Coachlight Bible Study – Exodus Lesson 10a – Part II
Yahweh Revealed Who He Is, Pharaoh Revealed Who he Is
God has been making it clear to
everyone that He, not Moses or anyone else is going to deliver
The Lord God of
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Genesis 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
Genesis
Genesis
Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
Genesis 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Genesis
Genesis
Genesis
As God appeared to Moses for the first time and gave Moses his commission, God said:
Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
After Moses’ first two excuses, God said:
Exodus 3:18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
Exodus 3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite
Exodus 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
God reassured Moses with a lesson that all God needed was
Moses’ heart and his hand. Then after Moses’ forth excuse, two
objections, and as Moses was in the process of questioning God’s plan after
being rejected by Pharaoh and
Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exodus 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
Exodus 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the
children of
Exodus 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exodus 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
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The Seven “I Wills” Of Deliverance |
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Designation |
1st I Will |
2nd I Will |
3rd I Will |
4th I Will |
5th I Will |
6th I Will |
7th I Will |
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Description |
Bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians |
Rid you out of their bondage |
Redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments |
Take you to me for a people |
Be to you a God |
Bring you in unto the land |
Give it you for an heritage |
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Passage |
Exodus 6:6b |
Exodus 6:6c |
Exodus 6:6d |
Exodus 6:7a |
Exodus 6:7b |
Exodus 6:8a |
Exodus 6:8b |
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Type |
The “Love of this world” that burdens the heart |
The bondage of sin |
Our Savior, Who Stretches out His Hand |
God’s Son Who adopted us as sons |
God loving us because it is His nature to love us |
Our position with Christ after deliverance |
Earnest of our inheritance until the purchased possession |
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Application |
I John 2:15-17 |
Romans 7:20-24 |
Isaiah 53:1-6 |
Galatians 4:3-7 |
John |
Ephesians 2:4-10 |
Ephesians 1:10-14 |
Finally, after two more Moses objections, including the lesson to not place confidence in the flesh, God reassures Moses by the definition of the word “prophet.”
Exodus 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Exodus 7:2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
Exodus 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 7:4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Exodus 7:5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
Now Moses is ready to be a part of God’s plan. Moses had tried to be a priest when God wanted Moses to be a prophet. A prophet is one who comes from the people and speaks for God. A priest is the very opposite of this. A priest is one who represents the people to God. A priest does not speak for God, and a prophet does not represent the people. God is always in the process of putting the human element or the “flesh” out of the way, because the “flesh” has no part in a Holy God’s Plan.
We can see that God was in the process of preparing Pharaoh in His plan as well. God said, …”I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my sign and my wonders in the land of Egypt.” In other places, the bible tells us that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. This should be a reminder to us of Proverbs 4:
Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Proverbs 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Proverbs 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
In other words, God’s part in hardening Pharaoh’s heart was to put circumstances in front of Pharaoh, so that what is really in Pharaoh’s heart is revealed. God places these circumstances in front of Pharaoh in the form of a miracle and twelve plagues upon Egypt. From these, God reveals Who He Is, who Pharaoh really is, and Demonstrates to Israel that He can not only deliver them from Egypt, but be their loving God after the deliverance.
During these plagues, Pharaoh reveals who he is in the form of four compromises with Moses. While this was a great lesson for Moses, it is also a great lesson for us today. God’s Word to Moses was specific, even from the beginning in Genesis 15. Moses was prepared by God not to compromise with God’s Word. Those four compromises have direct applications for today’s world, and God is in the process of preparing us for the task.
I. The Miracles And Plagues Directed Against Egyptian Religion
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
A. Egyptians Had Changed Monotheism Into Polytheism
1. A study of the plagues involves zoology
2. The gods of Egypt were animal, bird, or insect
B. Paul wrote about this in Romans:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
C. The Egyptians Believed in a God Creator
1. According to Sir Walter Budge of Egyptian Book of the Dead:
”They believed in the existence of one great God, self-produced, self existent, almighty, and eternal. “…this being is too great and mighty to concern himself with the affairs and destinies of human beings”
2. He went on to say:
“…permited the management of this world … to fall into the hands of hordes of gods and demons, and good and bad spirits.”
