The Ten Plagues

Masters open your Bibles to Exodus. The second book in the Old Testament. Exodus chapter 7 were thinking of the plagues of Egypt is not very user-friendly as it was the pastor preaching on tonight's preaching on the plagues of Israel, but in all seriousness, as we study the word of God and if we do it in a serious systematic way. We cover all of the subjects I pulsated to the Ephesian elders that he declared the whole counsel of God. The only way I know think anyone knows to declare the whole counsel of God is to teach the whole word of God. So the series is on the life of Moses and that be impossible to think of Moses without thinking of the plagues of Egypt read about one of them and then were going to cover the first nine this evening.

Lord willing. Exodus chapter 7 and that were reading from verse 14 breathing from the English standard version. Then the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hard and he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the in the morning is going out to the water sound on the bank of the Nile to meet him and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent and you shall say to him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrew Hebrews sent me to you saying let my people go, that they may sadly in the wilderness, but so far you have not obeyed besides the Lord by this you shall know that I am the Lord, bold with a staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile and the chill turned into blood.

The fish in the Nile shall die in the Nile Schultz stink and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile. The Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron, take her staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt over the rivers the canals.

The ponds and all the pools of water so that they may become blood and there shall be blood throughout all of the land of Egypt. Evening vessels of wood and then vessels of stone.

Verse 20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded in the sight of Pharaoh in the sight of his servants, he lifted up the staff and struck the water from the Nile and all the water in the Nile turned into blood at the fish in the Nile died and the Nile stank so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt, but the magicians of Egypt. At the same and by their secret arts. So Pharaoh's heart remained hardened and he would not listen to them as the Lord had said Pharaoh turned and went into his house and he did not take even this to heart and all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. Seven full days passed after the Lord had struck the Nile. The first of the 10 plagues those of you not been in this series. Let me just remind you little very quickly the context Moses is been called by God to deliver the people of Israel from the slavery in Egypt and to lead them to the promised land. The land flowing with milk and honey, although we know Moses himself is not going to enter into the land. Moses comes from a godly family from the tribe of Levi and there's a child had been adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh and so he was raised in the Egyptian policy enjoying the treasures and the pleasures of Egypt. But when he was 14 years old. He goes to his own people. He identifies with them. They are slaves in Egypt.

He defends and Israelite kills an Egyptian and when this becomes known, he becomes a fugitive and he has to leave Egypt and go to the land of Midian, where he worked as a shepherd, or 14 years is a long time is the manes is a family and I'm sure in that time in the desert. Moses learned a lot about himself that relatively cheap, but a lot about God and his faith.

I'm sure was being firm established during the time when they were initially going after the shape their mind, heart of the mind of God is its describe, he saw a bush on fire.

I'm sure he'd seen a bush is on fire before but not like this because it was not consumed, and even more dramatically God spoke to Moses from the Bush and calls Moses to lead his people to go to Pharaoh and to say Pharaoh let my people go, and he is going to lead them out of Egyptian slavery. He reveals himself as the Lord is Yahweh ion who I am and Moses great man although he was wasn't up to this, you raise all kinds of objections all kinds of arguments and reservations not to be the person who would go to Pharaoh the most powerful man in the world and say let my people go, but eventually he obeys, and with his brother Aaron and his three years older they appeared before Pharaoh and we thought of that confrontation. The first two confrontations thought of that last week from Moses perspective. These initial confrontations with Pharaoh. Do not go well.

Pharaoh sees himself as a God is a God of Egypt and he is much more powerful. He thinks that the God of Israel and the God of slaves and rather than letting the people go in this initial confrontations. Pharaoh's heart is hardened.

His view is that the slaves have too much time on their hands if they were really working hard enough time to think about going into the wilderness to sacrifice them to serve God and so when he hears Moses and Aaron, saying, let my people go, that they may starve me in the wilderness, quoting the words of the Lord. He tells of the taskmasters that the slaves must get it on straw. Until then, this draw for the bricks was provided and even though the doctor worked.

Additionally, to get the straw.

The number of bricks they produce each day remains the same. And so, from Moses perspective. He has been a failure on the people of Israel are very angry. Angry at Moses for making the situation even worse.

But the Lord reminds Moses. As we saw in the wonderful chapter. Chapter 6, he reminds Moses of his covenantal promises without this morning on the promises of God that we can depend upon God and there is that in the case within the tough times of life in the difficult times. It's wonderful to reassure herself and reaffirm our faith by claiming the promises of God and so Moses and Aaron are recommissioned, as it were, by God, in spite of the medicals are performed before Pharaoh.

