February 8th

February 8th -- Exodus 9:8-10:29 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%209:8-10:29&version=NLT)

The next four plagues.

Since Pharaoh still has not let the Israelites go, God just keeps on sending the plagues to Egypt. So after the plague on the livestock came the plague of "festering boils". Now, there are not many things that gross me out... but things like boils are one of the few tha do. So basically all I'll say on this one is it was nasty - everyone was covered in them and it would have been horribly digsusting and painful. Somehow, Pharaoh still doesn't listen......

So, God sends Moses and Aaron to tell Pharoah that if he doesn't let the Israelites go to worship, then God will send more plagues. God could have already wiped out Phaorah and Egypt, but He hasn't so that they can be a testimony to God's power. God will send a hailstorm because Pharoah is still trying to control the land. God tells them to tell Pharaoh to order his men and animals inside so they will not be killed - for anyone still outside will die.Some men listen, but most are too prideful. The hail falls and Egypt was left ruined. Only Goshen was untouched. Pharoah calls Moses and asks for him to pray for it to stop and he will let them go and worship. Moses does so, but Pharaoh is still stubborn and still will not let them go.

This causes yet another plague. Moses and Aaron again go and warn Pharaoh that if he does not let them go, God will send a plague. He is using them to showhis power and have the stories of it spread throughout the lands. Their grandchildren will speak of it, He says (which well, they did as we speak of it thousands of years later...) God says he is sending locusts that will devour all the crops that are growing. This time, Pharaoh's men plead with him to let them go. Pharaoh says they may go, but who is going? When Moses and Aaron say all of them, Pharaoh says it's a plan, so only the men may go and then throws them out of the palace. The next day, locusts swarmed Egypt and devestated it - they ate all the living plants/food sources. So Pharoh repeats his usual 'please... tell God to stop... oh thank you.... by the way I'm still not letting you go" process. This leads to yet another plague.

So, up after Locusts was darkness. God sent a darkness that was apparently so thick it could be felt. It covered all of Egypt for 3 days, except where the Israelites lived. Pharaoh, after it lifts, calls Moses and Aaron and says the people may worship, but must leave their flocks. They explain they need their flocks to sacrifice. Then Pharaoh objects, tells them to leave, and says if he sees their faces again they will die. So Moses and Aaron leave.

I don't feel like typing more.. but honestly you'd think Pharaoh would give in by now... it's almost unfortunate for him that God picked him to use to show His power, because he suffered so much for it...

Anyways, that will be all. God bless!