D. The Plagues Were A Battle Between God And The gods of Egypt
1. The plagues were very organized
2. The plagues were directed toward the idolatry of Egypt
E. Egyptian Religion Symbolized Everything
1. Egyptians took ideas and made an image or idol of it
2. Every phase of life was depicted by a deity and idol of that deity
F. Each Plague Was Leveled At A Different god and worship of Egypt
G. The Religion Of Egypt Was Powerful – Type Of Last Days Religion
1. They had thousands of temples
2. They had millions of idols
3. They had about three thousand gods
4. Their ministers had satanic power
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
II Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
II. Ancient Egyptian Creation Story
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Ancient Egyptian Creation Story |
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Sir Wallace Budge: “They, (ancient Egyptians), believed in the existence of one great God, self-produced, self-existent, almighty and eternal….This being was too great and mighty to concern Himself with the affairs and destinies of human beings.” “…permited the management of this world … to fall into the hands of hordes of gods and demons, and good and bad spirits.” |
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At first, there was only Nun. Nun was the dark waters of chaos. |
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One day, a hill rose up out of the waters. This hill was called Ben-Ben. |
On this hill stood Atum, the first god. |
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Atum coughed and spat out Shu, the god of the air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture. |
Shu and Tefnut had two children. First, there was Geb, the god of the earth. Then, there was Nut, the goddess of the sky. |
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Shu lifted Nut up so that she became a canopy over Geb. |
Nut and Geb had four children named Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. |
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. Osiris was the king of the earth and Isis was the queen. Osiris was a good king, and he ruled over the earth for many years. |
However, everything was not well. Seth was jealous of Osiris because he wanted to be the ruler of the earth. He grew angrier and angrier until one day he killed Osiris |
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Osiris went down into the underworld and Seth remained on earth and became king. |
Osiris and Isis had one son called Horus. Horus battled against Seth and regained the throne. After that, Horus was the king of the earth and Osiris was the king of the underworld. The End |
III. Crocodile Worship Prominent In Egypt – God’s First Attack
Exodus 7:8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Exodus 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.<08577>
Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.<08577>
Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exodus 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents:<08577> but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Exodus 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
08577 Nynt tanniyn tan-neen' or Mynt tanniym (#Eze 29:3) tan-neem' - intensive from the same as 08565; n m;
dragon 21, serpent 3, whale 3, sea monster 1; 28
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake
A. Pharaoh Was Going To Need Some Credentials From Moses
B. Aaron’s Rod Was The Badge Of Authority
C. The word translated “serpent” is a different word used in chapter 4
1. In chapter 4, the word was nachsach, which only means serpent
2. Here, the word is tanniym, which is never translated serpent except here
a. In Isaiah and Ezekiel it is translated “dragon”
b. It has a satanic meaning, probably why KJV translators translated “serpent”
c. In Egypt it means crocodile
d. The crocodile had a large place in the religion and worship in Egypt
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Crocodile Deities |
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Sebek - Appearance: Man with the head of a crocodile and a headdress of feathers and a sun-disk Sebek was a Nile god.