His heart is still hardened.

He doesn't listen to Moses and Aaron and the clear conflict between the God of Israel, the true God, Yahweh, and the false gods of Egypt that we can look this evening from verse 14 of chapter 7 which we've read through to the end. End of chapter 10. I call this message the 10 plagues but really would only going to consider the first nine plagues the last plague is the great plague. The most important of the plagues when the firstborn of Israel is going to die and when the Passover is going to be instituted. So were going to think of the Passover next week and were going to conclude the service by communion. So do come know Moses and Aaron microphone medicals before Pharaoh and his magicians in Scripture before episodes of medicals.

We tend to think of the Bible. This medicals all the time is not really the case that are for great episodes of medicals in the Bible. The first is at the time of Moses that were reading the second was at the time of Elijah, you'll remember if you know your Bibles the third of course was at the time of our Lord in his incarnation when he comes in the kingdom of God is invading the kingdom of darkness in this tremendous medicals being done by the Lord and his apostles. The fourth great episode of medicals is going to come yet future during the tribulation with other that some time ago when we worked her way through the book of Revelation this evening were going to see very vividly the forces of darkness opposing the forces of God is Satan greater and stronger than God is darkness, a greater light with we're going to be encourage this evening as we think of the greatness of God invading and defeating the kingdom of darkness in the kingdom of Satan. Not everybody quickly go over the nine plagues nine plagues number one which we read from Exodus 7 water in the Nile turning to blood that next one was frogs, gnats and flies like salt dying boils Hill Lucas and the ninth plague is darkness. Old Testament scholars have said and I think you're right that these nine plagues are directed against specific gods of Egypt, so the plagues as it what are not selected by God at random, but are polemics against Egyptian false gods and eyes the plagues one after another the sand on Egypt.

We could hear the cries of the Egyptians calling out to the falls gods to help the but it becomes increasingly clear and has the legs follow each other that the God of Israel is greater than the gods of Egypt that we can divide the nine plagues into three groups, three tryouts is the first one that we rather from Exodus 7 the Nile turning to blood, then frogs and then that says the first triad the second triad flies like salt dying and bottles. The third tyrant is hail Lucas and darkness by the first leg in each triad blood flies in Hill are preceded by the Lord instructed Moses to go to Pharaoh in the morning, look for example at Exodus 7 verse 15 this is the first plague of the first triad the weather of the Nile turning to blood go to Pharaoh in the morning is going out to the water stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him and take in your hand the staff that turned into a set of prints chapter 8 verse 20. Here is the first plague of the second triad the fourth plague flies then the Lord said to Moses, rise up Adelina morning and present yourself to Pharaoh as he was out to the water and save them, thus says the Lord. Let my people go, that they may starve you and then chapter 9 verse 13 the first play of the third triad. The hill then the Lord said to Moses rise. Apparently the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve you the first three plagues first triad, by the use of Aaron's staff. Chapter 7 verse 19 and the Lord said to Moses, say, to air intake, your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt. Chapter 8 verse 20 chapter 8 verse five rather and the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron, stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers over the canals and over the pit pools and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Chapter 8 verse 60 is the third plate. The Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron, stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt over the first three plagues. They come into places that were with Aaron's staff.

The first two plagues in the second triad to the flies and the lights are going read the references but they come through the Lord directly.

The six plague the barrios comes through Moses they got rather strangely, what by throwing suit in the air. The last triad hail Lucas and darkness come through Moses stretching out his hand and self. The second plague in each triad, frogs, large dog dying and locus are all introduced by Warmington Pharaoh, if you read all of the nine the first nine of the plagues, not all of them are preceded by warning to Pharaoh, but the second plague in each triad frogs livestock dying and locus are all images by warning the morning in the these three cases are given by Moses and then when the go to Pharaoh and his palace and give him a warning prior to the plagues coming. The third plague in each triad the gnats the balls in the darkness I will mention without any warning given to Pharaoh, a tall, but think of this. Think of the impact on Pharaoh on the Egyptians of one plague after another, leading up to the 10th plague that will think of next week. The death of the firstborn. Look at chapter 9 verse 24.

