Exodus 7 and 8 lesson
Studies in Exodus
TOPIC: The First Judgment Upon Egypt
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 7
MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 7:12
Lesson 7 Exodus 7
INTRODUCTION: In this chapter the battle begins between the Lord God of Israel and the false gods of the Egyptian religion. From chapter 7 to chapter 12, ten judgments are brought upon the nation of Egypt until, at last, Pharaoh lets the children of Israel leave Egypt. There are several purposes behind God sending these ten plagues:
1) they gave a public testimony of the power and might of the true and living God (Exodus 9:16; 8:19)
2) they were a punishment upon the Egyptians for their cruel treatment of the children of Israel (Exodus 10;15-17)
3) they were a judgment from God upon the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12)
In this chapter we see the first of these judgments brought upon Egypt:
I MOSES AND AARON STANDING BEFORE GOD v 1-9
A. The Lord answers Moses’ objection about speaking to Pharaoh v 1-2 These verses are a continuation of the conversation between the Lord and Moses found in the last few verses of chapter 6. (Exodus 6:28-30) The Lord had made feeble Moses as a “god” to Pharaoh. Acting as God’s representative, Moses would rule over Egypt’s proud king, commanding him what he should do and punishing him when he did wrong. Aaron would be Moses’ mouth-piece and Moses would give him the words he was to say. This is one of the best definitions you will find of a “prophet.” A “prophet” is simply one who speaks for God just as Aaron got his words from Moses and spoke for him. (Exodus 4:15-16; II Timothy 2:2)
B. These judgments will prove to the Egyptians that God is “the Lord” v 3-5 God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in that it was God who was applying the fiery trial to Pharaoh’s heart. When the heat is applied to a heart that is soft and obedient, that heart will melt with compliance. But, when the heat is applied to a stone cold heart, it only gets harder. This was the case with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh’s heart only got harder. (Romans 9:18; Hebrews 3:8, 13)
C. Moses and Aaron obey the Lord and go into the presence of Pharaoh again v 6-9 Moses was now “fourscore” (80) years old and Aaron was 83. God told them that Pharaoh would want proof that God had sent them. Moses’ rod would provide that proof by turning into a serpent. (John 4:48; Luke 11:29-30)
II MOSES AND AARON STANDING BEFORE PHARAOH v 10-13
A. Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and Aaron cast down the rod which became a serpent v 10 The serpent was a symbol of the Egyptian goddess of the south called Nechebt. The worship of the serpent was very prominent in Egypt in those days, and is the first Egyptian god against which God delivers a blow.
B. Pharaoh calls in his magicians to turn their rods into serpents v 11-13 These magicians of Egypt duplicated the miracle done by Moses and Aaron. The devil is a powerful adversary. If he has the power to transport the Lord Jesus from the wilderness to the temple at Jerusalem, and then show Him all the kingdoms of this world “in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5), then he would have no problem transforming rods into serpents. BUT, God is greater than the devil for Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians. (I John 4:4; Romans 8:31, 37)
NOTE: The Bible tells us that two of these magicians’ names were Jannes and Jambres. (II Timothy 3:8)
III PHARAOH STANDING BEFORE GOD v 14-25
A. The Lord instructs Moses and Aaron to go again before Pharaoh v 14-19 This would be the third time that Moses and Aaron had appeared before Pharaoh demanding Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 5:1; 7:10) Pharaoh would refuse to let them go which would bring about the first judgment upon the land of Egypt - the water would be turned to blood.
NOTE: The Egyptians worshiped the Nile River as a god. The Nile River was portrayed as Hapi, a fat man with the breasts of a woman which indicated the powers of fertility and nourishment. This river was the life-blood of Egypt but it was about to become judged of God.
B. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded and the river and all waters in Egypt became blood v 20-21 Egypt is a dry, barren area and without water, the land and people would soon become parched in the hot sun. The Egyptian god of the Nile River could not stand up against the true and living God. (Revelation 16:3-7)
C. The magicians of Egypt also turned water into blood v 22-25 Pharaoh again was not convinced that it was the Lord Who had sent this judgment because his magicians were able to duplicate the plague. But, the magicians were powerless to change the blood back into pure water. By changing the water into blood, all these magicians did was make matters worse. For seven days the Egyptians roasted in the heat of the Egyptian desert with no water. (John 7:37-38)
TEACHERS’ TIP: THE DEVIL IS WILLING FOR A PERSON TO PROFESS CHRISTIANITY AS LONG AS HE DOES NOT PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY.