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Sobek in crocodile form Sebek was connected with the Nile, and protected the king. Live crocodiles were kept in pools at temples built to honour Sebek. A crocodile-god, he was worshipped and the reptiles were kept in pools and adorned with jewels. Hundreds of the animals have been found mummified. In the Book of the Dead, he assists in the birth of Horus and helps to destroy Seth. He also retrieved the Four Sons of Horus from the waters of Nun was the request of Ra. |
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Apep(Apophis) Apep was a huge serpent (or crocodile) which lived in the waters of the Nile. Each day he attempted to disrupt the passage of the solar barque of Ra. In some myths, Apep was an earlier and discarded sun-god himself. This helps to explain the snake's strength and his resentment of the daily journey of the sun. In Seth's battle for the throne of Egypt, he claimed that he was stronger than Horus because it was he that stood at the prow of the solar barque and defeated the enemies of Ra. Apep was a genuine threat to Re and his daily travels. At times he was successful and when this occurred stormy weather would occur. When Apep swallowed the barque, there was a solar eclipse. He never had a lasting victory though because of the prayers of the priests and religious. A book called, The Books of Overthrowing Apep contained a list of his secret names and a number of hymns that celebrate Re's victories. According to the book, Apep had been previously killed, hacked to pieces, dismembered and thrown into the abyss. However, he always came back to life to attack Re the next day. Egyptians would go to the temples and make images of snakes out of wax. They would spit in the images, then burn and mutilate them. Doing this and reciting the spells in the Books of Overthrowing Apep helped ensure Ra's continued success and victory over the snake. |
D. Crocodile Worship Very Prominent In Egypt
1. Sebek was a deity of evil with a crocodile head
2. Apep, in form of a crocodile, was the arch enemy of the solar gods
3. Egyptians Magical Ritual Performed In Temple Of Amon-Ra
a. Apep endeavored everyday to prevent the rising of the sun god Ra
b. Apep stirred up lightening, thunder, tempests, storms, hurricanes, and rain
c. Apep tried to hide the sun by with clouds, mist, fog, and blackness
d. The Egyptian ritual was to try and destroy Apep
E. Pharaoh’s Wise Men Imitate This Miracle
1. They cast down their rods and they became crocodiles
2. But God delivers a blow to their crocodile worship –
a. Aaron’s rod swallowed all their crocodiles
b. The Egyptians worshipped the crocodile
c. But Aaron’s rod ate up all the magician’s crocodiles
E. Pharaoh Hardened His Heart
1. Pharaoh should have been impressed by the magician’s crocodiles being eaten
2. But Pharaoh hardened his heart
3. This is just as the Lord had said.
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God’s First Blow To Egypt’s gods – An Attack On Crocodile Worship |
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Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.<08577> (Crocodile) |
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Complete Passage |
Exodus 7:8-13 |
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Religious Situation In Egypt |
Egyptians Hold A Ritual Everyday To Destroy Apep, So The Sun god Ra Would Shine On Egypt |
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Egyptian gods Directed Against |
Sebek – An Evil deity With A Crocodile Head And Apep, Appeared In The Form Of A Crocodile, Was The Arch Enemy Of The Sun god Ra. |
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Affect On Egypt |
Pharaoh’s Wise Men And Sorcerers Cast Down Their Rods, And The Rods Become Crocodiles |
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Affect On The Egyptian Religion |
Although The Egyptians Worship The Crocodile, It Is Aaron’s Rod That Swallows Up Their Crocodiles |
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Affect On Pharaoh |
After Seeing This Spectacle, Pharaoh Hardened His Heart As Yahweh Had Said |
IV. Battle of the Gods - The ancient Egyptians believed in many different gods and goddesses. Each one with their own role to play in maintaining peace and harmony across the land.
Some gods and goddesses took part in creation, some brought the flood every year, some offered protection, and some took care of people after they died. Others were either local gods who represented towns, or minor gods who represented plants or animals.
The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to recognise and worship these gods and goddesses so that life continued smoothly.