That's the seventh plague which was hail you think you get really bad. Hill, sometimes to the North Carolina but listen to this chapter 9 verse 24. There was hail the seventh plague and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hill very heavy Hill such as had never been in all of the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The eighth plague was locus. Chapter 10 verse 14 is the eighth plague of locusts. The Lucas came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt must be millions of them. Such a dense swarm of locusts, as had never been nor will ever be again. So the plagues are increasing in severity, and of course the 10th plague, the death of the firstborn is the climax Kaiser in this country believes that the triads, in increasing in ascending order of severity. He says in verse three plagues introduced irritations. The second triad instructions and the final plagues the seventh eighth and ninth produced that in the plague of darkness demonstrates that Pharaoh was not the son God. He believed he was the son God. But here is the poet of God, plunging Egypt into darkness as it was the purpose of the plagues well I'll mention three reasons.

First of all to deliver Israel. Chapter 3 verse 10 God's call was to be sent by God to Pharaoh quote that you may bring my people, the children of Israel out of Egypt. And would Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh over and over again. What did they say chapter Flickr chapter 5 for example, going back chapter 5 verse one is the first confrontation, Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness chapter 7 verse 16 and you shall say to him.

This is before the first plague the Lord, the God of the Hebrew sent me to you saying let my people go, that they may serve you in the wilderness chapter 8 verse one before the plague of the flock frogs going to Pharaoh and say to him, thus says the Lord. Let my people go, that they may serve you. Chapter 8 verse 20 before the fourth plague. The Lord said to Moses, rise up Adelina morning and present yourself to Pharaoh as he goes out to the water in St. thus says the Lord. Let my people go, that they may serve you. Chapter 9 verse one before the fifth plague. Then the Lord said to Moses, go into Pharaoh and say to them, thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve me chapter 9 verse 13 before the seventh plague. Then the Lord said to Moses, rise up Adelina morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, thus says the Lord, the God of Hebrews let my people go, that they may serve me chapter 10 verse three before the eighth plague of locusts. So Moses and Aaron went into Pharaoh and set them, thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews. How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me let my people go, that they may serve me doing Pharaoh was get the message over and over again the message is go to Pharaoh and tell him not that this is your message that the Lord God, the true God is saying to you, the God of Israel, let my people go and over and over again. Pharaoh hardened his heart and over and over again.

The Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart is faced with the word of God and he disobeys the voice of the two Lord God not Moses shouldn't have been surprised by this because he been told in chapter 3 verse 19, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand, that mighty hand was not the hand of Moses was not handled Aaron but it was the hand of the Lord Moses had been told in chapter 4 verse 21. When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power and I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. So as Moses is given this great privilege, but also tremendous responsibility. The Lord clearly communicates the Moses that the Lord was going to deliver the people from Egyptian slavery, but there's going to be opposition and Pharaoh repeatedly is going to resist letting the people go.

But the deliverance was going to come from the Lord. Chapter 6, verse one.

Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh.

For with a strong hand he will send them out and with a strong hand he will deliver them out of his land, so the plagues are designed to compel Pharaoh to let the people go without the supernatural intervention by the Lord in these plagues Pharaoh's heart heart heart heart which was becoming increasingly hard would've continued and he would never have let the children of Israel go. The final plagues the death of the Egyptian firstborn was quote yet one plague more. I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt, afterward he will let you go from here. The Chapter 11 verse one that will look at next week is marvelous to know in spite of the opposition from the superpower from this mighty man Pharaoh with so much at his disposal in Egypt but God always accomplishes his purposes. We need to remind ourselves that we we sum this panic that we but was happening in the world you know what happened with Orion. I was going to happen on their own country and sometimes it shakes as it really shouldn't shake us. We know that God is in control and that God's purposes.

However fierce the opposition and however strong the evil God is stronger and his purposes will be accomplished and furthermore his judgments will come on those who resist them. You believe that you believe in God's judgment not over till the dog is a God of love is a God of love, but it said in such a way that God is weak. He's just a bit of a women's prison. They know God is strong. This is a mighty hand, think of the plagues over people who repeatedly resisted the voice of God.

Those who resist the voice of God.

Those who take for granted the patience of God have to understand that God's judgment finally comes and it comes in a very dramatic way with the death of the firstborn in the 10 plague during the tribulation. Have studied the book of Revelation, you will know that in future after the church's rapture to be forever with the Lord before the messianic reign of our Lord Jesus Christ is this. On earth, called the tribulation the great tribulation, and it is a time is a frightful time when the judgment of God falls on this earth and it falls on God's earth with the folding of the seals in the in the balls and so on, described graphically in Revelation from Revelation 6 through Revelation 18 with increasing severity with increasing intensity, and we see a precursor of that as it were. With these plagues. Following on ancient Egypt so quietly plagues. First of all to deliver Israel.

