The reason for trials… (5 points)

• 1^st – FIFTH plague – Financial ruin… vs. 1-7
  • 1^st – In the world – not of the world… vs. 1
    • God commanded Moses to return to Pharoah – He was to tell (piel) him…
      • The Lord the God of the Hebrews says – let my people GO (imperative) …
      • HEBREW – 34x in OT – one from beyond – not of this world…
      • If the people of Israel had lived like the Egyptians – they would NOT have had problems…
      • But God called them HEBREWS – NOT part of the world – separate from the world…
      • Because they were NOT part of Egypt – they suffered persecution FROM the Egyptians…
      • The Egyptians / Pharaoh wanted to keep the Hebrews from serving the Lord!
    • In the same way God has called the church to be set apart from the world…
      • The NT word for church – ekklesia – means to be called out of the world!
      • If we were of this world – doing worldly things – the world would love us
      • Yet because we are not of this world – the world hates us – tries to keep us from Jesus!
      • John 15:19 – “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
  • 2^nd – Financial ruin… vs. 2-5
    • IF Pharaoh REFUSED – and still HELD [חָזַק] them – still HARDENED his heart…
      • God would bring a VERY SEVERE plague on their animals – they would all die…
      • God had given INCONVENIENT plagues up to this point – blood / frogs / lice / flies…
      • The FIFTH plague would have a HUGE financial impact on the Egyptians…
      • As an agrarian / farming society they depended heavily on their animals…
      • If INCONVENIENCE would NOT get their ATTENTION – next step was their pocketbooks!
    • God is always trying to get our ATTENTION – II Peter 3:9
      • If people ignore the Lord – He is willing to do anything to try and get their ATTENTION…
      • Often the KEY for people to be willing to listen is hardships / problems…
      • It is the people going through tough times – which suddenly show up to church!
      • Financial hardships – even ruin – are often the Lord trying to get our ATTENTION…
      • Many people depend on money – rather than the Lord – so God lets the money FAIL…
      • The solution to financial hardships – trust in the Lord – Matthew 6:33
  • 3^rd – Passing the blame… vs. 6–7
    • Not even ONE of the livestock of the children of Israel perished…
      • God again made the distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites
      • Pharaoh saw that the Israelites were untouched – while Egypt was devastated!
    • Rather than repent – seeing it was his REFUSAL that caused all the problem…
      • Pharaoh instead blamed God – he HARDENED [כָּבַד] his heart once again towards the Lord!
      • When we see other people being blessed by God – but our life is FALLING apart…
      • Rather than seeing our RESONSIBILITY – taking ACCOUNTABILITY for our actions…
      • We want to BLAME anyone but us – rather than take the BLAME…
      • It is far easier to just pass the BLAME onto someone else – even God…
      • Because then it was NOT our fault – and we do NOT have to do anything!
      • Proverbs 28:13-14 – “He who covers his sins will not prosper… he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

• 2^nd – SIXTH plague – Physical ruin… vs. 8-12
  • 1^st – Boils on both man and beast… vs. 8-10
    • God commanded Moses ASH into the air – and it became boils on man and beast…
    • Having ignored INCONVENIENCE and FINANCIAL RUIN – God took away their HEALTH…
    • We tend to think we are indestructible – invincible – nothing can touch us…
    • We tend to think we will live forever – we tend to avoid even talking about death…
    • We forget that our lives are like a wisp of smoke – here today gone tomorrow – James 4:14
    • God in His grace – will take our health – if it means saving our soul…
    • Better to suffer physical pain for a few years – and have eternity with Jesus in heaven…
    • Then to live a pain free life here for a few years – and spend eternity in hell…
    • The solution to physical hardships – trust in the Lord – James 5:15
  • 2^nd – Proven fools… vs. 11
    • The men who had resisted Moses – been so influential in hardening the heart of Pharaoh…
    • Now were PROVEN to be FOOLS – could not stand before Moses – struck down by the boils!
    • II Timothy 3:8 – “Everyone will recognize what fools… just as with Jannes and Jambres.”
    • Do NOT be concerned about the people who give us a hard time for following Jesus…
    • It will NOT be long before everyone recognizes their foolishness!
  • 3^rd – The Lord hardened [חָזַק] the heart of Pharoah… vs. 12
    • This is the FIRST time the Lord hardens the heart of Pharoah…
    • It does not mean God REMOVED his choice – in means God CONFIMRED it…
    • SEVEN times Pharaoh had CHOSEN to harden his heart – now God AFFIRMED his choice!

