The Ten Plagues: The Plague of Boils

The Ten Plagues: The Plague of Boils

Opening Illustration:

Good morning church. Hope all of you are doing well this morning. This is week 6 of a 10 week sermon series. The series is very creatively called “The Ten Plagues” and I’ll give you 5 guesses as to what the series is all about? Any guesses? That’s right, it is about the ten plagues that God brought against Egypt. God had heard the cries of His people. They desired to be set free from the harsh oppression of the Egyptians. God moves on the nation of Egypt using Moses as His mouthpiece. Moses was instructed to speak to the Pharaoh, his adopted brother, and he was to instruct Pharaoh to let God’s people go so that they may worship YHWH. Every single time Pharaoh disregards Moses’ instructions and is disobedient to God. Over the last several weeks we have seen the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock and today we will see the horrible plague of boils.

What exactly is a boil? Well here is a picture on the screens…just kidding everyone. Just kidding. Just a little boil humor for everyone this morning. No seriously, what is a boil and what made them worthy of being a plague? Well, according to the Mayo Clinic’s definition, a boil is a painful, pus-filled bump that forms under the skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles. They usually start as reddish, purplish tender bumps. They quickly grow larger and larger and more painful with passing time. Boils can affect the face, the back of the neck, armpits or thighs.

Today we are reading from Exodus 9:8-12. So, what’s happening here. Well, the plague of the livestock is running concurrently into the newest plague, the plague of boils. This is the first time that Moses will not have a conversation demanding from Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave Egypt so that they may go into the wilderness to worship God. While the conversation has not occurred in this instance, it is absolutely implied. God has been clear through Moses of His expectations and still the Pharaoh says “no”.

This plague is interesting because for the first time we have what appears to be nearly germ warfare.

Exodus 9:8-9 ESV

If you read this ancient text from a modern reader’s perspective, things start sounding really familiar. An airborne illness will spread across the land, infecting person to person. This airborne illness spreading from people living in close personal proximity. The text says that the soot will become like “fine dust” spreading across the land infecting both beast and humanity. Does any of this sound like another certain airborne disease that didn’t just spread across the country but it spread across the entire world? Infecting both man and beast. Infecting people living socially together.

A couple of things to consider here when reading today’s text. First, when you hear the word “kiln”, we are not talking about a modern day pottery kiln where bowls and plates are made. Don’t think about Brenda Anderson’s kiln here. This is not that type of kiln. In fact, if you go back to the Hebrew word for kiln you’ll discover that what is really been discussed is a brick kiln. The brick kiln was on of the principle instruments of oppressions to the Israelites. The brick kiln is what the Hebrews used to make their bricks for the Egyptians. Now the brick kiln was being repurposed or converted into a means of punishment to the Pharaoh and his people.

Next, the passage will tell us that the soot will be like fine dust. Again, if you go back to Hebrew you get a better understanding of what is truly being communicated. The same word is used for “powder”, “dust”, or even “clouds”. What we are really seeing is very small, very light particles that are individually imperceptible to the human eye but taken collectively can be seen like a fine mist. Back in these days the author of Exodus had no idea about germs but when you read the original text, there is some understanding that unseen particles are spread and passed from person to person.

Ok, boils, brick kilns, germs, why? Why the plagues? Why is God doing all of this? Is it just to set His people free? Is to make His name great? Is it so people will know who He is? What? What’s the purpose?

Brothers and sisters, it all comes down to worship. Three times thus far has God instructed Moses to tell the Pharaoh to let His people go so that they may go and worship Him. Four times. Exodus 3. Exodus 5. Exodus 8 and now in Exodus 9. 4 times Pharaoh was told to let the Hebrews advance so that they could worship Him.

Under “Today’s Thought” fill in these blanks. God’s people witness His wonders and works through worship.

Today’s Thought:

God’s People Witness His Wonders and Works Through Worship!

Friends, from the very beginning of time God demands our worship. That’s right, from way back to Adam and Eve, God wants our worship. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden over worship. Correct, they were thrown out of the Garden because they wanted to worship themselves instead of worshipping the Creator God. Cain killed Abel because he was jealous over his form of worship. Worship is a central theme that weaves throughout the pages of the Bible. There is worship or a form of worship in every single book of the Bible. In fact, every single character mentioned in the Bible engages in some form of worship. Even evil characters worship, often themselves instead of God. Daniel’s fast was not about food, it was about worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not thrown into the fiery furnace because they disobeyed, they were thrown into the furnace because of worship. By the way friends, don’t think for a second that God does not want our worship today? Oh no, God wants us to worship today, right here and now.

