The Ten Plagues: The Plague of Darkness

The Ten Plagues: The Plague of Darkness

Introduction:

Good morning church family. Hard to believe that we have worked our way to this point in the story. Hard to believe that we are on the 9th plague of Egypt. If you are visiting with us this morning the church has been engaged in a 10 week sermon series entitled “The Ten Plagues”. We started this journey in Exodus 7 with the first plague against Egypt. That plague was the plague of blood. Egypt has endured now 9 plagues:

Blood

Frogs

Lice

Flies

The death of livestock

Boils

Hail

Last week we looked at the plague of locusts

This week we are going to review the plague of darkness.

Is there anything more terrifying than utter darkness? Is there anything more spooky than being in a pitch black dark room where you cannot even see your hand in front of your face? Friend, did you know that darkness is mentioned some 170 times in the Bible depending on the translation of Scripture you are using.

In Genesis 1:2-3, the verse points out that darkness covered the face of the earth until God spoke light into existence. Imagine an existence where light is not just vacant from the scene but light has not been created. Light doesn’t exist! Now that is some kind of darkness.

Of course we are looking at Exodus 10:21-23 this morning where we see that darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for 3 days. 3 days. 3 days of darkness and then light. Does that draw your spiritual imagination to another event that lasted three days and then light came forth?

Matthew 27:45 reminds us of the darkness that covered the whole land until 3 o ’clock when Jesus gave up His spirit.

I could go on an on about darkness. Darkness is symbolic of several things in Scripture. Whenever you hear darkness being discussed in Holy Scripture, you can best count on that they are talking about evil, sin, and spiritual ignorance. Darkness can represent judgement, chaos, and being separated from the Creator God.

Let’s be real here folks, whenever darkness is discussed in the Bible, Old or New Testament, it’s bad. It’s really bad.

Darkness is also a destination. Darkness is realm that is set apart from God. It is a place full of evil because it is filled with evil beings, demons, and evil people who have disobeyed Christ. It is not a place that any of us want to go and if we could experience that darkness for one minute, we would be much more evangelical…willing to share our faith with enthusiasm and energy. Some translations call this place of darkness “The Outer Darkness”. Naturally I am talking about Hell. Listen to Jesus talk about the darkness or the “Outer Darkness”.

Matthew 24:50-51 NLT

The master will return unannounced and unexpected, [51] and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 8:12 NLT

But many Israelites-those for whom the Kingdom was prepared-will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Darkness is bad folks. Fill in the blanks for “Today’s Thought” for me this morning. Throughout the Bible, darkness symbolizes separation, suffering and sin!

Today’s Thought:

Throughout The Bible, Darkness Symbolizes Separation, Suffering, and Sin!

This morning we are reunited with our cast of characters: God, Moses, and Pharaoh. There are a few other less notable characters but this are certainly the most important in the story. By now you know the equation. God wants to set His people free from oppression and slavery. The Egyptians are the captors and the Israelites are God’s chosen people. They have been in captivity for 400 years now. During this period of slavery, God’s people prayed and God has responded. He has sent Moses, one of their own but raised as Egyptian royalty. Moses encounters the Living God in a burning bush and he is instructed to go back to his adopted brother who is now the Pharaoh. He is commanded by God to tell the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go, to set them free, to liberate them. Pharaoh, who fancies himself a god, declines the offer. Week after week we have seen the Pharaoh become hard hearted towards the commands of God. It seems that the harder his heart becomes, the worse the plagues become. When the Pharaoh declines God’s command God sends a plague. When the plague has reached its zenith, the Pharaoh relents and says that he will allow the Hebrews to leave the land. Moses removes the plague only to have the Pharaoh renege on his offer and refuse to let the Hebrews advance. This equation has been repeated either exactly how I have described it or a similar variation some 8 times now. Soon to be 9 times.