• 3^rd – SEVENTH plague – Choose life… vs. 13-35
  • 1^st – That you may KNOW… vs. 13-17
    • God sent a SEVENTH plague – this time upon the people of Egypt…
      • INCONVENIENCE / FINANCIAL RUIN / and POOR HEALTH had been ignored…
      • Now God would go for the heart – for the FIRST time there would be DEATH…
      • Not all of the Egyptians would DIE – God was still merciful!
    • If God wanted – He COULD have wiped them all out…
      • God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire – Genesis 19:24-25
      • God killed 185k Assyrian solders with ONE angel – Isaiah 37:36
      • Wiping out the population of Egypt was certainly within His power!
      • That would have been one way to REDEEM the people of Israel…
      • But God did NOT want to destroy the Egyptians – He wanted them to KNOW Him…
      • God would do that by showing His power through the HARDNESS of Pharoah!
    • If Pharaoh had let Israel go the FIRST time Moses asked…
      • The Egyptians would have continued worshiping all their FALSE gods…
      • The world would never have heard about the AWESOME power of God…
      • It was through these plagues – EGYPT got to see God do a work!
    • Israel was allowed to SUFFER for EGYPT…
      • There was anything lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus – the cross…
      • When the work was done Jesus said – It is finished – nothing needed to be added!
      • But we were not there to see the cross – we did not see Jesus die…
      • Paul was allowed to suffer so others could see Jesus in him!
      • Colossians 1:24 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His… church.”
      • It is easy to worship Jesus when everything is going well – no one notices…
      • But when we get sick / bad things happen – just like they do to everyone else…
      • And rather than complaining about life – we are strong by the POWER of God …
      • Then people stand up and take notice – through our suffering they see Jesus in us!
      • God allows us to God through hardships – so He can reveal Himself THROUGH us!
  • 2^nd – Life or death… vs. 18-21
    • Giving everyone the choice…
      • Tomorrow I will rain down heavy hail – such as has never been seen in Egypt…
      • NOT today – NOT immediately – but with WARNING – tomorrow…
      • God gave the Egyptians a CHOICE – CHOSE to fear the power of God…
      • He gave them the opportunity to be able to AVOID the devastation that was coming!
    • Making the choice…
      • All those who listened and BELIEVED – found shelter and were safe from the storm…
      • All those who IGNORED the Word of the Lord – stayed out in the open – and perished!
      • The Lord did not desire for anyone to perish – but they had a CHOICE!
      • Deuteronomy 30:15 – “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.” [NLT]
      • It is the same today – the Word of God is very clear – believe in Jesus and live…
      • If we reject the message of salvation – then there is no hope – only death…
      • God does not send ANYONE to hell – they CHOOSE to go there – by rejecting His Word!
  • 3^rd – The problem of the heart… vs. 22-35
    • Everyone / everything in the open was destroyed by HAIL and FIRE (except in Goshen) …
      • Pharaoh called for Moses – I have sinned (perfect) …
      • The Lord is righteous – and my people and I are wicked…
      • Ask (imperative) the Lord to take away the hail – I will let you go (piel) …
    • Moses knew – Pharaoh and his servants did not YET fear the Lord…
      • As soon as Moses left – the storm stopped – so Egypt would KNOW it was the Lord!
      • But also moment the hail and thunder stopped – Pharaoh HARDENED [כָּבַד] his heart…
      • Pharaoh was not truly repentant – he just wanted to get out of the trial…
      • The moment the trouble had passed – he went right back to his old ways!
      • People when they are faced with consequences – will admit they are sinners…
      • The moment the trial / problem has passed – they go right back to their old ways!
      • II Peter 2:22 – “According to the true proverb: A dog returns to his own vomit…”
    • People do not know that what they are doing is wrong…
      • The problem is in the heart – I am the problem – I sin because I want to…
      • Why does someone do what they know is sin – because they want to…
      • Why does someone NOT do what they know is good and right – they do NOT want to…
      • And the challenge is we cannot change our heart – how do you change what we want!
      • Romans 7:18-19 – “I want to do what is right, but I cannot. I want to do what is good, but I do NOT. I do NOT want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” [NLT]
    • The solution is in recognizing the problem…
      • When we understand we are the problem – our desires – our wants…
      • And we understand there is NOTHING good in us – that we CANNOT change our heart…
      • We understand we need to cry out to Jesus – the one who CAN change our heart!
      • Jesus CHANGES our desires – so we do NOT want to do the things that are wrong…
      • Instead we WANT to do those things that please the Lord – Romans 8:1

