The Victorious God

The plagues on Egypt are revealing the power and glory of our God.

Psalm 98:1-2
Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory. 2 The Lord has made his victory known; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.

First, a sign to Pharaoh: A Staff Becoming a Snake
Plague #1: Water of the Nile was Turned to blood
Plague #2: Invasion of Frogs
Plague #3: Invasion of Bnats
Plague #4: Invasion of Flies
Plague #5: Death of Livestock
Plague #6: Boils on the Skin of People
Plague #7: Natural Disaster of Hail
Plague #8: Invasion of Locusts

God is gracious towards his people and his enemies.

God demands complete obedience.

Plagues 9-10
Plague #9: Complete Darkness
Plague #10: The Death of the Firstborn

Exodus 10:22-23
So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. 23 One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were. Yet all the Israelites had light where they lived.

Exodus 10:25-26
“You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to prepare for the Lord our God. 26 Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind because we will take some of them to worship the Lord our God. We will not know what we will use to worship the Lord until we get there.”

Truth #1: Sometimes in our obedience we don’t know what the Lord will require of us until we get there.

Walking in obedience to the Lord is an act of faith.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Hebrews 11:7-8
By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family… 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.

Exodus 11:1-10
The Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you out of here. 2 Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold items.” 3 The Lord gave the people favor with the Egyptians. In addition, Moses himself was very highly regarded in the land of Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and the people. 4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, 5 and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at the grindstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock. 6 Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before or ever will be again. 7 But against all the Israelites, whether people or animals, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Get out, you and all the people who follow you. After that, I will get out.” And he went out from Pharaoh’s presence fiercely angry.9 The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.

Truth #2: God is faithful, he will fulfill his promises even when it seems impossible right now.

Exodus 11:1-2
The Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you out of here. 2 Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold items.”

Exodus 3:20-22
But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.

Exodus 6:1
But the Lord replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land.” God is faithful. He is trustworthy. His promises are assured.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. Stop looking at what is possible and stop focusing on what makes sense, rather trust him.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Truth #3: Rebellion against God is of utmost seriousness; God’s enemies earn his judgment and punishment, while God’s people receive his grace.

Exodus 11:4-7
So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, 5 and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at the grindstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock. 6 Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before or ever will be again. 7 But against all the Israelites, whether people or animals, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death…

Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment…

1 Peter 4:17-18
For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? The good news is that those who believe in Jesus will receive God’s grace rather than his wrath.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:17-18
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Conclusion – Response

Will you obey the Lord, even when you don’t fully understand? Will you give him a blank check over your life?

Will you trust that God is faithful and will fulfill his promises, even when it seems impossible?

Will you believe in the Lord and receive his grace?