So the plague that we are looking at this morning is the plague of darkness. Darkness that covered the entire land of Egypt with the exception of God’s people the Hebrews. That’s right, the Hebrews had light where they lived but not the Egyptians. We will talk about that in just a moment. Isn’t that weird? Light for the Hebrews. Light in their homes. Light where they stood. Light where they walked, ran, and played. Light for their animals.

No so with the Egyptians. They lived in abject darkness for 3 days. Total. Complete. Darkness.

Darkness in their homes. Darkness where they walked. Darkness in their streets, in the markets, even darkness in the palaces. Their candles would not burn. Their torches would not catch fire. They might as well have been blind. Imagine how strange it must have been for an Egyptian captor to stand in utter darkness while standing 3 feet from his Hebrew slave who stood in bright beautiful light. I don’t get how it worked. I don’t understand the physics.

I don’t get it…but I sure do believe it.

Another Scripture that talks about people living in darkness comes from Proverbs 4:19. Read it with me this morning.

“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

Today’s Quote:

“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

Proverbs 4:19 ESV

Friends open your Bibles to Exodus 10:21-29.

Are you thankful for God’s word this morning? If you are thankful for God’s Word than stand with me this morning.

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 10:21-29 NLT

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it." [22] So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. [23] During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived. [24] Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. "Go and worship the LORD," he said. "But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you." [25] "No," Moses said, "you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD our God. [26] All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the LORD our God from among these animals. And we won't know how we are to worship the LORD until we get there." [27] But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, and he would not let them go. [28] "Get out of here!" Pharaoh shouted at Moses. "I'm warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!" [29] "Very well," Moses replied. "I will never see your face again."

A Supernatural Darkness…

I. A Darkness That Can Be Felt vs. 21-22

This plague is interesting because it comes without warning. Devoid from the story is the typical conversation that happens between Moses and Pharaoh. We normally see Moses saying “let my people go” and Pharaoh spending, “no”, then a plague. We saw a similar pattern with the plague of lice and the plague of boils. Now that may just mean that the author doesn’t record the conversation. Maybe it happened off camera. Maybe it happened just as Scripture records. The Pharaoh remains so dug in that no conversation was necessary. God just sent the plague. Either way, this plague is distinct from all the others that preceded it. Why? What made it different? Verse 21 reveals that answer to us this morning.

Exodus 10:21 NLT

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it."

“The land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.”

What in the world does that mean?

First off, fill in our first blank this morning. A Spiritual darkness, a darkness that can be felt!

So, let’s talk about this “darkness” that the Egyptians felt. What in the world does that even mean?

The Hebrew word for "felt" is more than just an emotional darkness that impacts one's inner being and hope. It carries the meaning of touch in the Hebrew language. It implies that there is a tangible darkness over the land of Israel that can be physically experienced, allowing it to be touched and thereby felt.

Now understand here folks that I am not trying to get weird with you here this morning, but I have done a lot of studying as to the meaning of “darkness that can be felt”. Again, this is just how I read the text and how commentaries have explained this concept to me. This darkness is different than how we experience darkness. The darkness that is being discussed here is almost personified. It is personal. It is alive. Willful. Choosing to be dark in some areas and choosing to be non dark in other areas. It is darkness embodied. It is a darkness that is alive.

Do you remember what I said about the Pharaoh last week? The Pharaoh was the personification of the Egyptian god Ra. Ra was the god of the sun. He was the god of light. There are hieroglyphics that actually state that the Egyptians believed strongly that the Pharaoh was the living embodiment of Ra. That his light, the Pharaoh’s light, would extend to the furthest reaches of the world. They believed that his light, symbolizing his power and his empire, would spread across the globe. Almost like what they would say about the Roman Empire, that the sun would never set on the Pharaoh’s rule. Now Yahweh has stricken the country with darkness. Jehovah is literally doing battle with the Egyptian god Ra and guess what folks…Jehovah is winning. Jehovah is winning and the darkness covering the land is like a mighty uppercut into the glass jaw of their false god. Imagine what the Egyptians must have thought. This man who they revered, who they praised and worshiped, was really just a man. He was not a god. He was just like them.

