuse to believe in God and obey him.

I’m not sure I would use the word some. I am assuming that it is referring mainly to Pharaoh whose heart was hardened by God. But the Israelites constantly struggled with belief in God as well.

Unbelief is a perpetual part of the life of a believer today too. Honest Christians, who live in this sin broken world, can not help but wonder if God is truly in control or if he cares.

God speaks to our unbelief. His plan to rescue the Israelites was detailed and intentional. He could have carried out his plan in moments without all the fuss if it was his desire. Instead, he crafted specific events so as to display before Moses, the Israelites, the Egyptians, Pharaoh, and the whole world for generations to come that he is the I AM God who is worthy of our faith.

OT2 1A

Pharaoh Disobeys God — Exodus 4:29 – 6:9

Context

In the previous lesson, Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. In God’s conversation with Moses, he named himself as the God “I AM” and addressed all of Moses’ objections with promises to be with him. Now God will begin to reveal himself to his children, Israel. He will move from being just the God of promises to being the God of action and deliverance; the God of fulfillment.

Big Ideas

The Israelites believed! (Exodus 4:29-30)

Don’t get used to it. Moses and Aaron show the Israelites God’s message of deliverance along with the signs and miracles God had enabled him to do. They received the message with great joy. This is the start of Israel’s erratic faith relationship with God. Sometimes they believe, but most of the time they are a people of doubt, resistance, rebellion, and rejection.

I think that believers today sometimes think from the moment of conversion, our faith will just get stronger, like an arrow going up. That is not the reality we see for Israel and many believers in the Bible. Human faith could be better illustrated like a heartbeat graph with mountains, and valleys. Throw in a few flat-lines as well.

Conversation Starters:

• Does God’s faithfulness to us depend on our faith?
• How would you illustrate Jesus’ faith? This is the perfect time to talk about vicarious atonement (Jesus did EVERYTHING perfectly FOR us.)

The first conversation with Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1-21)

Remember that Pharaoh regards himself as a deity. In my opinion, this first meeting with Pharaoh is ridiculous. Why is God, the almighty, asking for permission? This conversation gives the impression that the god of the nation that has been enslaved for 400 years is a wimp. If Israel’s god really wanted them to worship him, then he should act and not be checking the with the other “deities” if it is okay with them.

So Pharaoh’s response makes sense. He reinforces his oppressive god-like power over Israel and reclaims them as his. In doing so, God appears to be weak and Moses and Aaron are nothing but chumps in the eyes of the Israelites.

Conversation Starter:

• Why do you think God set the scene like this?

Moses’ Prayer (Exodus 5:22-23)

That is quite an accusatory prayer!

Can we talk to God like that?

Moses is angry and confused, but he is also honest.

Most Christians are not comfortable hearing these kinds of prayers, but the Bible is full of honest prayers. Check out the psalms. Prayers like these give us permission to say to God exactly what we are thinking.

God allows us to and wants us to have a real relationship with him.

What do you think? Should adults model such honest prayers in front of their children? I want to teach my children to trust God so much that they can tell him exactly what is on their mind. I wonder if those who avoid talking about their struggles with and against God are more likely to abandon God.

Conversation Starter:

• Ask other believers what they think: Should we pray honestly in front of our children? Can praying honestly about that hard stuff create doubt for our children or will it help prepare them for facing difficulties in life?

God’s Response to Moses (Exodus 6:1-8)

First, can I point out that God did not slap Moses in the face saying, “watch your mouth!” He graciously responds revealing more details about his rescue plan.

These verses can be summarized as the Gospel of Exodus. God begins by stating his name. He does so in a way that is how kings would address his subjects showing power, might, and responsibility for his people. Knowledge of his name also gives the people personal access to him.

Next, he lists seven actions he would take for his people. (FYI, 7 is a symbolic number for completeness.) Each time, he is the subject of the sentence! I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will. He then concludes his speech by restating his name.

That is our Gospel summary too. Just like Israel, we are slaves (to sin) without hope or the ability to help ourselves. God does all the action for us to set us free and bring us to the Promised Land. Any message that requires us to do something is not the Gospel.

The Israelites did not listen (Exodus 6:9)

This is not a big surprise. The Israelites are in such a broken condition that they are unable to respond to the Gospel message. Even though Israel does not believe, God’s promises held fast.

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Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource unites the two stories this week.

40 Minutes in the Old Testament

• Episode 68: Moses and Aaron have their first encounter with Pharaoh which doesn’t go well by any standards and results in further suffering for the Hebrew people. 
• Episode 69: The honest and somewhat shocking way Moses and other figures in scripture talk to God.

OT2 1B

The Plagues — Exodus 7-10

Context

The stage has been set. The Israelites are greatly oppressed and their spirit is broken. Their leader, Moses, has only accomplished further abuse for them. Their God sees to only be a fairytale of their past.

In the worst places, where hope is not faint but fully dead, God shows up. Now is the time time to reveal his power and authority.

Big Ideas

Why plagues? (Exodus 7:1-6)

God chooses to rescue his people through a series of plagues. He knows what will happen with each event and has each phase planned in advance. Through them, he will show his people who he is and the lengths he is willing to go through to rescue his people.

The plagues are also a divine judgment against the Egyptians who have enslaved and abused his people. They are an illustration to us of God’s wrath against sin.

Conversation Starters:

• How did God show mercy to the Egyptians? Compare this divine judgment to how God dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Explore the illustration above by Full of Eyes. From what did Christ redeem Israel and us?

Throw your staff before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:8-13)

God begins by revealing his power in small ways. Each revelation shows a bit more and becomes more intense. I love how God allows the Egyptians to perform this miracle along Moses…and then… CHOMP! It’s as if he is saying, “You think you have power, but watch out I’m about to eat you alive.”

*FYI the word for “snake” in these verses can also mean crocodile. It doesn’t change the meaning of the story, but it is definitely fun to know!

The first nine plagues (Exodus 7:14-29)

As the Nile is turned to blood, God declares war against the deities of Egypt. The Egyptians worshiped the Nile. From the Nile, they received their livelihood and life itself. Without it, they would not exist.

The plagues seem to one by one make the different gods of Egypt look powerless or unexistent. Their gods were all geographically bound and took care of their own realm. The God of Israel, who could traverse all realms in nature would have been a shock to the Egyptians.

In some ways, this plague account reflects the Creation account in Genesis in order and structure. Both show order and increase in greatness. Creation daily becomes better and more complete. The plagues gradually increase in destructiveness. God’s judgment against sinners is carried out through “uncreation.”

Conversation Starters:

• Why do you think God took the time to destroy individual Egyptian gods?
• It has always bothered me that God gave the first three plagues to the Israelites too. Did they deserve his judgment? What was God showing his people when he stopped plaguing them?

Pharaoh’s heart (Various verses in Exodus 7-10)

Watching the state of Pharaoh’s heart is alarming. Ten times the account states Pharaoh hardened his own heart and ten times God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

My first reaction is to either think it is unfair for God to do this to a human heart or it is just plain terrifying.

Conversation Starters:

• What opportunities did Pharaoh have to believe? Did he deserve more chances?
• Do we deserve the opportunity to come to faith?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource unites the two stories this week.

40 Minutes in the Old Testament

• Episode 70 It’s almost time for the plagues but before they get there Moses brings up his poor speech again and God talks about the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Uncircumcised lips? Making Moses as God?
• Episode 71 The plagues are upon us!
• Episode 72 Lice, boils, flies, locusts, hail, death of livestock and darkness