As I write this, protests against President Mubarak are mounting in Egypt. Is this going to be the end of his long and comparatively stable rule? I can't help spotting the parallels with Pharaoh under pressure, but I'm uneasy about this.
I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels uncomfortable about the plagues. It's all about "My God is bigger than your god" theology, or so it seems. The question, I suppose, is could the Israelites be expected to be more sophisticated than that in their beliefs. Given their suffering, given their circumstances. My first answer is yes, we can expect more of them - Job did better than that in the face of suffering. Let's see what I think after I've read them again.
3. Gnats
Exodus 8:16-19
4. Flies
Exodus 8:20-32
5. Death of livestock
Exodus 9:1-7
6. Boils
Exodus 9:8-12
7. Hail
Exodus 9:13-35
8. Locusts
Exodus 10:1-20
9. Darkness
Exodus 10:21-27
In a Passover meal, the leader splashes red wine on a plate whilst reading the list of plagues. One splash for each plague. It's chilling, to watch the pool of red wine spread out like blood.
At first the Egyptian magicians copy God's plagues, persuading Pharaoh not to give in, but soon the plagues move beyond their power. Anyway, all they can do is add to the woes, they can't take the plagues away. Moses "cried out to the Lord" because of the effects of the plagues (8:12) suggesting that he is upset by them too. We must remember he was brought up in Pharaoh's court, so would have sympathised with the suffering.
Also, as the plagues get worse, the Israelites are exempt. Their suffering does not increase, but presumably they are still being forced to make bricks without straw.
God repeatedly says that he has hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he can perform all these amazing signs and convince all Egypt of his glory. That is one explanation of the plagues. But Pharaoh is still to blame - each time the plague stops, he sins, and refuses to let the people go.
It's a game of poker, and the stakes are getting higher.
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