Have you ever wondered to yourself, “just what is worship”? Is it a song? Does it only happen on Sunday? Do I have to kill an animal to truly worship? Seriously, what is worship anyway?

One of my favorite pastors and writers is Pastor Louie Giglio. He wrote a book about worship several years ago entitled, “The Air I Breathe”. Listen to his quote concerning worship, “Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”

Today’s Quote:

“Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”

-Pastor Louie Giglio

This morning we will talk about this plague but we will really be looking at the motivation for these plagues. Namely God wanted to create a place, set an atmosphere for His people to worship Him. So, we will start that this morning in Exodus 9:8-12.

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.

Today’s Scripture:

Exodus 9:8-12 ESV

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. [9] It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." [10] So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. [11] And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. [12] But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

“Let my people go, so they can worship me.” -Exodus 9:1 NLT

But How…?

Our First Point: Worship God…Reverently

Our first point this morning is this, worship God reverently. Let me explain.

In Exodus 9, God gives a very clear word to Pharaoh through Moses, “Let my people go, so that they can worship me.” Pharaoh makes a pretty obvious statement that probably most of us would have stated, “why can’t they worship God here”?

That’s a good question. Why couldn’t the Hebrew worship God there in Egypt? Egypt is nice. They have pretty buildings. The food is good. Why not just worship God right there in Egypt? Why do you have to leave Egypt when Egypt is so nice?

Does this sentiment sound familiar to anyone? Why do I have to come to church to worship? I could worship God the same way at home, or in a deer stand, or at the golf course? Why do I have leave the house when I can turn on trusty old YouTube and watch the service right here on my computer screen? I can watch worship on Facebook every single Sunday morning and hear the exact same message, sing the same songs. I can even text my tithe. I can worship right where I am right now. I don’t have to leave.

Question for you this morning, do you thin that the Hebrews felt that way about worship while living in Egypt? My guess is no. You see the Hebrews had a keen understanding that where they were affected their ability to worship. Their surroundings impacted their focus. They knew that as long as they were in the place of their oppression, they could not free worship with expression. They knew that the Egyptians would not fully understand or appreciate the nature of their sacrifice. The Hebrews knew that the world they lived in would not accept their spiritual act of worship.

Recall church that the Egyptians attached many of their God’s to animals, namely cattle, sheep, and goats. These were the very animals that the Hebrews were going to sacrifice in the name of the Lord. The Egyptians would have taken tremendous offense to God’s people and they would have persecuted them mightily.

Why do I have to come to church to worship? I could worship God the same way at home, or in a deer stand, or at the golf course? No. No you can’t. Scripture is clear in its instructions on how to worship and the mode of worship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

While it is encouraged to worship God privately, which I will address in just a moment, Scripture is clear that we are to join other believers corporately in worship of our God. Not only are we to join other believers in worship, we are to do it in regimented fashion, with order, with purpose and with participation. We should give together, pray together, sing together, read Scripture together, and be challenged by the preaching of God’s Word together.

Is the worship on Facebook and YouTube the same as being here worshipping together. I think that the people who are homebound, unable to come to church on Sunday, would tell you that it is absolutely not the same. For the record, I am not speaking about people who are sick, infirm, and unable to come to church. Worship on Facebook and YouTube is there to keep you connected. I am speaking to people who use these outlets as matters of convenience and not utmost importance. Friends, for people like you and me, we should give God our reverent worship. This means that we are to do everything we can to remove the distractions from our worship. There are so many distractions at our home, on the golf course, or in the deer stand. Our attentions are divided in those moments and the reality of that mentality is that worshiping God with half of our attention is no worship at all.

God wanted His people to worship free from the distraction of their oppression. Free from the judging eyes of Egypt. Friends, have you ever noticed that our world does not understand Christ centered worship? Why would you stand up and sing to nothing they say? Why are you reading an ancient book that is out of step and out of date they say? Why are you giving your hard earned money they say? In the same way that the Egyptians did not understand worship of YHWH, the world does not understand our worship of the one true God today.

Worship God this morning. Give Him your reverence. We reverently worship God when we obey His laws related to purity and holiness. We reverently worship God by our silliness to voluntarily die to self and obey His commands. We demonstrate reverence in worship by how we live. We show reverence by taking seriously God’s hatred of sin. We pursue reverent holiness because He is holy. Reverent people desire to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, living self controlled, upright Godly lives.

Recall the Psalmist words about reverence in worship captured in Psalm 95.

Psalm 95:6-7 NLT

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, [7] for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.

