Exodus 8

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Second, Third, and Fourth Plagues

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God makes a distinction between powers with His judgments.

  2. God makes a distinction between peoples with His judgments.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t incite needless riots.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the religion of the Egyptians?

  2. How was the plague of frogs directed against the gods of Egypt?

  3. What was the difference between the third and fourth plague?

  4. Why were the Egyptian sorcerers able to duplicate some of the miraculous plagues, but not others?

  5. Who was affected by the fourth plague?

  6. Why did Moses refuse Pharaoh’s suggestion for the Israelites to offer sacrifices in the land of Egypt?

ANSWERS

  1. They were polytheistic; they worshiped many gods.

  2. One of the Egyptian gods was a goddess of birth and fertility. The image of this god had a frog’s head.

  3. The third plague was lice or gnats, and could have included flees and mosquitoes. The fourth plague of flies or swarms of insects could have included all kinds of insects, including the sacred beetle of Egypt.

  4. Because God showed a distinction between His power and the demonic powers used by the Egyptians

  5. Only the Egyptians; not God’s people, the Israelites.

  6. Only the Egyptians; not God’s people, the Israelites.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Recall Pharaoh’s willingness to let the Children of Israel go when he was suffering from the plagues. But when the plague was lifted he again hardened his heart. Too often, people cry out to God when they are in a crisis, but as soon as the heat is off they do their own thing. Discuss this human tendency. What is the solution?

  2. The Children of Israel were spared from some of the plagues upon Egypt – but not all of them. Likewise, Christians are not always delivered from the hardships of the Lord’s judgment upon this world – whether it be natural disasters or other forms of judgment. Yet many times God does draw a distinction between those who are His people and those who are not. Can you give an example of this?

CHALLENGE

  1. Moses refused to intentionally offend the Egyptians. This principle is taught in 1 Corinthians 10:32. Be sensitive with your approach to evangelism. Don’t incite needless riots.

KEY VERSES

  • “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.” Exodus 8:15

  • “Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth Lice, but they could not.” Exodus 8:18

  • “I will make a difference between My people and your people.” Exodus 8:23

Old Testament, Talks, ExodusRon ReidEXODUS 8