February 10 Daily Devotional

Exodus 8–11

Moses and Aaron had to go to Pharaoh and tell him that another plague would come, if he refused to obey. The plague came. The Lord let frogs go up over the land of Egypt. They came into Pharaoh’s palace, into his bedroom and upon his bed. The wise men of Pharaoh made the king believe that they could do the same thing. Then he called Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people, and I will let the people go.” Moses cried to the Lord, and the frogs died. But Pharaoh hardened his heart.

After this “The Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.” Aaron smote the land and lice came upon man and beast. The wise men tried to do the same thing, but they could not. They said, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let Israel go.

After this the Lord sent swarms of flies upon Pharoah and upon his servants; the houses of the Egyptians were filled with them, but in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there were no flies. This time Pharaoh seemed to yield: he said, “I will let you go, only entreat for me.” Moses asked the Lord and the flies departed. But again the king hardened his heart.

After this a terrible disease came upon the animals of Egypt—the horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. Many of the animals died. But the king remained stubborn, he did not let Israel go.

A little later the Lord caused boils to break out on the people and the animals. The wise men could not stand before Pharaoh because of the boils. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, to oppose the will of the Lord.

The next plague was an awful thunderstorm with hail; its like had never been seen in Egypt. The hail did terrible damage in the fields. Many animals also were killed. It destroyed all the crops and broke down the trees. Pharaoh was frightened, and he promised to let the people go; but when the hail was gone, he again broke his word and would not let the Israelites leave the land.

After that the east wind brought locusts, that darkened the land; they ate what was left after the hail.

A thick darkness followed for three days—no sun, no moon, no stars shone. Pharaoh said they might go, but the herds and flocks they should leave in Egypt. Moses replied, this could not be done. Finally Pharaoh said to Moses, Get thee out of my sight, “for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.” And God told Moses, There shall be one plague more, after that he will let you go. All the firstborn shall die.