Secondly, to demonstrate victory over the Egyptian gods to demonstrate that our God, the true God is greater than Pharaoh's greater than all of their gods was a multiplicity of gods in Egypt, Pharaoh himself regarded himself as a God and that the medicals initially performed by the Lord through Moses and Aaron with the staff member that were duplicated with the sorcerers and the magicians chapter 7 verse one sorry chapter 7 verse 11 we saw this last week is is before the first plague when we go before Pharaoh. Pharaoh summoned the wisemen in the sorcerers notice this and then a the magicians of Egypt also did the same, by the secret arts. So, okay, Moses, Aaron, you do these tricks with the staff snake your leprosy is pretty cool but my magicians they can do the same with great they did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh believes he believes in the supernatural. He believes in other forces. He believes in God's is a God and he believes that the supernatural power of Egypt is as good is a strong if not stronger than the part of the Lord. Did you notice in the first plague.

When the Nile was turned into blood. Chapter 7 verse 22 but the magicians of Egypt did the same, by the secret arts.

They also turn the water of the Nile into blood.

Similarly, with the second plague of the frogs. Chapter 8 verse seven.

All of these frogs are all over Egypt. Verse six Aaron stretched out his hand over the weathers of Egypt and the frogs came up uncovered the land of Egypt, but the magicians did the same, by the secret arts and may frogs come up on the land of Egypt can do it as well, but he could ask why did the magicians reverse the plagues and show their superiority over God but unable to do that and notice in the third plague of the Nats. Chapter 8 verse 18 first plague whether turning into blood. Second plague frogs third play plague Nats chapter 8 the end of verse 17.

All the dust of the earth became Nats in all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried by the secret arts to produce Nats, but they could not.

So the relapse of man and beast than the magician said to Pharaoh is interesting.

This is the finger of God asked Satan and his demons have power negative articles they can mimic a medical but only God is all powerful Satan is powerful, but there's a limit to his power and after the first two plagues the turning of the weather and the blood in the frogs.

The magicians cannot duplicate the plagues. In fact, with the six plague the barrios chapter 9 verse 11. This is a little amusing as the with the bottles. Chapter 911, and the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the bottles for the balls came upon the magicians of the Pinole Egyptians.

Not only could lead duplicated lately couldn't stop the plague actually coming on them and that's the last we hear of the magicians in Egypt opposition to God. John, in the first John four talks about the spirits of the Antichrist and Antichrist has in common is going to rise to power in Judea tribulation. But down through the history of mankind.

There's been what is called the spirit of the antichrist was always opposition to God. When God is at work.

Satan is also at work. He tries to disrupt it tries to stop and he tries to mimic it tries to deceive people and that of course is going to come to a head during the tribulation.

With the appearance of this very powerful man in the mind of Satan, the antichrist who is really incredible power, but John reminds us as he talks about the spirits of the antichrist, and first John four verse four he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world that's good to remember isn't it. As we live our Christian life never aware of a position never aware of the forces of darkness, against her. Do you ever feel that Satan is harassing you said before, one of my friends a fellow pastor when he calls me he yelled. Cesar however is Satan harassing you today. What's enough to opt in your church. Satan is busy in the he deceives the process fiery darts. Paul says in Ephesians 6, but we remind ourselves and we see this in the plagues that greater is he who is in office than he who is in the world and the gods of Egypt with her magicians with her sorcerers, sorcerers with a black magic is at work couldn't undo the medicals performed by the Lord.

These plagues were attacks on Egypt and its power, Pharaoh had cast the baby boys into the Nile. But now the Nile is extended. The blood is in the fact attacking Egypt. Still, Pharaoh hardened his heart, but the false gods of Egypt are being defeated. Egyptians are seeing this right in front of their eyes with one plague coming after another with increasing severity so brother sister.

Don't be afraid of the devil for the gym say resist the devil and he does well if you believe that you believe that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you is an amazing thing with all of his power with all of his inception. Yes, little boy, who knows Christ resist the devil young believer can resist the devil, we as a church of Jesus Christ here at Calvary church to stand against the forces of darkness. We are to resist him to put on the full armor of God and stand strong against the powder of evil in darkness. It's so don't be afraid of him. Paul reminds us of the end of Colossians chapter 1 about the power of God.

