In the following article you will find a brief commentary on Exodus 8, 9, and 10 that goes along with our Riverside Church Two Year Bible Reading Plan (Volume 1 & Volume 2). This plan will allow you to read the New Testament and Psalms once every year and the Old Testament once every two years.
Exodus 8-10
Nine Plagues
There are 10 plagues in all, but the first nine go together in groups of three.
We pick up in the middle of the first triad in chapter 8. Here, we see the power of the magicians of Egypt exhausted, as they are no longer able to copy the works of God. The purposes of God are now in full view as the magicians themselves testify, “This is the finger of God” (7:19).
The second triad (plagues 4-6) separate out the people of God. The land of Goshen is protected as God judges the enemies of his people. God’s power, unique and glorious, sanctifies his people.
The final triad (plagues 7-9) is particularly ominous: hail, locusts, and darkness. They communicate the terrible judgment and wrath of God against sin.
As in the seven “sign” miracles in the Gospel of John, we see that God reveals himself and purposes through his supernatural works. They are never arbitrary or just for the sake of the spectacular. They are revealing, and so as God answers prayer in your life, he is wanting to do more than just provide a need (which he often does of course) but he is giving you more – more of him and more knowledge of him!
