Reading: Exodus 10:21-29
The most important god worshipped by the Egyptians is Amon-Re who, they say, created and maintains all things. His face is the sun and Pharaoh is his incarnation. Amon-Re blesses the earth with life giving light and warmth. Egypt completely depends on him.
So far God sent eight plagues; eight times he attacked their gods. He warned Egyptians to only serve the One God, but there was no repentance. So the One God brings total darkness for three days. It is a plague with divine wisdom: first it shows the absolute futility of faith in Amon-Re; with just one word from God Amon-Re’s light goes out. Secondly God shows the consequence of worshiping the idols: complete darkness. Darkness in the Bible often represents spiritual blindness and despair. Those who reject God “see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish” (Isaiah 8:22) and “They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness” (Psalm 82:5).
Darkness is also God’s punishment for rebellion and unbelief. Psalm 107:10-11 “Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons – because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High”. In Matthew 8:12 Jesus refers to the unbelievers in Israel and says “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The plague of darkness warns not only the Egyptians but all people, also today. But thankfully God not only warns, He also offers release from darkness. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Let us therefore follow Jesus and obey Him, not like Pharaoh who obeyed reluctantly and just a little, but willingly and completely.
Key text: Ex 10:22-23 “there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”
Question: Ephesians 5:8 says “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” What gifts do we receive from Jesus Christ so that we can walk as children of light?