The ten wounds of Egypt, why this reaction of the Lord ?
Ten times, God through Moses allowed Pharaoh to change his mind, repent and turn to him, each time increasing the gravity of the conséquences of plagues in the face of his disobedience. Ten times Pharaoh, because of his pride, refuses to be taught by the Lord, and receives judgments by the plagues. By these acts the Lord shows that the Egyptian gods who are false gods have no power in front of his face. These plagues represented the fullness of the expression of justice and the judgments of God against a man (Pharaoh who oppressed the Israelites) but also against deities.
Definition
The ten wounds are the ten ways of acting from God in the face of the pride and the disbelief of Pharaoh. We can say that these are the misfortunes sent against Egypt following the stubbornness of Pharaoh.
Let’s examine these ten wounds
1- Exodus 7 : 19-25* Nile Water (Benefactor of Egypt) transformed into blood
The god ‘’ Hâpy ’of the Nile is a symbol of life and prosperity. This Egyptian God was a wearer of the water. The water transformed into blood was the first wound which was given to the Egyptians of God. Aaron struck the water from the Nile, by performing this act, it is this god of waters that he strikes.
Pharaoh’s magicians also transform water into blood, leaving Pharaoh not impressed by this. Seven days, the water throughout the earth of Egypt remained in this state ; the god carrying water could not do anything to change this, to make water drinking. Impossible to drink because even the water of the houses were infected, the perfect time to demonstrate that the Lord was greater than all the other gods of Egypt.
They were forced to dig wells to hope to find drinking water when they had drinking nile water for free. Salvation in Jesus Christ is free but many abandon it to seek other things elsewhere. The blood of Jesus is to justify those who believe but to condemn those who will not believe. Indeed there was a period in the year (June) when a red layer remained on the waters of the Nile and after its disappearance the water became drinking. Instead of the Lord’s work does the same thing, it is an infection of water, death because the beasts and fish died there.
2- Exodus 8 : 1-15 The frogs
Heket or hequet, goddess of fertility and water, had the head of a frog. The frogs came from the river and were in their homes, in their food, in their clothes, in all possible places. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to bring more frogs in their attempt to imitate the power of God, but only Moses was able to make the frogs disappear. It was another attack on a famous Egyptian goddess, Heket. In African cultures, it is a bad sign of receiving animals representing a deity at home and you should not hurt them, they will have to be given zom-koom (drink from the little millet) if they are birds, bees or a beast to go if they are carnivores (crocodiles, pyhthons).
But it will be the opposite in this case ; at the negotiation of Pharaoh, the frogs symbols of divinity died and were burned ; Sacrilege isn’t it ? When God sees that we are not flexible, they act harshly so that we know that what we rely on is perishable.
3- Exodus 8 : 16-19* Lice
The GEB God of Earth and Agriculture. Aaron struck the dust of the earth (this god of the earth). When he did, dust has become lice throughout the earth, on people and animals. The god of the earth could not prevent misfortune from the earth. The very dust that was mentioned in the process of man creation is now used to afflict men, as a reminder of mortality and sin that lead to death. Lice are parasites that transmit diseases and are annoying.
Pharaoh’s magicians were unable to compete with this power which was so much greater than them and the powers they had of their gods, and they profess : it is the finger of a God because they do not want to say it is the finger of God, a warning that a judgment happens.
4- Exodus 8 : 20-32 The various species of flies (poisonous flies and beetle)
Khepri, the god of hope, symbol of immortality had the head of a beetle.
Moses met Pharaoh in the Nile in the morning and made the request, speaking in the name of the Lord : « May my people go, so that he serves me ». Again, Pharaoh has hardened his heart and ignored the request, leading to a declaration of swarms of poisonous flies and beetles. The country has been devastated by these species. Pharaoh will try a new tactic and begins to negotiate with the Lord, showing his desire to maintain power and authority over God since he takes himself for God. He tries to dictate the conditions of the offer, telling them that they can sacrifice but only in the country, clearly not conforming to the request of three days of travel that the Lord needed. Moses did not move and Pharaoh returns to his decision by allowing them to leave, but telling them not to go very far. Acts 4 :111 Peter and John replied : Judge if it is right, before God, to obey you rather than God ; 20 because we cannot not talk about what we have seen and heard. This temporary allowance is made only so that Moses implores the Lord that the flies leave, at this stage, Pharaoh learned in part who is the Lord. As soon as the request is granted by the Lord, Pharaoh deny his promise and will not let them go, and continues to worship his Egyptian gods.
5- Exodus 9 : 1-7* The cow, the zoolatry
Hathor the goddess of love, protection, joy (milk) and beauty was represented with the head of a cow. Reason why the death of cattle. The Israelites ran a risk of sacrificing an animal representing an Egyptian deity (in India Christians are persecuted for consuming beef which they consider their gods). For some Caiman, python, fish or tree is a god. And the day he dies how do he do it ? Go looking for another and so on.
Moses again demanded Pharaoh to let the people leave, so that he can serve the Lord. Horses, donkeys, camels, oxen and sheep are dead. This plague affected Egypt by creating an enormous economic disaster, in the fields of food, transport, military supplies, agriculture produced by these cattle.
