Sermon Tone Analysis

Reading the Plagues

Today we are looking at a BIG chunk of scripture!

You may wonder; why?

Well, because the crux of the story is in it’s cycles.

You know the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood, the scene where Little Red is talking to the wolf dressed as Grandma?

Red says “What big eyes you have” and the wolf responds “All the better to see you with!”, then she proceeds to make another observation; “What big ears you have,” “What big nose you have” and so on.

This kind of cycle / repetition builds anticipation and tension so that you are ready for the resolution!

Even when you’ve heard the story several times, you are still waiting for the moment when the wolf says “All the better to eat you with!” and he jumps out to eat Red riding hood!

It works the same all over the common story telling styles we use, like telling a joke, or even when we are telling a story about our every day life.

But it is also a common pattern in scripture stories as well, like when Goliath comes out every day to taunt the Israelite army, or when Elijah burns up the soldiers who come to arrest him, or even in the story of creation where “God saw that it was good.

And there was evening and there was morning” (Ge 1:12–13).

When it some to the plagues of Egypt that we are looking at today, it is a huge deal!

When Moses wrote Exodus, he could have just written a list of the plagues in dot points, but instead he chose to tell the story though these cycles where he repeats key phrases and ideas over and over again.

It stirs our emotions.

This builds up the tension and anticipation of the story till you are itching to hear what happens next.

Will Pharaoh’s stubbornness win? or will he relent?

What will it take to let Israel go?

We’ve got several people who have volunteered to read the story for us today, so I invite you to sit back, and soak up the story.

Feel the tension build.

Notice the patterns.

Exodus 7:8–10:29

What are the 9 plagues in today's passage?

1 Plague Description Here2 Plague Description Here

3 Plague Description Here4 Plague Description Here

5 Plague Description Here6 Plague Description Here

7 Plague Description Here8 Plague Description Here

9 Plague Description Here

Who is the LORD?

Some stories are foundational to national culture.

For the USA they have their Civil war and the War of Independence.

For Australia we have Gallipoli.

Even though we didn’t win, nor were we the only country involved there, the story of the ANZACs at Gallipoli has shaped our national identity.

The story has influenced us in ways that historians are still figuring out.

When it comes to the nation of Israel, their foundation story is intrinsically tied up in their Exodus from Egypt.

They were a people enslaved who went through great trials in order to embrace their new identity as a nation.

However unlike more recent national stories, Israel’s was not about their war against the bad guys, or an uprising against their oppressors, it was a divine rescue.

A divine rescue that showed who their rescuer was.

God rescues his people, but along the way he shows them what he is like.

He reveals his character and power to Israel and the world.

God uses these plagues to answer the question “Who is the LORD?”

Remember how the first time that Moses went up to Pharaoh he said:

So God, answers this question with 10 Plagues. 10 Judgments.

10 Wonders that reveal who he is.

Pharaoh will never need to ask this question again, because he will know.

He won’t just know academically either, he will know in his heart who the LORD is.

We get to see 9 of these plague judgments this morning.

In the midst of these 9 Plagues, we can learn 9 things about God.

You might be tempted to think that some of these things are too simplistic.

But for the People of Israel, and the Egyptians, they lived in a world of many gods and superstitions.

They needed to know who the LORD is.

SO as we investigate, see if you can catch the 9 things that show us who the LORD is.

Lets look at the first of the 9 things that show us who the LORD is in the 9 Plagues.

We’re going to move pretty quickly though all these features, so kids see if you can catch them all (like a Pokemon trainer!).

1. God speaks, things Happen

A recurring theme in these 9 plagues is the phrase

"the LORD said”

In the ongoing cycles there is a continued theme of God speaking, Moses repeats the words as God’s prophet and then they come to pass.

There is no disconnect between what God says and what takes place.

Just like when God created the world, he speaks something, and it happens.

“Let there be light, and there was light.”

God’s word is faithful.

It can be trusted!

If God says he will bring a plague, he will.

And we saw 9 times in a row where things happen exactly as God said.

This is in direct opposition to Pharaoh.

Every time a plague comes and the going gets tough, Pharaoh says “I will let the people go”, but then he changes his mind.

Pharaoh, who is the most powerful man in Egypt can’t be trusted.

If your country’s leader said one thing and then instantly changed his mind would you trust him?

People don’t trust their friends and family who habitually don’t follow though.

Every time they say something you think to yourself “oh yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it”.

Not so with God.

There is a huge contrast between the man who's words appear powerful, Pharaoh, and the one who’s word turn into reality.

When God speaks, things happen.

And for the Israelites then, and for the Church now, we can look to God’s words and trust them.

He said all who trust in Jesus will be saved.

You can trust that if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus, you will be saved.

2. God Defeats Opposition

There are three main groups in these 9 plagues that are defeated; The Magicians, The ‘gods’ of Egypt and The god-man Pharaoh

The Magicians

When Moses & Aaron turn up on the scene for the first confrontation there are these sorcerers who appear to be able to mimic the signs the God had given to Moses.

Moses turns his rod into a snake, and the magicians copy him.

If you were in Moses shoes you might wonder, “Are their magic arts and their gods more powerful than the LORD?”

As if to squash that idea completely, Moses’ rod eats their rods, immediately defeating them.

But they come back for more; they seem to be able to mimic the plague of blood!

They also are able to bring forth a multitude of frogs during that plague as well!

But interestingly you will note, that the magicians only ever multiply the problem.

They add to the plague, they can’t make it go away.

They essentially try to show their own power by doing more of God’s existing judgment on the land.

How does that help?

It might make them look good, but when Pharaoh wants the plagues removed, who does he have to call?

Moses.

Pharaoh calls on Moses as the representative of God to take the plagues away when they become to much for him to bear.

Moses intercedes for Pharaoh and takes away the plagues.

But after their earlier success in mimicking the plagues, the Magicians have to tap out after three goes.

By the time they get to the third plague they were stuck.

They admitted themselves;

These fellas couldn’t keep up with God.

In fact, a few plagues later they were powerless.

They got covered in boils and couldn’t move!

They not only couldn’t replicate the signs, but they couldn’t protect themselves either.