• 4^TH – EIGHTH plague – for Israel… vs. 1-20
  • 1^st – Sons and Grandsons… vs. 1-2
    • God HARDENED [כָּבַד] Pharaoh and his servants hearts – so He could SHOW…
      • God reaffirms a powerful truth – If Pharaoh had let Israel go already…
      • Israel would NOT have had confidence their God was the – God of the IMPOSSIBLE!
      • It was through these plagues – ISRAEL got to see God do a work!
    • That you may know I am the Lord…
      • We are often left to ask why God lets hardships come into our lives…
      • Job was a VERY good man – but lost everything – his wealth / his family / his health…
      • One might question why God would let such hardships come on someone He loves…
      • Before the trials Job only knew about God – after He say God with his own eyes!
      • Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
      • Certainly God could keep us from difficulties – He could make our lives very easy…
      • It is in the tough times we depend on the Lord – look to the Lord – see the Lord!
    • That you tell your children…
      • It was NOT just about the people knowing God – they were to tell (piel) their children!
      • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
      • It is the responsibility of the Dad to teach the kids about Jesus…
      • If we do not teach our kids to have a relationship with Jesus – who will…
      • But we can ONLY teach our children – what we have experienced…
      • If we have NOT SEEN God do the impossible – we CANNOT tell our kids about Him!
  • 2^nd – The problem is PRIDE… vs. 3-6
    • Thus says the God of the Hebrews – HOW LONG will you refuse to HUMBLE yourself…
      • Pharaoh would not let Israel go because he would not HUMBLE himself…
      • Pharaoh KNEW he was wrong – KNEW he should let Israel go – but was too PROUD!
    • To help HUMBLE Pharaoh – God sent locusts…
      • Enough to cover the whole of the land of Egypt – so you could not see the ground…
      • They would devour any plants that survived the HAIL and FIRE….
      • They would fill the houses of every Egyptian – eating everything they found!
      • 2020 there were swarms in Kenya – 70 BILLION strong – hundreds of kilometers!
      • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
      • The word שָׁבַר (often translated fall) – from the root verb to be broken…
      • The word arrogant from the root verb כָּשַׁל – meaning to be weak legged / unable to stand…
      • The picture is actually encouraging – our Pride and Arrogance have the cumulative effect…
      • They BREAK us and teach us that we cannot STAND on our own! 
      • They cause us to be HUMBLE so that we can receive the Grace of God!
      • James 4:6 / I Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble.”
  • 3^rd – A SECOND attempt at compromise… vs. 7-11
    • The servants of Pharaoh tried to reason with him – Egypt was already destroyed…
      • Their economy was in shambles – livestock dead / their fields destroyed…
      • Their health had been ruined – friend and family killed…
      • The faith of the people in their gods was shaken – they had seen SEVEN mighty plagues…
      • The great and mighty empire of Egypt – builder of the pyramids – was in devastated!
    • Pharaoh called for Moses – who is going with you…
      • Moses answered – young and old – men and women – as well as all their flocks…
      • Pharaoh balked – the Lord had better be with you – if I am to let you kids go!
      • Take the MEN – ONLY they can leave and serve the Lord!
    • The COMPROMISE…
      • FIRST – Pharaoh had offered Moses to worship the Lord in Egypt – Exodus 8:25
      • SECOND – Pharaoh now offered to let them go – but only the MEN…
      • In other words – you can follow the Lord – but leave me your children!
      • I fear too often children learn their values from TV / school / other kids…
      • Rather than learning the truth of Jesus from their parents – the Word of God!
      • If satan cannot keep us from following after Jesus – he will go after our kids…
      • Children do not know – they need someone to show them – teach them…
      • If parents do not step up and instruct their children in Jesus – the world will!
  • 4^th – How many times to forgive… vs. 12-20
    • Pharaoh refused to let ALL of Israel go – so the EAST wind blew all day and all night…
      • In the morning the locusts came – nothing green was saved on all the trees / plants…
      • Pharaoh again confessed his SIN against God and Moses…
      • He pleaded with Moses for forgive him – just this ONCE – and take away the locust…
      • This was not the first time Pharaoh REPENTED – but Moses still prayed for him!
      • So God send a strong WEST wind – and blew all the locusts out to sea!
      • But the Lord HARDENED [חָזַק] the heart of Pharoah – so he did NOT let Israel go!
    • How often should we forgive the SAME sin…
      • Jesus tells us 70×7 – Matthew 18:22 – but that is not a limit (490) …
      • Jesus is not giving us a number – He is giving us a Bible reference – Daniel 9:24
      • Jesus is saying we forgive – until there is no more sin!
      • How often are we to forgive someone who sins against us – Every time!
      • What if they keep committing the same sin – then we keep forgiving!
      • Is there any reason not to forgive – NO – because we have been forgiven for EVERYTHING!