6- Exodus 9 : 8-12* Ulcers
The God of Medicine (Sciences) and Peace ; Thot. Educated by the Lord, Moses took ashes and threw them into the air. This shows the seriousness of the judgment of God who has now become personal. Cleanliness being essential in Egyptian society, this plague makes people impure. The magicians who were seen throughout the previous plagues are unable to perform ceremonious rituals to their gods in this impure state, not even allowing them to stand in front of Pharaoh. Only Moses and Aaron remained standing in front of Pharaoh with the « True God » as their support. If the king was not touched, it was to recognize the mercy of God but alas. Hot the god of healing could not heal anyone even one, not even his magicians.
7- Exodus 9 : 13-35 hail
The God of Heaven, Horus, of the protection of the monarchy had a sun eye (for the day) and a moon eye (for the night). However, it is from heaven that the hail will come because the God of heaven should be able to prevent him from descending. The Lord, showing Pharaoh that there are none like him, allows those who are ready to hear his word, and do what he commands, to be saved. Cultures destroyed by hail consisted in linen and barley, which matured in the fields. These two particular cultures were not the pillar of their diet, but were used more specifically for their clothes and libations. Their destruction made their lives uncomfortable, but with regard to their food supply, wheat has always survived. This gave the Egyptians yet another chance to turn to « the only true God », and abandon their idols, thus showing his mercy and his grace.
8- Exodus 10 : 1-15 Les Sauterelles
Set, the god of storms, troubles, violence, disorder, war and chaos (a famous god). Faced with the storm god, it is the wind that will bring this scourge. This time what comes is not common to Egypt, the ravage of the grasshoppers was more for the countries of the East. But there Egypt will be a victim. For a long time in Ouargaye there was evangelization at the market. When they started typing the goumbé (a kind of tamtam), the strong man came to prevent them from preaching. They didn’t say anything. But the next day at dawn, he was dead. If God is patient it is by grace.
Sauterelles sent from heaven, still Pharaoh would not listen to the Lord’s message, he always relies on his gods. The eighth scourge emitted by the Lord had an even greater goal than all the others, the powerful things of the Lord had to be taught even to future generations of the power of the « strong hand of God » in Egypt. Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh with the same request : « Let my people go for him to serve me. This is the second wave of destruction to follow hail. The crops were left intact after this scourge were now completely consumed by the swarms of locusts that were unleashed from the sky. By hitting them in their food supply, the Lord has shown the possibility of an eminent death if a change of heart did not occur. Yet again, Pharaoh would not listen to.
Pharaoh decides that it is only the men who must go and serve the Lord but Moses refused and told him that men, women and children are involved. If it passed we would see teachings that tell us that the salvation of women and children depends on man or that it is the only man who must pray for his house. Yet if the man prays for his family, the woman and the children must also pray for him. Often it’s complicated because it’s only one who’s all about him : in some cases it’s man, in others it’s the woman or in the worst case of children.
Another thing is that if men abandoned their families to adore, their hearts would not be totally for God. But when they leave with everything, their thoughts are no longer elsewhere. Does the Bible not say that where your treasure is located is where your heart is.
9- Exodus 10 : 21-23* The darkness
Ra The Sun God was responsible for bringing deliverance. But the Lord will make it three days of complete darkness. The darkness has now fallen on Egypt, unexpectedly, as a prelude to the future fate ; if the Sun God cannot bring light his existence is in vain. He cannot lead darkness to light. Three days of the palpable darkness covered the land of Egypt. The sun, the most adored God in Egypt other than Pharaoh himself, has not given light. The Lord has shown that he had control of the sun. Darkness was a representation of death, judgment and despair. If despite despair he did not return to the Lord God, death is imminent.
10-Expos 11-12 Death first born Liberation of the people
We do not touch the son of a king with impunity. Even if he had to be corrected, it is the father who decides. Israel was chosen as the first born of God. And even when it allowed certain nations to act against him, he punished them later.
Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, was loved by the Egyptians because he was considered the greatest Egyptian God of all. Pharaoh resumed his negotiation position with the Lord and offered Moses another agreement. Since practically all Egyptian animals had been consumed by the Lord’s judgment, Pharaoh has now consented to the request made, to let people go, but they must leave their animals behind. It was a completely unacceptable offer because animals had to be used as a sacrifice to the Lord. The Lord is without compromise.
Ainsi dit le Seigneur, vers minuit, je vais sortir au milieu de l’Égypte : et tous les premiers-nés du pays d’Égypte mourront, du premier-né de Pharaon qui s’assoit sur son trône, même au premier-né de la servante qui se trouve derrière le moulin ; And all the firstborn of animals. And there will be a big cry throughout the country of Egypt, as there was not as it will no longer be like that. At this stage, 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 also do not feel the judgment of this last plague sent by the Lord. These instructions are known as the Passover feast, the feast of bread without leaven and the law of the firstborn.
CONCLUSION
Representatives of other gods can show great power but only God is master of everything, everything obeys him. The Lord can send a scourge in order to correct those who rebel against him. God chose a people to reveal himself to Egypt at the time but also beyond. If we can believe in what claims to receive a single man (Muhammad) as revelation (Islam), how we can not believe in the testimony of a whole people (Israel) and of which Egypt was witness.