from WL Worcester (H Blackmer, ed.), 
The Sower.  Helps to the Study of the Bible in Home and Sunday School
 
(Boston: Massachusetts New-Church Union, n.d.)

Table of Contents
 

 

Lesson 37

Exodus 9: Plagues of Egypt

The Story

Primary and Junior

What signs had the Lord given Moses power to do, when He appeared to him at the burning bush? What had the Lord told him to take in his hand with which to do signs? (Exod. 4:1-17) You can read in Exod. 7:8-25 how two of these signs were done before Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but they were not willing to let the people go.

The story says that the magicians did the same by their enchantments. We remember in the days of Joseph, when Pharaoh had the dream about the kine and the ears of grain, that he "sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof"; but they could not interpret the dream. (Gen. 41:8; see also Dan. 2:2) These were people who studied the learning handed down from long ago, about spiritual things, but with an evil purpose. They were able to do signs by a power from the other world; but it was an evil power and wholly different from the Lord's power which was with Moses. Aaron's rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians, and some of the signs done by Moses and Aaron the magicians could not do at all.

In reading about the turning of the water into blood, we remember how all the water of Egypt is from the Nile and its branches and canals, and the reservoirs which are filled at the inundation, for watering the land. We think also of the jars which they fill at the river and carry to their houses. Another plague brought frogs; and another brought lice, but this the magicians could not do. There came next a very grievous murrain - a deadly disease - upon all the animals; and after that, boils upon animals and people. A terrible storm with lightning and hail then fell upon the land of Egypt, where even a shower of rain was rare, which killed plants and animals and people. It was the first month of spring, when the crops had been growing in the fields and orchards all winter. Barley, which is an early grain, was in the ear; flax was bolled, forming its seed pods, or was still in flower. (Revised Version margin.) The wheat was later and had not yet grown tall, and also the spelt, a grain much like wheat. This, and not rye, seems to be the grain that is meant. Read the story of the hail. (Exod. 9:13-35) Next the land was overrun by locusts, the large brown grasshoppers which came in clouds darkening the sun and stripping the earth of every green blade and leaf. Then there was darkness for three days, and one last plague, when in one night the firstborn of all the people and cattle died in every Egyptian home.

In all these plagues the children of Israel were safe, and they learned more and more to trust the power of the Lord. And had the plagues changed Pharaoh's mind? More than once when he was in trouble he said that he would let the people go, but when the plague was taken away he again refused. How easy it is to promise and to make good resolutions when we are frightened or in trouble, and to forget them when the trouble is gone! But gradually Pharaoh yielded. He said that they might sacrifice in the land (Exod. 8:25); then that they might go if they would not go very far (28). He said that they might go, but might not take their children with them (Exod. 10:8-11); then that the children might go, but not the flocks and herds (24); but at last he bade them go with their children and flocks and all (Exod. 12:21-33). And the Egyptians gave them presents and were glad to have them gone (34-36). "Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them." (Ps. 105:38)

1. Read carefully Psalm 105:17-38, and see if you can follow this story of the children of Israel in Egypt.

2. How many plagues came upon the Egyptians? What were they in their order?

3. Who were the magicians?

4. What was the effect of the plagues on Pharaoh?

Spiritual Study

Intermediate

Remind me what spiritual bondage is, and who the Moses is who sets us free.

What can the plagues of Egypt mean in our spiritual experience of coming out from bondage? What is the first thing that the Lord must do to make us willing to give up selfish and evil ways and to follow His ways? He must help us to see the evilness and hatefulness of the life that we are in. This is represented by the plagues upon the Egyptians. They were not arbitrary punishments, but were the evil states of the Egyptians (and others whom they represent) made visible before their eyes. In the other world the quality of people's lives is made visible in such outward ways. Compare the plagues upon the Philistines described in 1 Sam. 5 and 6, and the signs described in Rev. 8. (A. 7273)

In regard to the magicians, and why they were allowed to do signs like those done by Moses and Aaron, read interesting things in A. 7296, 7298 end.

It is several times said in the story, that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. It is one of the many things in the Bible which are expressed according to the way that people think and speak. Really the Lord does everything to lead people to be obedient and to do what is right. In some places it is plainly said according to the real truth, that Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and that he sinned in doing so. (Exod. 8:15, 32; 9:34; A. 7032)

What particular evil state is represented by the destructive hail? Gentle rain from heaven is like teaching from the Lord, which makes life beautiful and fruitful. (Deut. 32:1-2; Isa. 55:10-11) The deadly hail represents not truth from heaven, but teachings and assertions that are false which an evil mind uses to excuses its evil and to destroy the tender things of conscience and of heaven. Gentle affections are the good animals destroyed. True heavenly thoughts are the plants which are crushed down. The fire that came with the hail and "ran down to the earth" represents the low and evil loves which inspire the false teachings. (A. 7553, 7575)

The wheat and spelt were safe from the hail because they were not yet grown up, while the earlier barley and flax were destroyed. The barley and flax represent more external forms of goodness and truth, which are sooner developed, and which suffer harm when we fall into evil states. But there are many possibilities of heavenly affection and thought that are not yet developed, which the Lord in His providence keeps safely hidden, that He may bring them out and give us the enjoyment of them when we have turned away from evil and can be trusted with these precious things. (A. 7600, 7607)

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