That’s a darkness you can feel.

Have you ever heard it said that it is best not to meet your heroes. Do you know why people say that phrase? They say that phrase because when you meet your heroes, you discover that they don’t measure up. They are just like me. Just like you. Made not of cosmic wonder and star dust. They are made of the same stuff that you and I are made of…flesh and blood.

Still, a darkness that you can feel means more than just a tearing down of Pharaoh as a false god. Darkness, at least in this case, is a symbol of God’s judgement against the Egyptians.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “well no duh preacher, I knew that”.

I hear you but sometimes I think we miss out on how horrible God’s judgement can be, how horrible it is, and how horrible it is to be under God’s judgment.

Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 16:10-11. John the Apostle records another plague of darkness but this plague is in the future. Listen to what he says:

Revelation 16:10-11 NLT

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, [11] and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

In both cases, both past and future plagues, were poured out upon people who remained disobedient and unrepentant towards God. In both cases, the darkness was so dark that it actually caused pain. They raised their fists at God and cursed Him.

That is darkness that you can feel. Have you ever been under God’s conviction? Now Im talking to Christians. As Christians we know what God expects of us. We know that we are called to live righteously. We are to live holy. What happens to us when we disobey? Well if you are a true child of God, you experience discipline when you disobey. Godly discipline should lead to a new human direction. Better to receive discipline that you can feel than the darkness of God’s judgement.

The Egyptians were under God’s judgement. Symbolic of His judgement was darkness. That is a darkness that even and unbeliever could feel.

In the Bible, darkness is linked to God's abandonment. The teachings of the Bible reveal that our God is characterized by light. Therefore, when darkness is present as a sign of judgment, it symbolizes His removal from a situation where blessings were once present. When God withdraws Himself, leaving darkness in His wake, it serves as an indication of His abandonment of that situation for blessings. Ultimately, His withdrawal leaves only darkness behind.

God, in the case of the Egyptians and their Pharaoh, had abandoned the Egyptians. Folks, that is a darkness that YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY FEEL!

Now here is the good news for you today, God will not abandoned His children. He won’t! He can’t! He promises over and over and over again that He will not forsake us. He is a good good Father. Nevertheless, will God stand by and bless individuals, groups, even countries that continually thumb their noses at Him? Will He bless people when they walk down roads of destruction?

No! He won’t. If man looks at God squarely and tells Him that he wants nothing to do with God, that he hates God, that he will not follow God’s ways, then God will not force Himself upon anyone.

The saddest, scariest thing that God can do is turn us over to ourselves. Beware of that darkness. That is a darkness that you can feel.

Matthew 6:23 AMP

But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!

II. A Darkness That Can Cause A Fall v.s. 23-26

So, our first point this morning was a darkness that could be felt. Our second point today is a spiritual darkness, a darkness that can cause a fall. Let’s look at verse 23-26 this morning.

Exodus 10:23-24 NLT

During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived. [24] Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. "Go and worship the LORD," he said. "But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you."

Again, we see a picture here of just how dark, physically dark, it was in Egypt. It was so dark that people would not could not move. That’s pretty scary right. Imagine you have lived your entire life able to see, now suddenly that is gone. Your eyes work but they cannot see anything. You can hear the shouts of your wife, the groans of your children, you can hear the calls of your animals and pets, but you cannot see them. You probably were just thinking the day before about all the calamity that you have experienced in Egypt. You thought to yourself, at least you have regained your health after the boils have passed. Then you awoke the next morning to thick darkness. A darkness that you could feel. A deep, oppressive, tyrannical darkness.

You get up but you cannot move because you bump into things. Your family stumbles, trips and falls. Your children are injured because they cannot see.

