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Seven Lessons from the Plagues
There are seven insights we can glean from the plagues in Egypt recorded in the book of Exodus.
Israel Team will post an encouraging lesson from how the Jewish people responded to the plagues in Egypt over the next seven days
Lesson One: Overcoming a Darkness that Can be Felt.
The Coronavirus has covered the world with a sense of foreboding darkness. There is not only the darkness of fear that you can be infected by this unseen virus, but also the darkness of perplexity as you consider the options in your near and distant future that relate to your employment, income, business success, and financial stability. One thing is for certain: we are all surrounded by a dreadful darkness that seems to be closing in as each day passes.
The children of Israel lived in Egypt during the ten plagues God sent to that region because of Pharaoh’s harsh treatment of the Jews and his unwillingness to free them from 430 years of slavery and travel to the land God had promised their father, Abraham.
During the ninth plague of darkness that covered Egypt recorded in Exodus chapter 10, there is a remarkably encouraging lesson for us.
The darkness lasted three days and was so thick the Egyptians could not so much as see another person and as a result no one left their homes for the duration of the plague. Darkness socially isolates people from one another. The scriptures records that the darkness over the land was so thick it could be felt. This is true for our world during this seemingly endless season of social isolation.
However, right in the midst of this foreboding darkness there is a great sign of hope given to the Jewish people: “But all the people of Israel had light where they lived” (Exodus 10:23).
Imagine, Egypt was covered in darkness both inside and outside but the homes of the Jews were filled with light. Most likely the Jews “sheltered in place” during this plague so as to not get lost in the surrounding darkness.
The Bible records the Jews had “light where they lived.” The implication here is they kept living, hoping, and flourishing though surrounded by darkness.
The Bible says that, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Yes, darkness is all around us. As we shelter in place let’s keep living in the light of the hope only given by God. Instead of regressing in hopeless darkness this is a time to live and flourish knowing our trust and hope is in the light of the world.