Exodus 9:8-10:20 Study Guide - is Safety Your God?

Community Group Study Guide — the Plagues - Is Security Your God?
Exodus 9:8-10:20

Study Information:
Throughout the Bible we are reminded that the Lord is our Refuge and Strength (Psalm 46:1). When we’re going through a storm we need a place to find shelter, comfort and hope. These are images of safety and security for those who are in Christ and it is a core human need. There are many ways that God provides physical safety for us with things like health, home, friends and provision of food and water. However, there are times when our safety is threatened and for many of us that reveals our powerlessness or leads us towards anxiety and fear. We’re continuing our study on the plagues of Egypt and the three plagues in our text, the boils, hail and locust, touch on the gods of safety and security for the Egyptians.

Remember that the plagues were a judgment against Egypt’s oppression of Israel and a judgment against their gods (Exodus 12:12). In these plagues God used the power of creation to show his glory to Pharaoh and Egypt to subvert their pagan gods of wealth, comfort, security and life. The chart below helps us to make sense of the patterns we see in the plagues as a whole. 

The Plagues of Boils, Hail and Locust
Exodus 9:8-10:20 
These plagues relate to the air or the heavens. Moses threw soot into the air to cause the boils; presumably this soot was from the kilns that forged the bricks of their slavery. The hail came from the heavens. Likewise the Locusts were flying insects who were carried by an east wind and swarmed the land and the crops. All these plagues contain air or sky imagery. 

Also notice four unique features in this round of plagues. 

First, the soot caused boils to be on man and beast and the Egyptian Magicians “could not stand before Moses (Exodus 9:11).” This is the last time the Egyptian magicians are mentioned in the text. 

Second, with the plague of hail, God had Moses give warning to all to find shelter. Those who “feared the word of Yahweh” went indoors and were spared (Exodus 9:20). This is the first time the Egyptians were offered a means of mercy in their judgement and an opportunity to trust God. This foreshadows what happens with the passover lamb and the ability people have to trust in the mercy of God for salvation. 

Third, with both the plagues of hail and locust, Pharaoh expressed regret over the situation and said “I have sinned (Exodus 9:27, 10:17).” Regret about the consequence of your sin is different than repentance. Pharaoh regretted the hardship he had to endure and wanted it to end but he did not want to turn away from his hard heart and let the people go from their slavery. Unless we see that our sin is an offense against God and not how we were designed to live as humans, who reflect God’s image, we will not look to God for mercy and grace. Pharaoh seemed to want out of the consequences for his sin, he did not want to be restored to God.

Finally, the servants of Pharaoh implored him to release the Israelites so the plagues would end (Exodus 10:7). Pharaoh seemed to listen to his servants briefly, but refused to let everyone go, man, woman and child.

What was God doing through these plagues? God showed his power to Pharaoh, Egypt and his now people. Three times in this text we’re told some form of “so that you may know that I am the LORD (9:14-17, 9:29-30, 10:1).” There would be no bargaining with God or thinking that some human power could rival his. 

Safety and Security
Exodus 9:20-21
There were various gods the Egyptians worshipped to give them relief from sickness, gods over the sky and gods of the harvest and agriculture prosperity. They were gods related to safety and security and God judged them to show the Egyptians and us that God is the one who ultimately has power over all creation. Our safety and security is a gift from God. From a human perspective, there is only so much we can do to guard our lives and protect against the future. It is why worry, anxiety and fear are so crushing. Many of us experience a need to control and yet are reminded of our powerlessness to guard against harm. A microscopic virus can seriously impact our health, a famine could cripple our supply chains and severe weather can threaten our homes. Whether we like it our not, we are more powerless than we imagine or are willing to recognize. 

Exodus 9:20-21 shows us two options many of us have when our idols of safety and security are confronted. We can either fear the word of the Lord or we can pay no attention to him. There’s an opportunity to repent and turn to God who is our refuge and strength. 

Jesus told his followers that our desires for control or our fear cannot produce change for tomorrow. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Matthew 6:27).” Rather than being anxious about tomorrow or trying to build up security and safety through only our human efforts, Jesus tells his followers to seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).” This does not imply that Jesus offers us a better safety and security methodology, rather it teaches us that if God is our refuge and strength then what we ultimately need, God himself, can never be threatened. Jesus invites us to make God our refuge and strength through our trust and faith. Jesus invites us to full repent of our sin and find mercy and life with forgiveness and reconciliation. 

What do you look to for safety and security? A better bank account, different election results or better health are all potential modern day things we can find hope in. For the Egyptians, these false gods demanded the trust of the Egyptians but ultimately let them down and were not able to produce the safety and security they desired. It is wise to plan for the future and be smart with our health and resources, but the temptation is to see them as a means of refuge in the place of God. The Lord invites you to a kingdom that cannot be shaken, where he is your fortress, shield and strength.

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read Exodus 9:8-10:20

What unique features or patterns do you see in these plague passages? 

God showed his mercy to the Egyptians by giving them a warning and a way of protection. What does this teach us about God’s mercy during judgement and what was the key difference between those who received this mercy and those who didn’t? See Exodus 9:20-21

Pharaoh acknowledged his sin in not letting the people of Israel, but he did not change. How is admitting your sin different than repenting from your sin? See Exodus 9:27 and 10:16-17. 

These plagues uniquely threatened the security of Egypt in terms of their health, severe weather and agricultural reserves. They would have left the nation vulnerable and at risk for the future. What are some ways people today look for safety and security?