NEXT MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 8:32
Studies in Exodus
TOPIC: The Second, Third, and Fourth
Plagues Upon Egypt
SCRIPTURE: Exodus
MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 8:32
Lesson 8 Exodus 8
INTRODUCTION: In this chapter the Lord continues His battle with the false gods of the Egyptian religion. Having already turned the Nile River into blood for seven days, the Lord sends Moses and Aaron back into Pharaoh’s court to again demand the release of the children of Israel. Pharaoh again hardens his heart and the Lord sends more plagues upon the land of Egypt. Here we see THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH PLAGUES UPON EGYPT.
I THE SECOND PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 1-15
A. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh v 1-5 Pharaoh has been given seven days worth of opportunity to repent and let the children of Israel go, yet he has hardened his heart and refused to obey the Lord. Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh of the frogs that God will send upon the land of Egypt if he does not let the Hebrews go.
NOTE: The “frog” was an object of worship to the Egyptians. They were the representatives of a frog-headed goddess named Heka, one of the oldest mother goddesses in the Egyptian religion. This frog-headed goddess was worshiped as the goddess of fertility and rebirth. Frogs, in the Bible, are used to symbolize the powers of evil and represent uncleanness. (Revelation 16:13)
B. Pharaoh refused to let the people go, so Aaron waved his rod and frogs came upon the land of Egypt v 6-7 Frogs covered the entire land of Egypt. When people walked, they stepped on frogs; when they sat, they sat on frogs; when they went to bed, they went to bed with frogs. The Egyptians held these frogs as sacred in their religion, so they could not try to kill them. These frogs were ugly, smelly, slimy, nasty, disgusting, and loud with their croaking. Pharaoh’s magicians could not stop the frogs nor get rid of them. All they could do was send more frogs. Thus, it has always been with the devil. He is unable to stop the evil he has brought upon God’s creation. All he can do is produce more wickedness. (John 8:44; I John 3:8)
C. Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron to ask the Lord to take away the frogs v 8-11 Pharaoh promises to let the children of Israel go, if the Lord will only get rid of the frogs. The Egyptian frog goddess, Heka, was unable to stand up against the true and living God. When Moses asked Pharaoh when he wanted him to get rid of the frogs, Pharaoh answered “tomorrow.” (v 10) Pharaoh is like so many sinners today who plan to give up their uncleanness, their sin, but they want to live for one more night with the “frogs” (Acts 24:25; II Corinthians 6:2; Proverbs 27:1)
D. When Pharaoh saw that the plague of frogs was ended, he changed his mind and refused to let the children of Israel go v 12-15 RESPITE (v 15) - “a temporary intermission from suffering; a time of relief” The dead frogs were thrown into huge piles, and their rotting bodies cause the land of Egypt to stink. Pharaoh, apparently, thought that now he had things back under his control, but there were eight plagues yet to come. (I Thessalonians 5:3; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)
II THE THIRD PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 16-19
A. Moses told Aaron to wave the rod of God and bring up lice upon Egypt v 16-17 LICE (v 16) - “tiny parasitic insects that live on animals, plants or food” This plague came upon the land of Egypt with no previous warning. Suddenly, the dust of the ground sprang to life in the form of loathsome, annoying parasitic bugs. With piles of stinking frogs covering the land, there was already much food for these lice to eat. Everyone in the land of Egypt became infested with these annoying insects. The priests, who served in the temples of the Egyptian religion, had to guard against even the slightest contamination. They normally wore only linen garments and shaved their heads every third day to keep from polluting the temples of their false gods. Since everyone was infested with lice, no Egyptian could enter any temple until the plague of lice was ended. This was a sore rebuke of their pride. The Egyptian earth god called Geb was unable to stand up against the true and living God.