He says God powerfully works within us.

Without this morning that in our weakness and frailty in our confusion, but God's grace is evidence insufficient and in our weakness.

There is a demonstration of the power of God. God powerfully works within us. Purpose of the plagues and number one to deliver Israel. Number two to demonstrate that God is greater than the Egyptian gods were singing about the greatness of God and third, to demonstrate the uniqueness of the Lord, there is none like him rescind that with a series with wings like eagles. I think Isaiah must've known about Exodus must've studied the book of Exodus because there's over the bottles under that on many many false gods.

But there's only one true God is not like Yahweh, the Lord, I am who I am member when Moses and Aaron first go to Pharaoh.

He asks in chapter 5, verse two who is the Lord that I should obey his voice and let Israel go.

I don't know the Lord and moreover I will not let Israel go.

What arrogance no Pharaoh you don't know the Lord. If you didn't know the Lord, you would be talking like that you would be flat on your face you would be humbling yourself before the true God, and you think your greater than the true God and Moses and Aaron over and over again explained that the Lord Yahweh is the God of Israel is the God of the Hebrews and he's on their side and when Moses himself hesitates. What does God do we saw this in chapter 6, God reminds them. I am of the Lord chapter 6 verse six I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will deliver you from slavery to them and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment is what we do. That way when we hesitate when we have times of direct when we wonder why God has an answer to prayer. When we reach when we're exhausted. We wondered if we could just go through another day. And when the situation will end itself.

Whether we to do with the minders of the goddess I am with you. Don't be afraid I'm the true God and I'm with you and Moses is repeatedly reminded of that phrase. I am the Lord. This evening I remind you, brother, sister, but God is the true God. The unique God. He is the Lord, the ever one is from everlasting to everlasting the alpha and the Omega, the all-powerful eternal God of love and he is out heavenly father. So in our weakness when we don't know what to do. We remind ourselves that we belong to this Lord and in the appearances of Aaron and Moses before Pharaoh. The goal of the confrontation find the goal of all of the plagues is chapter 7 verse five that the Egyptians shall no, but I am the Lord in the first leg. Did you notice verse 17 chapter 7 verse 17 you're still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go.

I the Lord for this purpose. Verse 16.

I have raised you up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all of the earth, the end of verse 14 so that you may know federal there is none like me and all of the earth. Chapter 8 verse 10 with the second plague of the frogs and he said tomorrow Moses said. As you say so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord your God. Chapter 8 verse 22, with the plague of the flies, but on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen were my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the in the seven plague chapter 9 verse 29 is this fascinating Moses said to him. Chapter 9 verse 29 so I'm in the wrong chapter yes chapter 9 verse 29 Moses said to him as soon as I got night of the city.

I will stretch out my hands. The Lord, the thunder will cease and there will be no more hail so that you may know that the Lord is the Eric's the eighth plague. Chapter 10 verse two, and that you may tell the kneeling of your son and of your grandson how I've dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I've done. Among them, that you may know that I am the Lord. Yet that over and over and over again to Moses and to Pharaoh. You have to realize that that is the true God, and that I am the Lord versions of false gods, but I the true God, and after the triumph of the people through the Red Sea and that magnificent song of praise annexes 15 that will look at Lord willing, sometime this relates saying chapter 15 verse 11. Who is like you all Lord among the gods who is like you majestic in holiness, awesome and glorious deeds doing wonders rhetorical questions.

Of course there is no one like the Lord, he is unique. He's God is all-powerful is preeminent is he's glorious. There is no one like our God and they will never ever be anyone like him because he is the true God and you say, what's the point.

The point is, this is Paul say so eloquently in Romans eight. If God is followed us, who can be against us was her problem. I began the series with wings like eagles saying that we often have a very small view of God that God is too small a garden that's remarkably like a culture, a God who remarkably things like we do when we got off enough falls God, a God that we have created rather than understanding the true God, Pharaoh, the Egyptians didn't understand who the true God is, and now with these terrible terrible plagues, and judgments on Egypt are going to understand that there is no God like this.

God at this God is all powerful, with the receipts. All of this, I say to you first take a lesson from Pharaoh. He hardened his heart. The book of Hebrews repeatedly today if you hear his voice, do not harden his heart.