A. As God Was Announcing The Final Blow, He Said:
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
B. Yahweh Now Systematically Proves The Egyptian gods Inept And Helpless
C. Some Of The Plagues Caused Pharaoh to Offer Compromises To Moses
1. The water of the Nile turned to blood
2. The plague of frogs
3. The plague of lice
4. The plague of flies (Sacred scarab)
a. During this plague Pharaoh made the compromise - sacrifice in the land
b. During this plague, Pharaoh made the compromise - don’t go very far
5. The plague of the murrain on the cattle
6. The plague of boils on man and beast
7. The plague of hail
8. The plague of locusts
During this plague, Pharaoh made the compromise – leave your children
9. The plague of darkness
During this plague Pharaoh made the compromise – leave your flocks
10. The Death Angel visits Egypt
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Brief Overview Of The Plagues Directed Against The gods Of Egypt |
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Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. |
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Plague |
Water Turned To Blood |
Frogs |
Lice |
Flies Actually Beetles (Scarabs) |
Murrain On The Cattle |
Boils |
Hail |
Locusts |
Darkness |
Death Of The First Born |
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Passage |
Exodus 7:19-25 |
Exodus 8:1-15 |
Exodus 8:16-20 |
Exodus 8:20-32 |
Exodus 9:1-7 |
Exodus 9:8-17 |
Exodus 9:18-35 |
Exodus 10:1-20 |
Exodus 10:21-29 |
Exodus 11:1-10 |
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Religious Situation In Egypt |
Nile Thought To Bring Life Out Of Death Every Spring |
Frogs Were Sacred Not Supposed To Kill Them |
Egyptians Worshipped The Earth god, Geb |
Scarabs Sacred To Ra
Spoke Of Eternal Life |
Egyptians Worshiped The Black Bull god, Apis |
Priests Had To Be Spotless, No Disease In Order To Serve |
The Sky goddess, Nut Said To Be A Canopy Protecting Egypt |
People Could Not Worship, They Had To Find Food |
The Sun god Was The Most Important god In Egypt |
The Firstborn Designated To The gods of Egypt |
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God’s Word To Moses |
Exodus 7:14-19 |
Exodus 8:1-5 |
Exodus 8:16 |
Exodus 8:20-23 |
Exodus 8:1-5 |
Exodus 9:8-9 |
Exodus 9:13-22 |
Exodus 10:1-2 |
Exodus 10:21 |
Exodus 11:1-2 |
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Egyptian god Directed Against |
Nile god, Hapi Nile Was Sacred To Osirus |
Heka, The Ugly Frog Headed goddess |
Geb, Earth god – Made Report To Osirus About The Harvest |
Kepara, The Beetle God And RA |
Apis, The Black Bull |
Judgment Against All The Egyptian Religion |
Nut, The Sky goddess |
Egyptian Life In General – All gods powerless |
Ra, The Sun god |
All gods and Pharaoh |
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Affect On Egypt |
Caused The Nile To Bring Death for 7 Days |
Hundreds Of Frogs Every Where - Heaps Of Frogs – Land Stank |
What Was Sacred To Geb The Egyptians Now Hated – Mites Are Scavengers |
Thousands Of Sacred Scarabs Everywhere |
Sacred Cattle With Fatal Disease |
All Worship Had To Stop Boils On Egyptians And Animals |
The Flax And Barley Was Smitten |
All Crops Left After Hail Eaten |
Egyptian Religion Devastated |
Egyptian belief That Pharaoh Was A god Devastated |
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Affect On The Egyptian Religion |
Priests Imitated This Plague, Powerless To Change Back |
Priests Duplicated This Plague |
Priests Could Not Duplicate |
Made Clear That Both Ra And Kepara Are Powerless Against Yahweh |
Egyptians Forced To Worship Sick Cattle |
Religious Rituals Came To A Screeching Halt |
The Sky goddess, Nut Shown Helpless Against Yahweh |
Pharaoh’s Servants Realize That The Israelites Are A Snare |
The Highest god Shown To Be Helpless Against Yahweh |
Demonstrated Completely Ineffective |
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Affect On Pharaoh |
Hardened His Heart |
After God Took Away The Frogs As Asked Pharaoh Hardened His Heart |
Did Not Ask For Plague To Be Removed |
Wanted To Compromise Then Hardened His Heart – As The Lord Had Said |
Pharaoh Hardened His Heart |
The Lord Hardened The Heart Of Pharaoh As The Lord Had Spoken To Pharaoh |
As Soon As Hail Ceased, He Hardened His Heart As Spoken By Moses |
Pharaoh Admitted He Had Sinned Against God, But Hardened His Heart After The Locusts Are Gone |
He Hardened His Heart |
Pharaoh Ordered Moses, Israelites, Their Children, Animals, And Possessions Out Of Egypt |
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Compromise Offered |
None |
None |
None |
1. Sacrifice In The Land 2. Don’t Go Very Far |
None |
None |
None |
Leave The Children |
Leave The Flocks |
None |
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Affect On Israel |
Same As Egypt |
Same As Egypt |
Same As Egypt |
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