How's Your Heart?

Read Exodus 8-10.

The plagues came one by one, mocking and demonstrating the powerlessness of the religious belief system of the Egyptians.  Beside the false god of the Nile, they had an intricate multitude of gods.

Frogs: They worshipped two frog goddesses Hapi and Heqt.

Dust and Gnats: This was directed against the false worship of Seb, the so-called earth god.

Flies: Uatchit, the fly god.

Death of domestic animals: Ptah, Hathor, Mnevis, Amon were gods associated with bulls and cows.

Boils: The Egyptians considered Sekhmet to be a goddess of epidemics.  Serapis and Imhotep were the so-called gods of healing.

Hail and Fire: Nut was a sky goddess; Seth and Isis agricultural deities; Shu, the god of the atmosphere.

Locusts: The Egyptians even had a god to protect them from the swarms of locusts called Serapia.

Darkness: Amon-Re, Aten, Atum, Horus, Harakhte were worshipped as sun gods; Thoth, the moon god.
(source: Walk Thru the Bible)

The LORD's intent was to answer Pharaoh's question, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?"  and to prove to the Egyptians "there is no one like the LORD our God" (8:10).

The Magicians, who at first Satanically copied the plague of blood, came to realize "this is the finger of God" (8:19).  But even after all of these displays of God's power and humiliation, Pharaoh hardened his heart against the LORD.  John Calvin labeled this "outrageous obstinacy".  God will get glory from Pharaoh either way (9:16).

Don't miss the LORD's loving care of His own people in 8:23: "I will put a division between my people and your people."  While the Egyptians suffered, the people of Israel did not.  The classic example is during the plague of darkness.  "They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived." (10:23)

God certainly can and does discipline His children, but His wrath is reserved for those who reject Him.