Judgement 9: Darkness for the Blind

Exodus 10:21-29 

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick 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 children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
    24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”  25 But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even 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 heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!”  29 So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.”

For the ninth judgement by plague, the Lord commanded Moses to simply stretch out his hand heavenward, as if God were doing it through him as a visual spokesman.  This time he did not warn Pharaoh as for each coming judgement as before.  Darkness covered the entire country, so dark that it was like being in a cavern far beneath the earth.  Nothing could be seen, and the lack of any light could be felt as it thickly enveloped those stumbling around for three days in the great darkness.  Because nobody could see each other, let alone where they were going, all remained unmoving indoors out of fear and uncertainty.  Yet all of God’s people sat in and moved about in the light in their houses.  Truly the account of this miraculous hand of God would be passed on to the children of Israel as well as the Egyptians!  After three days, Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to go with all his people, just not the animals, but Moses made it clear they had to take them all to sacrifice the particular ones God would tell them there.  Again God hardened the king’s heart as planned to reveal His glory through His deliverance, and Pharaoh refused to allow them to leave again.  This time he also made it clear Moses would never see him face to face ever again.  Moses validated that as truth and left.  Moses is used to show the blind that they cannot see and give light to His people.  We see here how those lost in darkness and hardened by sin are unable to hear God’s voice, let alone fear Him to trusting obedience.  There is only darkness for the blind.  But those God calls as His sheep hear His voice and follow Him out of the darkness and sin’s enslavement.  Such is the hope we have in Christ.