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Pharaoh’s Darkest Crisis
By Tom Stephens
The Crossing of the Red Sea
When Moses led the children of Israel out of Goshen, we can almost imagine the godly pride on his face, mingled with a sense of profound humility, that he had been honored in the hand of God, to lead such a great deliverance from Egypt. (Later, when the entire encampment around the Tabernacle was established, the Israelites numbered approximately three million; and as seen from above, covered an area of about 12 square miles, not that many considering the Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt.)
God delivered the Israelite nation out of Egypt, not because they were such a worthy people but because He loved them and was faithful to His covenant He made with them (Deuteronomy 7:7-10). The beauty of the Passover was God’s saving grace; and today His love and grace has made you and I partakers of His wonderful salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-5).
God’s character is shown in His dealing with His people Israel. My aim is to show His faithfulness to the better covenant with all believers during this time of grace—not to the gentiles alone—but to all who will come to Him through the Church Age. Simply put, I believe we can walk in His Spirit every day, forsake sin and find divine protection from the seven-year tribulation period if we pray always that we be accounted worthy to escape all these things designed for the devil and his angels (Luke 21:35, 36; Revelation 3:9, 10).
The Plagues of Exodus
The first nine plagues may be subdivided into groups of three. The final plague stands alone. Concerning the plagues below, the Word of God shows Pharaohdid not soften his heart toward the God of heaven, not even once from the plagues and finally Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea. These plagues are considered to be types of the judgments (and more) the apostle John penned in the book of Revelation. (Exodus 14-12:36).
The 1st plague is BLOOD (Ex 7:14-25); The 2nd plague is FROGS (8:1-15); The 3rd plague is LICE (8:16-19); The 4th plague is FLIES (8:20-32); The 5thplague is Plague is CATTLE (9:1-7); The 6th plague is BOILS (9:8-12); The 7th plague is HAIL (9:13-35); The 8th plague is LOCUSTS (10:1-20); The 9thplague is DARKNESS (10:21-28); and the 10th plague is THE DEATH OF EVERY FIRSTBORN (11:4-10; 12:29-36). [1]
Concerning the Tenth and Final Plague
“And the LORD said unto Moses, ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; Afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold’” (Exodus 12:35).
God told Moses, “You have favor in the eyes of the people” (Exodus 11:3). The Israelite slaves were to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold, a strange request. Why? Though Israel didn’t realize it yet, God had a plan. God knew the silver and gold was only a small share of the payment due His people for the 400 year period of slavery. God had an eternal plan for the silver and the gold, but neither the Egyptians, nor the Israelites knew what the plan was. He intended to take His people away from the torment of the Egyptians to a land of milk and honey. Israel would learn these secrets while encamped around Sinai. [2]
Five Things We Should Understand about God’s Demands from Pharaoh
Then Moses made his way back for one more meeting with the Pharaoh. In the course of that high-tension conversation, Moses listed five facts for Pharaoh to think about, which the Pharaoh then rejected.
1. Something to Happen at Midnight:
Moses said, “Thus says the Lord, About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt’” (Exodus11:4; 12:29-36) Note that at Jesus’ Second Coming, the bride will ride to earth with Christ following the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where Jesus’ feet will land on Mount Olives. (But at the Rapture of the church, His bride will arise to meet Him in the air and remain in heaven preparing for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb). At the Rapture, those who are dead in Christ are resurrected with we who are alive, to rise in our glorified bodies to meet Jesus in the air.
Moses followed that chilling announcement with a shocker:
2. All Egypt’s Firstborn Will Die:
“And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the beasts as well” (Exodus 11:5).
The mourning that gripped Egypt would be without precedent. There had been wars in the past, and there would be wars coming in the future. Egypt had endured nine plagues, and there would be more national disasters in the future. But never again had there been a shockwave of grief like this one! The first nine plagues on Egypt are taught by many scholars to be types of the coming antichrist system.
3. There Will Be National Distress:
Then: “And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel”(Exodus11:6, 7).
World Distress Coming Soon: ”For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
Though there would be cries of pain and terror among the Egyptians, nothing evilby any means will touch God’s people. All will know that the Lord is faithful to His own, but judges those who reject Him.
4. Israel Will Not Fall, But Will Be Protected:
“But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel” (11:7).
God will always preserve His, own. The Egyptians are a type of “those who dwell on earth during the seven- year Tribulation period. The Israelites are a type of “those who dwell in heaven.” (See Revelation 12:11-12.)
5. There Will Be an Exodus:
“And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And He went out from Pharaoh in a great anger” (Exodus11:8).
On that last word “O-U-T,” Moses turned on his heels and strode out of the room without any apology; he didn’t need to apologize for the message, nor the boldness by which it was given. Here’s what we know about this meeting: God’s heavy wrath was coming to the evil Pharaoh and his kingdom. Today we know that soon every knee will bow before the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. The time for patience had ended and God’s judgment would be severe. Pharaoh had resisted God long enough. The final plague would assure deliverance for Israel. [3]
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: Took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” (Exodus 13: 21, 22).
The Exodus Begins:
In Psalm 105, the psalmist gives insight from the Exodus that Moses didn’t put into his continuing journal.
“He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness” (Psalm 37, 43).
The Israelites were in high spirits as they departed. Among that great body, not one person stumbled. There wasn’t a weak one in the bunch. God had been faithful to them thus far, and preserved them. They were refreshed and happy; for God had given them health and stamina for the upcoming trip.
“God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” (Exodus 13:18; 21, 22).
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