B. Pharaoh’s magicians had to admit that the lice were sent by God v 18-19 The magicians tried to bring forth lice, but they could not do it. They were forced into admitting that God’s finger had brought about this plague. These are the last recorded words in the Bible from these magicians. These magicians made no further efforts to oppose Moses and Aaron, but Pharaoh still resisted. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, just as Pharaoh’s magicians had to concede that God was mightier than their gods. (Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:22-23)
III THE FOURTH PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 20-32
A. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh v 20-23 This is now the fifth time that Moses and Aaron had demanded Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 5:1; 7:10; 7:15; 8:1) This time Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh about a plague of flies upon the land, if he does not let the Hebrews go. Up until this time the plagues had affected both the lands of Egypt, and Goshen where the children of Israel lived. Many of Pharaoh’s advisors were probably telling him that, since Goshen was also affected by the plagues, there must be a natural explanation. But from now on, God would make a division between His own people and the Egyptians. (Leviticus 20;24; II Corinthians 6:17)
B. The Lord sends swarms of flies upon the land of Egypt v 24 This plague was designed to destroy the Egyptian people’s trust in the fly-god called Beelzebub, who they believed was their protector from the swarms of ravenous flies which usually came upon the land during the hottest days of the year. This plague had to do with tormenting of the bodies of the Egyptians, thus picturing the eternal tormenting of the lost in the lake of fire. In this the people of God will have no part. The Egyptian fly-god, Beelzebub, could not stand up against the true and living God. (Psalm 78:45)
C. Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron to ask the Lord to take away the swarms of flies v 25-29 Pharaoh says he will let the children of Israel go, but he tires to get Moses to make two compromises with him:
1) “Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land” (v 25) - This is the same compromise that Satan tries to get Christians to make today. The devil says, “you can still serve the Lord and the world,” but the Word of God says (Luke 16:13) - “No servant can serve two masters. . .” Moses answers Pharaoh by stating that since the Egyptians despised shepherds they would also despise the sacrifice of the lamb in the land of Egypt. (Genesis 46:34)
2) `”Ye shall not go very far away” (v 28) - Satan tires to get Christians to make this compromise also today. The devil says, “you don’t have to be a fanatic about this Christianity,” but the Word of God says (II Corinthians 6:17) - “Come out from among them. . .” Moses will not compromise with Pharaoh, and warns Pharaoh not to be deceitful any more about letting the children of Israel go.
D. Moses asked the Lord to take away the plague of flies from the Egyptians v 30-32 God took away every fly from the nation of Egypt, and as soon as the plague was over, Pharaoh once again hardened his heart and changed his mind.
TEACHERS’ TIP: YOU CAN’T WAIT UPON THE LORD AND RUN WITH THE DEVIL AT THE SAME TIME.
NEXT MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 9:27
TOPIC: The First Judgment Upon Egypt
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 7
MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 7:12
Lesson 7 Exodus 7
INTRODUCTION: In this chapter the battle begins between the Lord God of Israel and the false gods of the Egyptian religion. From chapter 7 to chapter 12, ten judgments are brought upon the nation of Egypt until, at last, Pharaoh lets the children of Israel leave Egypt. There are several purposes behind God sending these ten plagues:
1) they gave a public testimony of the power and might of the true and living God (Exodus 9:16; 8:19)
2) they were a punishment upon the Egyptians for their cruel treatment of the children of Israel (Exodus 10;15-17)
3) they were a judgment from God upon the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12)
In this chapter we see the first of these judgments brought upon Egypt:
I MOSES AND AARON STANDING BEFORE GOD v 1-9
A. The Lord answers Moses’ objection about speaking to Pharaoh v 1-2 These verses are a continuation of the conversation between the Lord and Moses found in the last few verses of chapter 6. (Exodus 6:28-30) The Lord had made feeble Moses as a “god” to Pharaoh. Acting as God’s representative, Moses would rule over Egypt’s proud king, commanding him what he should do and punishing him when he did wrong. Aaron would be Moses’ mouth-piece and Moses would give him the words he was to say. This is one of the best definitions you will find of a “prophet.” A “prophet” is simply one who speaks for God just as Aaron got his words from Moses and spoke for him. (Exodus 4:15-16; II Timothy 2:2)
B. These judgments will prove to the Egyptians that God is “the Lord” v 3-5 God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in that it was God who was applying the fiery trial to Pharaoh’s heart. When the heat is applied to a heart that is soft and obedient, that heart will melt with compliance. But, when the heat is applied to a stone cold heart, it only gets harder. This was the case with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh’s heart only got harder. (Romans 9:18; Hebrews 3:8, 13)
C. Moses and Aaron obey the Lord and go into the presence of Pharaoh again v 6-9 Moses was now “fourscore” (80) years old and Aaron was 83. God told them that Pharaoh would want proof that God had sent them. Moses’ rod would provide that proof by turning into a serpent. (John 4:48; Luke 11:29-30)
II MOSES AND AARON STANDING BEFORE PHARAOH v 10-13
A. Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and Aaron cast down the rod which became a serpent v 10 The serpent was a symbol of the Egyptian goddess of the south called Nechebt. The worship of the serpent was very prominent in Egypt in those days, and is the first Egyptian god against which God delivers a blow.
