THE LIGHT TO HIS PEOPLE

April 18, 2013

THE LIGHT TO HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 10:19-29

Lauren Murray

Central Truth

Our Lord greatly cares for us as His people and has given us His Light and Truth so that we are no longer living in the darkness.

So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:22-23)

19 And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Can you imagine a darkness so thick that you cannot even see anyone else, and not just for a night but for three days? To the Egyptians, this must have been a terrifying time not knowing what would come next. They had already experienced water turning to blood, leaping frogs, nagging gnats, buzzing flies, dead livestock, festering boils, pounding hail, and the biggest swarm of locusts to ever come through Egypt.

The plagues must have left the Egyptians terrified. Now they had this time of darkness, one so black they did not even leave their homes. I don't know if you have ever been in the wilderness before a campfire has been lit or without a flashlight, but there is something mysterious and frightening about the dark. Little ones often cry for their parents at bedtime because they are scared of the dark.

In the midst of these dark days, however, the Lord did not forget His people. The Lord provided light in the Israelites' homes. This light must have brought God's people great comfort and deepened their faith. The light was evidence God was with them and loved them deeply.

As believers in Christ, we have been given an even greater Light through our Savior. Jesus said "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12) The Egyptians were living in visible darkness, but also living in the darkness of sin apart from the true Light as they rejected the God of Israel and worshiped false gods. To the believer, God says, "[Y]ou are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9)

We know the true Light, and it is our job to declare His love and mercy to the world and to bring the Light of the world to those who do not yet know Him!

1. Do you know this God who is the Light of the world? If not, we would love to tell you about Him! Post a comment to this Journey devotional, and we will follow up with you.

2. Are you telling others about His marvelous light that you have found?

3. When is the last time you shared what the Light of the world has done?