Our Second Point: Worship God Through…Surrender

So, our first point this morning concerning worship is reverence. Worship God reverently. Our second point this morning is to worship God through surrender.

Several years ago I was a part of a funeral service. I knew the person that had passed away and his family asked if I could come and deliver a eulogy. They asked me to read some Scripture and pray. I was honored to be asked. I came and did my part. It was a great service. It was a great service until the end.

At the end of the service, they played a song. It was a song that I had never heard played before at a funeral. Usually when I perform a funeral, we end with a hymn. Amazing Grace. His Eye is on the Sparrow. Great is They Faithfulness. You know, something that like. Not this funeral. They played a different kind of song. For the record, I do not want this song played at my funeral. I don’t want the lyrics spoken at my funeral. I don’t want my funeral to be within one hundred thousand feet of this song.

Let’s play “Name that Song” this morning. Let me read the lyrics for you. See if you can guess the song.

… And now the end is here

And so I face that final curtain

My friend I'll make it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more

I did it, I did it my way

… Regrets, I've had a few

But then again too few to mention

I did what I had to do

I saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course

Each careful step along the byway

And more, much, much more

I did it, I did it my way

… Yes, there were times I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

… For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself then he has naught

Not to say the things that he truly feels

And not the words of someone who kneels

Let the record shows I took all the blows and did it my way

“I did it my way”. The old familiar hit by Old Blue Eyes himself. Frank Sinatra. That was the song that was played. “I did it my way”.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Imagine if Moses came to the Hebrews and told them that God was wanting to set them free and they said “no, not today Moses”. What if they would have said that instead of plagues of frogs, they preferred a plague of tigers. Instead of going to the desert to worship, they preferred to go to Hawaii to worship.

Sorry kids, the true worship of God involves surrender. Total and complete surrender. We don’t get to do it our way. Worship is not a Subway sandwich where we get to pick and choose what we want, how much we want and how much we are willing to spend. Worship is not Burger King where we get to have it our way. Worship is not a buffet built around our preferences.

Worship is also not the alter where everything new gets sacrificed and nor is it the wrecking ball that destroys the beauty of tradition.

Worship of God does not involve worship of self. I’ll tell you something that I have learned over the years, if you leave a worship service unsatisfied, it usually means that that worship service has not stroked your personal preference. That is just worship of self. Worship does not involve self, it involves surrender. Could it be that God is trying to reveal something new to you? Change is often an offense to self and change is also a threat to our personal security. Yet, God is in the business of change. He is in the business of transformation but most of us want to worship God on our terms. We can agree that God wants to change people but the thought that God might chance the way we think about worship or heaven forbid that God may change the songs we sing is impossible. We want to put God in a box that makes us feel comfortable. We want God to be the god of nostalgia. We want worship to scratch a personal itch, to make us feel good, to feel better about ourselves. We want worship to transport us back to “better days”. We want worship to revolve around me myself and I instead of worship revolving around God Himself. Oh friends, may it never be said of Eastern Shore Baptist Church that worship has be one way or about one preference.

That is not worship and it will never be worship. There are numerous modes of worship. Worship can be personal, it can be corporate. Worship can be loud and it can be quit. Worship can have music and it can be acappella. Worship can look like many things but one thing that worship has, no matter the mode is surrender. Worship is waving the white flag and saying “yes God, whatever you want, wherever you lead, I’ll go, I’ll do, im in”.

Worship, whether done by yourself or with the amplification of the church, should involved surrender and sacrifice. When is the last time you truly sacrificed something in this church?

Wait a second preacher, what are you talking about? You want me to sacrifice something here, now?

Sure do! Every time you come to worship God, you are teeing yourself up for a sacrifice. Surrender and sacrifice hold hands in a worship service. Modern day sacrifice usually looks like money or a checks in an offering plate. There certainly is a financial component to worship and sacrifice. The Hebrews gave their best animals which was a form of currency in those days. Today we give our finances but Im not talking about those sorts of sacrifices. Jesus tells us that we should sacrifice ourselves, daily picking up our crosses to follow Him. That is our act of worship. It is easy to put a check in that offering plate. When is the last time you offered yourself as an offering? When is the last time you offered your family, your children, your wife, your husband as an offering? Sadly the offering plate for many churches has become a suggestion box or a outlet to complain about the air conditioning, the stopped up toilet, the length of the sermon, the preacher’s hair, or not enough of this song or to much of another tune. Brothers and sisters, the offering plate should be treated with reverence, respect. It is a tool of surrender and sacrifice. Next time that plate comes around, pray about putting yourself into it. Makes me thing about Paul in Romans 12:1,

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Our Third Point: Worship God…Authentically

Worship God reverently.