This is a new hell that you have found yourself in.

This is an apt description of hell. God has in some ways brought hell to earth. Instead of praying for heaven to be brought to earth, God has brought darkness, He has brought hell to Egypt.

This is a physical darkness. Pharaoh was not just experiencing a physical darkness, he was experiencing a blanket of darkness in his heart. That darkness caused him to make terrible decisions. Again, look at what Pharaoh decides:

Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. "Go and worship the LORD," he said. "But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you."

Moses has told Pharaoh what God wants but Pharaoh continues to try to go to God on his terms, not God’s. Look what happens, Pharaoh stumbles not because of the physical darkness that he is experiencing, he stumbles because of the darkness in his heart.

Oh friends, what a dangerous thing to possess, a darkened heart. Exodus records that Pharaoh had a hardened heart. Perhaps worse than a hardened heart is a darkened heart. Darkened hearts cause damage, lead to discouragement, and disillusionment.

You know what is super interesting about this story? The fact that Hebrews lived in the light. You had God’s people, people of light, living in a land of darkness. The light of God filled their work when their world was dark. The light of the God filled their home when the rest of their world was dark. The light of God filled their families when the rest of their world was dark. Somehow, in dark times, God’s people shined under the glow of God’s radiance, His power and His strength.

Isn’t if funny that the Hebrews were once slaves to the Egyptians. Now their captors were slaves to the darkness, forced to live in dark huddles until the light broke. Now those that enslaved them were slaves themselves to the darkness while they enjoyed the warm glow of God’s presence.

This reminds me of Ephesians 5:8.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

Live as people of light. What should we do as followers of God living in a dark land? Live as people of light.

What should we do when our culture degrades around us? Live as people of light.

What should we do when our families are attacked? Live as people of light.

What should we do when God’s Holy Word is dismissed, ridiculed, and mocked? Live as people of light.

What should we do when we are persecuted? Live as people of light.

What should we do when our children rebel? Live as people of light.

What should we do when our culture tells us up is down, down is up, boys are girls, girls are boys? Live as people of light.

What should we do when we see injustice, people who are poor being abused, when racism rears its head? Live as people of light.

Brothers and sisters, are you burdened for those living in the land of darkness? Imagine having the light, possessing the light, and not sharing it with those who desperately need it. Do me a favor this morning, flip in your Bible to Matthew 5:14-16. If you have the light, if you possess the light of Christ, then we should share it with those living darkness.

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT

"You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Let your light shine friends.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

John 11:10 ESV

But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

III. A Darkness That Can Ruin The Future vs. 27-28

So, our last point this morning is a spiritual darkness, a darkness that can ruin the future. Boy is that ever a true statement. Do you know what happens to people who die in darkness? If they die in darkness, having never experienced the light, they remain in darkness forever. That would be a tragic horrible outcome. Let’s read verses 27-28.

Exodus 10:27-29 NLT

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, and he would not let them go. [28] "Get out of here!" Pharaoh shouted at Moses. "I'm warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!" [29] "Very well," Moses replied. "I will never see your face again."

Moses indeed will never ever see the face of Ramses again. The Pharaoh becomes so angry, he embraces his arrogance, and his annoyance finally pushes him over the edge. You and I know what’s coming next. The 10th and final plague. We will look at that one in just a moment.

When I read this last passage, do you know what went through my mind?

Time’s up!

Pharaoh has made the final critical error that will seal his fate and the fate of millions of others. He makes a final denial of Moses. He makes his final denial of God’s message.

Time’s up!

So, you all know that Angela and I have been raising 3 boys. Ive got to be honest, Im really proud of my kids. No, they are not perfect but I doubt many of you understand what it is like to grow up in our house. From the day they were brought into this house, they received something that they never asked for, to live in a fishbowl. They never asked to be viewed. They never asked to have every action seen or every decision scrutinized. Let me tell you folks, being a preacher’s kid is tough. Saying that, I am so thankful that our kids love the church. You have been a huge part in their up brining. Without you, my boys would not be where they are today. You are a part of their legacy. You have made them what they are today.

