LET MY PEOPLE GO

The Exodus story is the greatest story of redemption known to mankind. The entire book of Exodus is grounded in God redeeming the Israelite nation from slavery and leading them into the promises He has for them.

It is in this narrative, that God displays his character – He is not a distant taskmaster, apathetic to the cries and suffering of His people, He is a sovereign, compassionate and mighty God who desires salvation and freedom for His people and His character never changes; he is still freeing people from oppression and slavery to the enemy today.

His hand is not too short to save and His grace is never too far. This is why he commands Moses to declare to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go…”

In this statement, He is declaring for all time that no enemy shall oppress his chosen people. Jesus is not coming back for a bride who is shackled and enslaved to another master, He is coming back for a bride who is spotless and free.

This is why God sends the ten plagues. It is a statement of his might and power, where men would elevate themselves to the status of a deity, He would brush them aside as if they were a speck of dirt. 

The ten plagues point to His might, His power to save, they point to Jesus. So to understand why we can walk in freedom, let’s look at the significance of the ten plagues. 

1. The plague of blood – the Egyptian god of the Nile (Hapi)

The first plague that was given to the Egyptians from God was that of turning the water into blood. The Nile was of utmost importance to the Egyptians. It sustained life, it brought wealth and prosperity, and it was the centre of much trade in the ancient world. 

With this, came the promise of the good life. But here, God exposes Hapi as a lier, as a cheap substitute to the real source of life, YAHWEH. Only He can bring and sustain life and any other source will not satisfy us. 

2. The plague of frogs – the Egyptian god of fertility, water, renewal (Heqet)

The second plague that was extended upon Egypt, from the “rod” by Aaron, was that of frogs. Pharoah’s magicians were able to imitate the plague of frogs, but only Moses, through God, was able to make the frogs leave, displaying that any fruitfulness and promises of life, separate from God, is merely that, an imitation. 

God is our sustainer, God is the source of all fruitfulness. 

3. The plague of lice – the Egyptian god of the earth (Geb)

Even after both of these plagues, Pharaoh would not relent. He still trusted in his gods and his power and might above that of the God of the Israelites. 

At the command of the Lord to Moses, Aaron was told to stretch forth his rod and smite the dust of the earth. When he did the dust became lice throughout all the land, on both people and beasts

The very dust, from whence we were created, now became a plague for mankind. But it is from the dust that God puts Pharaoh and his magicians to shame, as they, unable to recreate this wonder, profess that this must be “the finger of God”. 

God will always get his glory. 

4. The plague of flies – the Egyptian god of creation (Khepri)

Moses again went to Pharaoh and demanded on behalf of God that Pharaoh “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Once again, the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he rejected God’s request. The Egyptian people were ravaged by a swarm of flies, but this time none of the Israelites were affected. 

Pharaoh acknowledges the power of God, for a brief moment, but as soon as the plague relents, Pharaoh once again worships his gods and forsakes the truth before his eyes. 

5. The plague of cattle and livestock – the Egyptian goddess of love and protection (Hathor)

God, abundant in mercy, gave Pharaoh a warning if the plague to come so that he may relent and repent. But Pharaoh’s heart grew even harder. 

All of the Egyptian’s cattle and livestock were stricken and died, affecting their economy, military, transportation and every area which depended on their livestock. God, the creator of the heavens and earth, was proclaiming that He alone could bring protection from death and suffering.

All of this points towards the cross, which purchased our salvation, and set us free from the clutches of death and sin. 

6. The plague of boils – the Egyptian god of medicine and peace (Isis)

Announced, Moses takes ashes from the furnace of affliction and threw them in the air, afflicting all Egyptians with sores and boils. Once again God makes his covenant with his people clear, as his chosen beloved are unaffected and are unharmed. 

Being ‘clean’ was of paramount importance to the Egyptians, which left Pharaoh and his magicians unable to worship their gods, as they were in an unclean state. They were separated from their gods, but God was not separated from His chosen people whom He loved. 

7. The plague of hail and fire – the Egyptian god of the skies (Nut)

Again, Pharaoh is warned of the destruction and doom his people would face if he did not repent and turn towards the one true God. But he was unwilling, and hail and fire rained from the sky bringing destruction on Egypt. 

There is no one like the one true God, His power and might are unrivalled. But His mercy is greater still. He left the wheat untouched, Egypt’s main source of food, giving Pharaoh yet another chance to relent and turn to Him. 

8. The plague of locusts – the Egyptian god of storms and disorder (Seth)

Still, Pharaoh would not listen to the Lord, but this plague had an even greater purpose than all the others, it was to be felt so that Pharaoh would tell even “his sons and son’s sons” the mighty things of the Lord, teaching even future generations of the power of the “strong hand of God” over all the other Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Whatever crops that the Lord had spared were now wiped out. The writing of destruction was on the wall, but still, Pharaoh would not take heed. 

9. The plague of complete darkness – the Egyptian god of the sun (Ra) 

Darkness, the complete representation of death, hopelessness and judgement, now fell upon the entire land, as they were soon to experience the entire might of the Lord.

Ra, the most worshipped god, other than Pharaoh himself, could not bring light. Where the gods of mankind are powerless, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not. No one has control over the Heavens and the earth, but God. 

There is only one who can bring light in the darkness and His name is Jesus. All of creation, the entire bible narrative points towards Jesus. 

10. The plague of the firstborn – the ultimate power in Egypt (Pharaoh) 

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.  – Exodus 12:29-30

Pharaoh, considered to be the greatest Egyptian god of them all, believed to be the son of Ra himself, is brought to his knees. 

At this point, the passive obedience that the children of Israel have shown is now moved to a level of active obedience. They are given strict instructions to follow so that they do not also feel the judgment of this last plague sent by the Lord

Through each of the plagues, God was declaring that there is none like him. No other God would compete with Him for his people’s affection and attention. He is the God that made the heavens and the earth, He formed us from dust, and came down as the Son of man to set his people free once and for all. 

The ten plagues show his splendour, they show his power, but more than anything, they show His jealously for His people.