Worship God through surrender.

Last point this morning, worship God authentically.

What does it mean to come to God or worship God authentically? It means to come before God honestly. It means that we are naked before God. We are exposed. We know He knows if you know what I mean. It means that we stand before God with all of our sin, with all of our shortcomings, but knowing that He accepts us anyway.

Go back to our story this morning. All of Egypt is afflicted with boils. There is a group of people that are mentioned outside of Moses, Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Hebrews. Did you catch them? Let me reread it for you this morning. Exodus 9:11-12.

Exodus 9:11-12 ESV

And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. [12] But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

The magicians were infected with these painful sores. Can you imagine their appearance? They must have looked disgusting. Sores all over their body. Oozing discolored skin. They had probably been scratching themselves, making themselves bleed. They had probably tried to treat their wounds with bandages that had easily soaked through. They had probably tried to cover their sores with all types of balms and salves which must have made them look even more disgusting. Imagine the stench. The smell must have been overwhelming. Have you ever tried to bathe with a cut or a sore? It can be very painful. Now imagine that all over your body. I doubt seriously that the magicians were bathing because of the pain associated with their condition. They were so severely covered with boils that they could not even stand before Pharaoh or Moses. The sores were even on their feet. Im sure that they couldn’t stand before Moses and Pharaoh because of their embarrassment as well. They did not have an answer. They were lost. Clueless. Remember church that the Pharaoh was god to the Egyptians. The magicians were unable to stand in the presence of their God because of their appearance. They could not stand in the presence of their god because they were failures. They didn’t have the answers and they couldn’t save themselves. If they were to stand before Pharaoh, Pharaoh would have condemned them. He probably would have had them killed for their shortcomings. What a scene that must have been.

Let me take you to another brief encounter with the Bible. I want to take you to the Prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 3 actually. Zechariah is having a vision of the high priest Joshua. In this vision the priest is standing before God. Remember church that Joshua was a man of piety. He was a holy man. A religious man.

A sinful man.

Listen to what happens in this encounter.

Zechariah 3:1-7 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. [2] And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" [3] Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. [4] And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments." [5] And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by. [6] And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, [7] "Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

Much in the same say that the magicians could not stand before Pharaoh, Joshua is exposed before God. All of his sins laid bare. Joshua is unable to hide his humanity. What does God do? He takes his filthy garments and trades them for new clothing. Does God kick him out of His presence? No. He pulls him in and gives him a seat at the table.

Church, we have more in common with those magicians than anyone else in the story. The magicians look on the outside like we all look on the inside without Jesus Christ. Scripture says that we are all dead in our sins. Scripture compares our spiritual life without Jesus Christ as a dead rotting corpse.

Here is the beautiful thing, the magicians hid but we can come boldly to the throne of God. We do not need to fear. We can stand before our God with all our boils, all of our imperfections. We can stand before him as sons and daughters, adopted into his family. The magicians were ashamed of their failure. They were saddened by their state. Not us. Our God is graceful. Our God is good. He is forgiving. Merciful. The magicians did not want to stand before their god because they were embarrassed. Not us. We can stand before our God with all of our flaws laid bare before him. Worship God authentically. He already knows you and me in the most intimate ways possible. Why hide?

Authentic worship lifts up God and not ourselves. The Hebrew word for worship actually means to lower oneself. We lower ourselves before God and then we raised God up. Authentic worship declares who God is to everyone, not who we are. If worship is about anything other than God, it is not true worship, it is idol worship. Usually, when we worship something other than God, we worship ourselves.

There are dozens of examples of authentic worship captured in the Bible but perhaps the best example is from David in 2 Samuel 6.

2 Samuel 6:13-15 ESV

And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. [14] And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. [15] So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

David worshipped God from the heart. His worship was not about himself, it was all about God. David’s worship focused on God above all.

In conclusion, it is important to note that God actively seeks genuine worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth. As Jesus stated, the time has come when true worshipers will worship the Father in sincerity and authenticity. Let us remember that God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must do so with a genuine heart and adherence to His truth (John 4:23-24).

John 4:23-24 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

How Will You Worship God This Week?

Bibliography

Websites:

https://justdisciple.com/christian-worship-quotes/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/boils-and-carbuncles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353770

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h80/esv/wlc/0-1/

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/73937/what-did-moses-mean-when-he-told-pharoah-he-wanted-to-go-a-three-days-journey-in

https://williamshiggins.net/2007/03/18/authentic-worship/

https://www.gotquestions.org/reverence-for-God.html

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP1PMtK_uMM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emwJcgJvfr8