B. Pharaoh calls in his magicians to turn their rods into serpents v 11-13 These magicians of Egypt duplicated the miracle done by Moses and Aaron. The devil is a powerful adversary. If he has the power to transport the Lord Jesus from the wilderness to the temple at Jerusalem, and then show Him all the kingdoms of this world “in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5), then he would have no problem transforming rods into serpents. BUT, God is greater than the devil for Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians. (I John 4:4; Romans 8:31, 37)
NOTE: The Bible tells us that two of these magicians’ names were Jannes and Jambres. (II Timothy 3:8)
III PHARAOH STANDING BEFORE GOD v 14-25
A. The Lord instructs Moses and Aaron to go again before Pharaoh v 14-19 This would be the third time that Moses and Aaron had appeared before Pharaoh demanding Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 5:1; 7:10) Pharaoh would refuse to let them go which would bring about the first judgment upon the land of Egypt - the water would be turned to blood.
NOTE: The Egyptians worshiped the Nile River as a god. The Nile River was portrayed as Hapi, a fat man with the breasts of a woman which indicated the powers of fertility and nourishment. This river was the life-blood of Egypt but it was about to become judged of God.
B. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded and the river and all waters in Egypt became blood v 20-21 Egypt is a dry, barren area and without water, the land and people would soon become parched in the hot sun. The Egyptian god of the Nile River could not stand up against the true and living God. (Revelation 16:3-7)
C. The magicians of Egypt also turned water into blood v 22-25 Pharaoh again was not convinced that it was the Lord Who had sent this judgment because his magicians were able to duplicate the plague. But, the magicians were powerless to change the blood back into pure water. By changing the water into blood, all these magicians did was make matters worse. For seven days the Egyptians roasted in the heat of the Egyptian desert with no water. (John 7:37-38)
TEACHERS’ TIP: THE DEVIL IS WILLING FOR A PERSON TO PROFESS CHRISTIANITY AS LONG AS HE DOES NOT PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY.
NEXT MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 8:32
Studies in Exodus
TOPIC: The Second, Third, and Fourth
Plagues Upon Egypt
SCRIPTURE: Exodus
MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 8:32
Lesson 8 Exodus 8
INTRODUCTION: In this chapter the Lord continues His battle with the false gods of the Egyptian religion. Having already turned the Nile River into blood for seven days, the Lord sends Moses and Aaron back into Pharaoh’s court to again demand the release of the children of Israel. Pharaoh again hardens his heart and the Lord sends more plagues upon the land of Egypt. Here we see THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH PLAGUES UPON EGYPT.
I THE SECOND PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 1-15
A. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh v 1-5 Pharaoh has been given seven days worth of opportunity to repent and let the children of Israel go, yet he has hardened his heart and refused to obey the Lord. Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh of the frogs that God will send upon the land of Egypt if he does not let the Hebrews go.
