The Sixth Plague (Ex. 98-12)

4/5/2008 8:26 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time           Focus:  The sixth plague

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Exodus 8:8-12

            Message of the verses:  “8 ¶  Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.  9  "It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt."  10  So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.  11  The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.  12  And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.”

            The sixth plague was not given with any warning to Pharaoh, but it was done in the presence of Pharaoh so that he could be an eyewitness to this event.  This plague affected the people of Egypt along with any animals that they had left after the fifth plague.  The eleventh verse speaks of how this plague affected the magicians who were standing with Pharaoh when this happened, but it is not clear whether or not Pharaoh was affected by this plague.  My best guess would be that he was affected by this plague.  The Egyptians were a very clean people as they took many baths and they kept their hair cut off as this must have been part of their religious way of life, and of course, this plague affected this practice in a very big way, not to mention the pain that this plague gave them.  In the end verse twelve says that “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would pray that I would never have a hard heart towards God but that I would fear the Lord as the Proverbs speak of.  In these plagues I can surely see the hand and the power of God working so that His will would be done as He is not only destroying Egypt, but is demonstrating to the children of Israel His power and greatness.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I trust the Lord to fulfill His promises that are given in Matthew 11:28-30 “28  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’”  I choose to yoke up with the Lord Jesus Christ today.

Memory verse for the week:                                   Philippians 3:7,8

7. But whatever things that were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.