Reference

Exodus 9:13-10:29

Sermon Slides

Sermon Notes

I. ________________ (9:13-35)

A. ________________ (v. 13-21)

B. A ________________ hail storm hits Egypt (v. 22-26)

C. Pharaoh’s  ________________ (v. 27-33)

D.  ________________ heart (v. 34-35)

II. ________________ (10:1-20)

A. God’s sovereign ________________ (10:1-6)

Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? 

  1. He may do His miraculous ________________ (v. 1)
  2.  ________________ generations will know God’s acts (v. 2a)
  3. You will  ________________ that the LORD is God (v. 2b)

B.  ________________ overwhelms Egypt (v. 12-20)

 III. ________________ (10:21-29)

A. De-creation ________________ (v. 21-23)

B. Pharaoh’s ________________ negotiation (v. 24-29)

Are you heavy today?

  1. Fix your  ________________ on Jesus (Heb. 12:1-3)
  2.  ________________ yourself with Jesus (Matt. 11:28-30)

Going Deeper

  1. The Israelites were likely not the only slaves in Egypt. Scholars tell us that other groups asked to worship their gods and the Egyptians usually made provisions for them. Why is it different for the Hebrews? There were so many of them – they were a legitimate nation within Egypt. Pharaoh knows if they leave, they may never come back. He wants to keep a tight grip on them. That’s why in the second cycle of plagues he requests they stay in the land OR at least not go very far. It is clear to Moses and Pharaoh that once Israel gets out, they do not intend to return.
  2. Read about the plagues the Lord sent on Egypt in Psalm 78:47-50. Why did the Lord do this (see Exodus 9:14, 16, 29)?
  3. There is redemption available to Egypt. R. Kent Hughes: “Isaiah promised a day when God would say, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people,’ and when the Egyptians would acknowledge him as Lord (Isa. 19:19-25). These promises were fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church and Egyptians heard the apostles declare ‘the wonders of God’ in their own language (Acts 2:5-11).” Alan Cole says: “all the plagues came in mercy, rather than judgment; for each one was an opportunity for pharaoh to repent. Instead, he hardened his heart.” How will you respond to the Lord today?
  4. Read Ex. 9:27-28. R. Kent Hughes: “A confession that acknowledges sin without fearing God is a false confession that falls short of true repentance…. [Pharaoh] was afraid of the plagues, but he did not fear God. To put this another way, he hated the consequences of sin without ever learning to hate the sin itself.” Read Prov. 28:13. What should we do about our sin?
  5. J. Alec Motyer: “[God’s] purposes are not hindered by Pharaoh’s opposition, Moses’ inadequacies or Israel’s unworthiness.” God does all His will! How does this bring you comfort? How does it make you uneasy?
  6. Read Ex. 10:1-2. God reveals why he has hardened Pharaoh’s heart: that He may do His miraculous signs, future generations will know God’s acts of redemption and you will know that the Lord is God. Peter Enns says: “God’s actions in Egypt with the Exodus generation are not meant to be kept secret. They must be told and remembered in future generations.” How are you sharing God’s acts with the next generation in your life?
  7. Locusts are sent by God in the book of Joel (ch. 1-2). When the locusts hit Egypt how does Pharaoh respond (Ex. 10:16-17)? Is it real repentance? How do we know?
  8. Read Ex. 10:23. What kind of darkness is this? How long does it last? Who is spared? How is this the final act of de-creation (Gen. 1:2-3)?
  9. How does Pharaoh try to negotiate in v. 24-26?
  10. What is Pharaoh’s final word in v. 28? Peter Enns: “Pharaoh’s pronouncement will come back to haunt him. He and Moses will meet again at the Red Sea, but it is not Moses who dies, but Egypt.”
  11. J. Alec Motyer: “Possibly the most obvious truth arising from the history of the plagues is of the immense, irresistible power of the Lord, its total command of every possible resource and its total sway over the whole field of human life – place, person and event. All things, and everything, all peoples and every person lie ‘uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”
  12. Desmond Alexander: “Centuries later, Jesus Christ will also perform ‘signs’ as a testimony to his divine power (John 20:30-31), but in keeping with his mission there are signs of salvation, bringing life rather than death.”
  13. Are you feeling heaviness today?  Fix your eyes on Jesus (read Hebrews 12:1-3) Yoke yourself with Jesus (read Matthew 11:28-30)