NOTE: The “frog” was an object of worship to the Egyptians. They were the representatives of a frog-headed goddess named Heka, one of the oldest mother goddesses in the Egyptian religion. This frog-headed goddess was worshiped as the goddess of fertility and rebirth. Frogs, in the Bible, are used to symbolize the powers of evil and represent uncleanness. (Revelation 16:13)
B. Pharaoh refused to let the people go, so Aaron waved his rod and frogs came upon the land of Egypt v 6-7 Frogs covered the entire land of Egypt. When people walked, they stepped on frogs; when they sat, they sat on frogs; when they went to bed, they went to bed with frogs. The Egyptians held these frogs as sacred in their religion, so they could not try to kill them. These frogs were ugly, smelly, slimy, nasty, disgusting, and loud with their croaking. Pharaoh’s magicians could not stop the frogs nor get rid of them. All they could do was send more frogs. Thus, it has always been with the devil. He is unable to stop the evil he has brought upon God’s creation. All he can do is produce more wickedness. (John 8:44; I John 3:8)
C. Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron to ask the Lord to take away the frogs v 8-11 Pharaoh promises to let the children of Israel go, if the Lord will only get rid of the frogs. The Egyptian frog goddess, Heka, was unable to stand up against the true and living God. When Moses asked Pharaoh when he wanted him to get rid of the frogs, Pharaoh answered “tomorrow.” (v 10) Pharaoh is like so many sinners today who plan to give up their uncleanness, their sin, but they want to live for one more night with the “frogs” (Acts 24:25; II Corinthians 6:2; Proverbs 27:1)
D. When Pharaoh saw that the plague of frogs was ended, he changed his mind and refused to let the children of Israel go v 12-15 RESPITE (v 15) - “a temporary intermission from suffering; a time of relief” The dead frogs were thrown into huge piles, and their rotting bodies cause the land of Egypt to stink. Pharaoh, apparently, thought that now he had things back under his control, but there were eight plagues yet to come. (I Thessalonians 5:3; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)
II THE THIRD PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 16-19
A. Moses told Aaron to wave the rod of God and bring up lice upon Egypt v 16-17 LICE (v 16) - “tiny parasitic insects that live on animals, plants or food” This plague came upon the land of Egypt with no previous warning. Suddenly, the dust of the ground sprang to life in the form of loathsome, annoying parasitic bugs. With piles of stinking frogs covering the land, there was already much food for these lice to eat. Everyone in the land of Egypt became infested with these annoying insects. The priests, who served in the temples of the Egyptian religion, had to guard against even the slightest contamination. They normally wore only linen garments and shaved their heads every third day to keep from polluting the temples of their false gods. Since everyone was infested with lice, no Egyptian could enter any temple until the plague of lice was ended. This was a sore rebuke of their pride. The Egyptian earth god called Geb was unable to stand up against the true and living God.
B. Pharaoh’s magicians had to admit that the lice were sent by God v 18-19 The magicians tried to bring forth lice, but they could not do it. They were forced into admitting that God’s finger had brought about this plague. These are the last recorded words in the Bible from these magicians. These magicians made no further efforts to oppose Moses and Aaron, but Pharaoh still resisted. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, just as Pharaoh’s magicians had to concede that God was mightier than their gods. (Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:22-23)
III THE FOURTH PLAGUE UPON EGYPT v 20-32
A. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh v 20-23 This is now the fifth time that Moses and Aaron had demanded Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. (Exodus 5:1; 7:10; 7:15; 8:1) This time Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh about a plague of flies upon the land, if he does not let the Hebrews go. Up until this time the plagues had affected both the lands of Egypt, and Goshen where the children of Israel lived. Many of Pharaoh’s advisors were probably telling him that, since Goshen was also affected by the plagues, there must be a natural explanation. But from now on, God would make a division between His own people and the Egyptians. (Leviticus 20;24; II Corinthians 6:17)
B. The Lord sends swarms of flies upon the land of Egypt v 24 This plague was designed to destroy the Egyptian people’s trust in the fly-god called Beelzebub, who they believed was their protector from the swarms of ravenous flies which usually came upon the land during the hottest days of the year. This plague had to do with tormenting of the bodies of the Egyptians, thus picturing the eternal tormenting of the lost in the lake of fire. In this the people of God will have no part. The Egyptian fly-god, Beelzebub, could not stand up against the true and living God. (Psalm 78:45)
C. Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron to ask the Lord to take away the swarms of flies v 25-29 Pharaoh says he will let the children of Israel go, but he tires to get Moses to make two compromises with him:
1) “Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land” (v 25) - This is the same compromise that Satan tries to get Christians to make today. The devil says, “you can still serve the Lord and the world,” but the Word of God says (Luke 16:13) - “No servant can serve two masters. . .” Moses answers Pharaoh by stating that since the Egyptians despised shepherds they would also despise the sacrifice of the lamb in the land of Egypt. (Genesis 46:34)
2) `”Ye shall not go very far away” (v 28) - Satan tires to get Christians to make this compromise also today. The devil says, “you don’t have to be a fanatic about this Christianity,” but the Word of God says (II Corinthians 6:17) - “Come out from among them. . .” Moses will not compromise with Pharaoh, and warns Pharaoh not to be deceitful any more about letting the children of Israel go.
D. Moses asked the Lord to take away the plague of flies from the Egyptians v 30-32 God took away every fly from the nation of Egypt, and as soon as the plague was over, Pharaoh once again hardened his heart and changed his mind.
TEACHERS’ TIP: YOU CAN’T WAIT UPON THE LORD AND RUN WITH THE DEVIL AT THE SAME TIME.
NEXT MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 9:27
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