Long Night

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Exodus 10:21-29

TO CHEW ON: Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
 “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.” Exodus 10:28,29


What is the darkest place you have ever been? Did you know that in complete darkness you can’t see the step in front of you or your fingers right in front of your eyes?

When Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go after everything that had happened (Nile water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, sick cattle, boils, hailstones and locusts), God sent darkness.

Imagine sleeping all night but in the morning when it’s time to get up – no light! And then imagine only heavy darkness through a second day, and a third. The people began to panic. What if it always stayed dark? What if the sun never came out again?



But, was it dark where the Israelites lived? ___________ (Exodus 10:23).

After three days Moses got this message, “Come to the palace. Pharaoh wants to talk.”

However, when Moses and Aaron came, Pharaoh wanted to make his own rules. “The people can go,” he said. “Even the children. But you must leave your animals here.”

“No way!” was Moses’ reply. “Not a hoof will be left behind.”

Pharaoh lost his temper. What did he shout at Moses and Aaron as they left? _______ (Exodus 10:28).

PRAYER: Dear God, You knew how to wear down Pharaoh. Thank You that You still know how to wear down the hearts of those who are Your enemies. Amen.


MORE: Amon-Ra
The plague of darkness would have been especially frightening to the Egyptian people and Pharaoh because they worshiped the sun as their most important god (Amon-Ra). They thought Pharaoh was this god in human form. Can you imagine how they felt when for three days the sun didn’t show up – and even Pharaoh, who was supposed to have a god's power, couldn’t do anything about it?

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.