The Nub of the Story of the Ten Plagues

After "wading through" the literary structure and the issue of the "chronological order" and the details related in the story of the ten plagues, it is VERY IMPORTANT to REALIZE and UNDERSTAND and APPRECIATE and ponder and reflect on and accept the biblical testimony or witness of the biblical account of Exodus 7:8-11:10--the "nub," the "gist," the "point" of this account.

This section of the Book of Exodus portrays a struggle, a conflict, a battle--physical, but also spiritual.

On one level, this is a conflict between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The Egyptians are in an advantageous position. They "control" and "rule" and oppress the Israelites. The Israelites are living in misery, under oppression, treated unjustly.

One another level, this is a conflict between Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh is the king of Egypt. Moses grew up under the royal house of Egypt, but fled to Midian, where he lived for forty years. SO, now he is a foreigner to the Egyptians--in "intruder" demanding that Pharaoh let the Israelites go into the wilderness for three days to hold a festival to Yahweh for the Israelites. Two conflicting "leading figures" meet person against person in this story.

But on another level--a much deeper and higher and more important level--there is another conflict taking place. Exodus 12:12 succinctly testifies or witnesses or proclaims the "nub," the "gist," the "point" of the story of the ten plagues.

God declares in this verse:

"I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; ON ALL THE GODS OF EGYPT I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS; I AM THE LORD [YAHWEH]."

The REAL BATTLE, the REAL STRUGGLE in life on earth is between Yahweh [God the Father] and invisible anti-Yahwistic beings every surrounding human life. The Bible calls these beings "gods" [as in Exodus 12:12], "angels," "demons," "spirits,"
"seraphs," etc. These are super-human beings "created" by God. They are invisible to human beings, but not only exist but also continually function and work in heaven and on planet earth.

Since the Enlightenment, many of us people in the Western World have bought into the idea of "rationalism." This has led us to ignore or reject or deny the existence and work of miracles and invisible creatures, etc. People in Africa and Asia are very familiar with spirits and demons and other types of invisible beings.

The Bible testifies that angels and spirits and "gods" created by Yahweh [God the Father] exist and work in heaven and on planet earth. To mention only three examples: (1) Matthew 1:18-25 testifies that "an angel of the Lord" appeared to Joseph in a dream and announced that her fiance Mary would conceive and give birth to Jesus Christ. (2) Luke 2:1-18 testifies that "a multitude of the heavenly host" appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem, praising God for the birth of Jesus. (3) Paul testifies in Ephesians 6:12: "Our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against THE COSMIC POWERS OF THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES."

This the what the Bible testifies. This is what the Bible claims. What do YOU think? Are your struggles and battles and conflicts between people, or are your struggles between your God and your God's invisible opponents: Satan and his angels?

Tell me what you think. Re-read Exodus 7:8-11:10, then read this in light of Exodus 12:12. I think this is the "nub" of the story of the ten plagues. What do you think? I would love to get your thoughts and your ideas.

John Willis