I have a senior. In just a few months he will be out of my home for good. Things will never be the same after he graduates from high school and that’s ok. We knew that day would arrive and frankly we are raised him to be prepared to be separated from us, to live on his own, and to make his own way.

I have told him the same thing that my father told me. I told Jay that I am always here to help him. Even though he may not live under my roof, he will still be under my umbrella of protection. So that’s number one.

Number two, I will still provide for him. He cannot fully support himself when he is at school. He willed our help. We will continue to provide for him.

Number three, he can always come home. There is shelter here. He can come home to get out of the rain, to find shelter in the storm. The light will always be on and the door will always be open.

This is the most important thing that I have told him. When he goes to school, he will have to make a choice about faith. No one will wake him up to come to church. No one will roll him out of bed. No one will make him serve. His faith, the faith of his father, will have to be his. He will have to own it or disown it.

He will have to make a choice that will impact his future.

When he leaves this home, when our lives suddenly change, he will reach the point of no return and time will in fact be up.

Will he choose faith, belief? Angela and I pray what all parents pray. We pray that all of our kids made the decision to follow Christ and resume the life of a disciple.

The Pharaoh made a different decision. He hit the point of no return. He made a crucial decision that led to a critical error. A decision that would impact his future in terrible ways.

Illustration:

Friends do you know what this is? Probably not. Friday, Bill Browning who is our Senior Adult Pastor and I visited with Bill and Camilla Butler at their home. This is something that Bill and I do each week. We go out visiting and fellowshipping with some of our older members. Folks that may be homebound or unable to come to church.

While we were visiting with Bill, he passed along a year book from 1925. Wow, this yearbook is nearly 100 years old now. The yearbook was from the original Daphne High School but it was not called Daphne High School. It was called the Daphne State Normal. It was a prep school that trained students to become teachers. The school used to be on the site of the Nicholson Center down on College Street. Some of you know exactly what I am talking about.

As I thumbed through the pages of the annual, do you know what I discovered? There is not one student, not one teacher, that is still alive. In fact, all the young faces that are captured on the pages in this yearbook have been gone for decades now. They are a distant memory.

I also discovered that the teenagers of 1925 are pretty much the same of teenagers today. For instance…each student has a quote and a wish by their picture. Listen to some of their wishes, listen to their hopes.

Myra Middleton wants to find one blond who isn’t jealous.

Mabel Smith wants to have dates until 10 o ’clock.

Ninette Huffman wants to get the most out of life.

Saidye D’Olive wants to capture hearts.

And Claudius Jordan wants to win the girl he loves.

Isn’t that funny? Each and every name that I just read, every name with every wish and desire, they are all gone now. They were young once but they are no longer here. I wonder what they would tell us today.

Make the most of ever decision.

Be wise.

Work is important, but play is more important.

Family above all.

Keep God first, everything else will fall into place.

That is what I imagine they would tell us this morning.

Don’t be like Pharaoh. God is calling you this morning. Calling you to wisdom. Calling you to obedience. Calling you out of darkness and into His glorious light.

Remember the words of I Samuel 2:9…

I Samuel 2:9 ESV

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness…

Walk In The Light As He Is In The Light!

Bibliography

Websites:

https://christianfaithguide.com/how-many-times-is-darkness-mentioned-in-the-bible/

https://tjustincomer.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/darkness-you-can-feel-exodus-1021-29/

https://www.jewishvoicesnj.org/articles/but-the-israelites-had-light-in-their-dwellings/

https://www.esv.org/Isaiah+9:2;Matthew+4:16;Acts+26:18;John+8:12/

https://tjustincomer.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/darkness-you-can-feel-exodus-1021-29/

https://rts.edu/resources/the-ninth-plague-darkness/