• 5^th – NINTH plague – No compromise… vs. 21-29
  • 1^st – The greatest of the gods… vs. 21-23
    • The greatest of all the gods of Egypt – was the sun god – Ra…
    • The last hope of the Egyptians was that Ra was still there – the sun still came up…
    • God showed them He was greater than Ra – He brought TOTAL darkness on Egypt…
    • For THREE days no one could see anything – they had to FEEL to walk around…
    • But there was still LIGHT inside the houses of Israel!
  • 2^nd – The THIRD compromise… vs. 24
    • Pharaoh offered to let them go – EVEN their kids – but not their POSSESIONS…
      • YOU can serve the Lord – but do NOT give all you HAVE to God…
      • We may follow the Lord – but do we give ALL we HAVE to the Lord…
      • Satan would love us to miss out on the blessing God desires to give to us!
      • II Corinthians 9:6 – “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
    • Does that mean we are REQUIRED to give a 10% to the Lord…
• According to the Law there were THREE different TITHES people were to give!

• Numbers 18:21-24 – the Levitical tithe to provide for those who served the Lord…
• Deuteronomy 14:22-26 – the feast tithe – 10% of the harvest eaten before the Lord…
• Deuteronomy 14:28-29 – the poor tithe – which was only once every 3 years…
• In all the people were required to TITHE about 23% of their income each year!
• And that did not include offerings – which were free will gifts above the TITHE!
• I am always amused by those who teach giving 10% to the church (should be 23%) …
• They take this one Law from the OT and teach it like it belongs in the NT…
• The Law is not a buffet line – you cannot pick and choose what laws you like…
• Those who teach giving 10% to the church – must also teach the rest of the Law!
• The New Covenant command is to give because we want to – II Corinthians 9:7

• Everything we have – everything we are – was given to us by the Lord…
• Money / time / talent – it does not matter – the point is to give ALL to God…
• Too often we want to COMPROIMISE – give most of ourselves to the Lord…
• Instead we should give EVERYTHING to the Lord – completely surrendered to God!
• Because where we put our TREASURES – is where our heart will be – Matthew 6:21
• Wherever spend our money / time / thoughts / efforts – our heart follows!
• So we invest in heaven – and our heart then becomes dedicated to the Lord!
• 3^rd – Refusing to COMPROMISE… vs. 25-29
  • The children of Israel had to bring their POSSESSIONS with them…
  • And the Lord HARDENED [חָזַק] the heart of Pharoah one last time…
  • He commanded Moses to leave – and NEVER to come back – on penalty of DEATH…
  • Moses told him he spoke well – Moses would NEVER see the Pharaoh again!