God speaking to you today this week. As you read his work jumping about conviction you anything about God challenging you. Satan always say is that a deal with it tomorrow. Scripture says not today.

Today's the day of salvation. Today's the day to get right with God. Today is the day to repent today is the day to surrender your life to Jesus Christ today if you hear his voice, brother, sister, do not harden your heart when faced with the truth of God. We either humbly receive it and obey it, or we resistance and the more we resisted and the more we oppose it and the more we refuse to deal with the sin in our life and obey God, the harder and harder our hearts will become God's word changes us either. Your heart will be softened or hardened. My dad used to tell us as little boys about an insured was original with my dad about here is the son shining done is a pond of bother son melts the brother here's a kind of play. The clays hardened the same son, same heat to vastly different effects on the substance here is the word of God coming to us tonight. The word of God. The voice of God this morning what your response.

Either you humble yourself. Either you obey God, whatever that means in your situation, or if you don't, your heart will become hardened and people of said to me over the years. I know John. I should do this but deal with it later. I know what I think of various people have said to me, and this is really scary for them to say this, professing believers of Jesus Christ I know what I'm doing is sinful. I know I should stop doing it but it's so enjoyable I'm going to continue to do it and then sometime in the future I'll repent and ask God's forgiveness you ever said anything as foolish as that I was sick. That person if your heart your heart is hardened and if your heart is hardened today and you diffuse the repentance. What do you think six months from now. I was six years from now, that somehow you can just decide when you want to repent, because sin changes us, doesn't it word of God changes us for the good.

Sin makes us more and more hardened edge of your harden today and if you continue to hear the voice of God as Pharaoh did. There is an increasing hardness in your heart.

We don't want to be hardhearted to wait.

We all know people who over the years have drifted away from the Lord in the become harder and harder. The become more and more better, more and more entrenched in their position.

Why because apparently on they did not obey the word of God.

We who hear the word of God. We who read the word of God.

We who are committed to this book as the word of God. We must be very very careful that were not over familiar with the that is not just going into our heads that is not just academic knowledge. When my professors at seven. That is the say the word of God isn't to to make you a smarter sinner is given to you. Yasser's information online. Our minds must be involved with is given to transform us. There's an act of the will. If I oppose God if I oppose his word.

If I resist his word. My heart will get hardened don't do that.

Does that mean in your life.

I don't know, brother, sister, some some sin that you're involved in pressing your business something unethical, something may be illegal. Some relationship that is questionable at best and perhaps even sinful. Hear the word of God, we come to Calvary not to hear my voice or anyone else's voice other than the voice of God. And when God speaks to us. He expects instant regions. Don't harden your heart if you do harden your heart. God's judgment is coming. God's patience thing of all of the opportunities Pharaoh had over and over and over again.

He's given the word of God, and he continues to resist until God's judgment comes. John 336 whoever believes in the son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. These plagues are precursors of the judgment of God on the earth during the tribulation. Some of them are very similar blog, inhalant darkness and locus, and so on. Yes, God will judge his people.

God will judge those who resist him who do not obey the gospel. Paul writes in second Thessalonians 1 verse eight that the Lord will come in flaming fire inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ's Hebrew say is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. No, we oneself talk somewhere. We want to live in the fear of the Lord. We want to follow our Lord Jesus Christ is God incarnate, there's none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him is unique in his birth unique in his life unique and is that unique in his resurrection, unique in his high priestly ministry unique in his return, love him, obey him, surfing pricing with all of your heart and a member. This when you realize that the forces of darkness, against her and that temptation comes in that opposition comes, it's wearisome. Isn't it sometimes. Remember this of God is for us who can be against God for us is God for you, of course, is God was against Pharaoh. God is for us and of God is for us who can be against us.

Father, we think of these plagues yet we know your patient God, but you're also holy God than a just God.

We know if we disobey the gospel for hearts are hardened your judgments come. We thank you for your grace.

We thank you that you give us hearts which are soft as we respond to your word as we do this no referred your word to this morning from this pulpits from life groups from our own reading it again this evening. We bow in your presence.

Help us to make the changes that are necessary bring comfort father to those who are going through difficult times bring conviction to those who are dabbling in sin for those here, perhaps who don't know Christ open their eyes help them to see the ugliness of the seven help them to fully flee from the wrath to come in to flee to Christ who comes as the Savior of the world. Thank you for your salvation. Thank you for the forgiveness of sins and help us to live for your glory.

This week in Christ name, amen