Day 16: Exodus 6-10

Exodus 6: God's Comfort and the Genealogy of Moses' Family 

[Summary]

Moses' first attempt to liberate Israel ended in failure. However, God reminded Moses of the covenant with Abraham and gave him hope, as he complained about Him. God reminded Moses of the covenant with Abraham and told him that He would surely save the Israelites from Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land. This was something He had promised before, something He had revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the forefathers of Israel (verses 1-13). Then, He suddenly mentioned the genealogy of Moses and Aaron (verses 14-30). This was to show God's faithfulness in leading and saving His people from generation to generation. It was also to let the Israelites know the identity of the faith called to the covenant community. In other words, the God who now entrusts Moses with the mission of liberating Israel is not another God, but the very God who has been with their ancestors since the beginning.

In Exodus 5:22, Moses went to God in despair and hopelessness. This appearance of Moses shows us where souls in despair can go. It is right before God. In this chapter, we can see that God met Moses by remembering his assurance and covenant. The Almighty God now met Moses as Jehovah God through his person.

Exodus 7: Pharaoh's stubbornness that brought disaster 

[Summary]

Moses, who received comfort from God, goes before Pharaoh again and begins the ministry of salvation for the Israelites. However, it was by no means easy. In this chapter, a full-scale debate between Moses and Pharaoh and God's judgment on Egypt begin. Moses goes before Pharaoh again and demands the liberation of Israel. After having been frustrated by his previous failures, he regains his courage and shows his courage as a missionary again in front of Pharaoh, empowered by God's boldness (verses 1-7). However, the stubborn Pharaoh did not listen to Moses. Then Moses showed a miracle of a staff turning into a snake. This was a miracle that God had given him in advance, foreseeing that he would not easily obey (verses 8-13). However, God brought a disaster through Moses that turned all the waters of Egypt into blood, as Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses. God's justice, which brought disaster upon the people of a stubborn nation through the king of that nation, had begun (verses 14-15). These disasters are intended to demonstrate God’s power over all things.

God called Moses, who was in despair, and assured him that He would be with him. Moses, who gained strength, went to Pharaoh and predicted God’s great disaster. The confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh begins in earnest from this chapter. Aaron’s staff turned into a snake and swallowed the snakes of the magicians, and God actively revealed Himself by striking the river and turning the water into blood.

Exodus 8: Frogs, Lice, and Flies 

[Summary]

 Pharaoh, who had already become hardened and arrogant before God, did not listen to Moses' request even after seeing the disaster. This chapter records the full-scale disasters that God brought upon Egypt. The second disaster that was brought upon Egypt was a swarm of frogs (verses 1-15). However, Pharaoh, who refused to listen, was struck by a swarm of lice (verses 16-19). Finally, when the fourth disaster, a swarm of flies, came, Pharaoh granted Moses' request. However, when the swarm of flies retreated through Moses' prayer, Pharaoh broke his promise and did not let the people go (verses 20-32). Pharaoh, the absolute monarch, shows one aspect of a stubborn and selfish human being. Pharaoh's stubbornness and the vicious cycle of disasters shown in this chapter contain the intention to further emphasize God's power.

God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him whether he would let the Israelites go or suffer an even more severe disaster. However, Pharaoh refused to bend his will to God. Baro stubbornly resisted God and hardened his heart. He seemed ready to submit to God's calamities, but his heart hardened again and again and he refused to obey God.

Exodus 9: Boils, boils, and hail 

[Summary]

This chapter records the ongoing plagues of God. The fifth plague that fell on Egypt was a severe plague that killed all the livestock in Egypt. However, the livestock of Israel did not die (verses 1-7). The sixth plague spread throughout the country, tormenting people and animals (verses 8-12), and the seventh was a great hailstorm that destroyed people, livestock, and all the plants in the fields. When the situation reached this point, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, became anxious and granted Moses’ request. However, when the plague stopped, Pharaoh broke his promise again. He also shows the contrasting human attitudes when he is in a hurry and when he is relaxed (verses 13-35). Unlike the previous chapter, this chapter shows that the plagues reached even the lives in Egypt, and especially shows God’s grace that the plagues were different from Egypt and did not reach the land of Goshen where Israel was.

Moses again asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Moses told Pharaoh that if Pharaoh refused, the hand of the Lord would bring evil diseases on the livestock of the Egyptians, including horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep. He also said that there would be a plague of boils and a plague of hail. The hail would be the most terrifying judgment in Egyptian history.

Exodus 10: Plague of Locusts and Plague of Darkness

[Summary]

This chapter records the eighth and ninth plagues that continued. In particular, this chapter mentions the reason why God hardened Pharaoh's heart despite the continued plagues. It was to show signs to Egypt and the Israelites so that they would know God's power. God continued to send the plague of locusts for the eighth time. However, this time, Pharaoh broke his covenant with Moses and did not let the Israelites go after the locusts disappeared. Although he seemed to repent in a time of need, Pharaoh still showed the appearance of a human being who had not yet been reborn (verses 1-20). Then God sent a plague that covered the entire land of Egypt in darkness for three days. The severity and intensity of the plague gradually increased (verses 21-29).

God's power was revealed more and more strongly as the plagues continued. Some of the plagues clearly targeted the objects of worship of the Egyptians. The plague of locusts and darkness that appears in this chapter can also be seen from the same perspective. Fear covers all of Egypt because God's strong hand has struck Egypt. However, Pharaoh's heart has become even more hardened.