The Story

God had spoken to Moses from the burning bush, and Moses obeyed. With his brother Aaron, he went back to Egypt. First they told God's people the good news, and the people believed and bowed their heads and worshipped. Then came the hard part: the message for Pharaoh.

Moses and Aaron went in to the great palace and stood before the king of Egypt. They told him, "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go", that they might hold a feast to God in the wilderness.

But Pharaoh's heart was proud and hard. "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?" he demanded. "I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." Instead of letting the people go, Pharaoh made their work crueller than ever. The slaves had always been given straw to make their bricks; now they had to gather their own straw, scattered across the fields, and still make just as many bricks every day. When they could not, they were beaten. The people blamed Moses, and Moses cried out to God in his trouble.

God answered with a promise: He was the LORD, and He would bring His people out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and give them the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Aaron's rod turned into a serpent before Pharaoh, and swallowed up the serpents of Pharaoh's magicians — but Pharaoh still would not listen.

Then God sent the plagues, one after another, to show Pharaoh and all Egypt that no one is stronger than God. The river and all the water of Egypt turned to blood. Then came frogs, hopping into houses and beds and ovens. Then lice, then swarms of flies. Then a terrible sickness fell on Egypt's animals, and painful boils broke out on people and beasts. Then hail such as Egypt had never seen smashed the fields, and locusts ate everything the hail had left, and thick darkness covered the land for three days — but in the homes of God's people there was light.

Nine times the plagues came. Nine times Pharaoh promised, or begged, or flatly said no, and went back on his word. His heart stayed as hard as stone. But God was not finished. One more plague was coming, the saddest of all — and God told Moses that after it, Pharaoh would not only let the people go, he would drive them out. God's people would go free, because no one is stronger than God.