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Exodus Chapter Seven

(Outline continues from yesterday)

4. The Lord demonstrated His sovereign power with plague #1: water to blood (Ex. 7:14-25).
   1. Moses is stationed at the Nile with his nāchāsh staff, the staff of God (v.15; Ex. 4:3,17,20).
   2. Aaron is stationed Moses’ side with his (dragon) staff (vv.19,20 cp. vv.9‑12).
   3. A clear pattern is established, as each episode begins with the Lord’s command to release Israel (v.16).
   4. Moses gives Pharaoh advance specific notice of the plague (vv.15‑18), before Aaron performs the miracle (vv.20,21).
   5. The Egyptian magicians replicated the work of power (v.22).
   6. Pharaoh’s response was to isolate himself in his house while his people had to make do (vv.23‑25).
   7. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads to plague #2 (v.22).

Exodus Chapter Eight

1. The Lord demonstrated His sovereign power with plague #2: frogs (Ex. 8:1-15).
   1. The command reissued (v.1).
   2. The specific advanced notice (vv.2‑4).
   3. Aaron’s fulfillment (vv.5,6).
   4. Satanic imitation (v.7).
   5. Pharaoh’s response (v.8).  Pharaoh promises to release Israel if Moses will entreat YHWH to remove the frogs.
      1. Moses asks how soon Pharaoh wants the frogs dealt with (v.9).
      2. Pharaoh wants them dead by tomorrow (v.10).
      3. The Lord graciously provides (vv.13,14).
   6. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads to plagues #3&4 (v.15).
2. The Lord demonstrated His sovereign power with plagues #3&4: a two-part episode of gnats (KJV: lice), and swarms (Ex. 8:16-32).
   1. The command is reissued after the gnats appear, but before the swarms (v.20).
   2. There is no specific advanced notice of the gnats, but there is before the swarms (vv.21‑23).  Note also, for the first time, the prophetic announcement tells of a protection that is extended to Israel even as Egypt is afflicted (vv. 22,23).
   3. Aaron’s fulfillment (vv.16,17; assumed in v.24).
   4. Satanic imitation falls short (vv.18,19).
   5. Pharaoh’s response (vv.19,25‑31).
      1. His response to the gnats was to harden his heart (v.19).  This led to plague #4.
      2. His response to the swarms is to  order Moses and Aaron to sacrifice within the land of Egypt (vv.25‑27).
      3. He then gives permission to depart Egypt (v.28).
      4. The Lord removes the swarms, according to Moses’ supplication (vv.29‑31).
   6. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads to plague #5 (v.32).

Exodus Chapter Nine

1. The Lord demonstrated His sovereign power with plague #5: pestilence upon livestock (Ex. 9:1-7).
   1. The command reissued (v.1).
   2. The specific advanced notice, with reference to Israel’s protection (vv.2‑5).
   3. The plague is fulfilled (no mention of Aaron) (vv.6,7).  All the livestock (מִקְנֶה miqneh ^#4735: domestic livestock, e.g. cows, sheep, goats) of Egypt, who were in the field, died (v.3,6).  Those in barns, shelters, etc., survived (vv.19,20,21).
   4. There is no Satanic imitation (v.7).
   5. Pharaoh’s response was a hardened heart (v.7).
   6. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads to plagues #6&7.
2. The Lord demonstrated His sovereign power with plagues #6&7: a two-part episode of boils, and hail (Ex. 9:8-35).
   1. The command is reissued after the boils appear, but before the hail (v.13).
   2. There is no specific advanced notice of the boils, but there is before the hail (vv.14‑21). 
      1. For the first time, the prophetic announcement includes an admonishment concerning how hard these plagues might have been (vv.14-17).  For example, He spared their animals that were under shelter (vv.3,6).
      2. For the first time, the prophetic announcement includes a warning that God-fearing Egyptians might respond to by faith (v.19‑21).  Sparing the sheltered livestock from the pestilence was an act of grace; sparing the sheltered livestock from hail will be an act of obedience by the God-fearing Egyptians.
   3. Moses’ fulfillment (vv.22‑26).  Once again, Israel is spared (v.26), along with some God-fearing Egyptians (v.20).
   4. Satanic imitation falls short because the Satanic servants are down for the count (v.11).
   5. Pharaoh’s response (vv.12,27‑34).
      1. Pharaoh’s hardened heart after the boils led to plague #7 (v.12).
      2. Pharaoh’s response to the hail was to declare the Lord’s righteousness, and his own wickedness.  Pharaoh promised to let Israel go, if Moses can entreat the Lord to end the hail (vv.27,28).
      3. Moses intercedes once again, the Lord ends the plague once again, and Pharaoh goes back on his promise once again (vv.29‑34).
   6. Pharaoh’s hardened heart leads to plague #8 (v.35).