Wednesday, March 5th

After the last plague of devouring locusts, not one green plant remained.  The country is in ruins.  Instead of a humbled King, Egypt has an angry, deceptive King.  After he promised Moses that he'd let the people go, as soon as the locusts were removed, so was his promise.  

Moses and Aaron had to be weary of the ritual of going before Pharaoh to request freedom, being refused, bringing forth the plague, Pharaoh giving false hopes of deliverance, and the whole thing starting over again!  So, after this last plague, the locusts, when Pharaoh promised they could leave if they'd just get rid of the locusts, I'm sure neither Moses nor Aaron had any real hopes that this would be the last plague.  Surely their patience had long since been worn thin!  Perhaps they were glad that with this next plague, there was no warning.  God said to Moses to stretch forth his arms and he did so, a complete darkness fell upon the land.  I'm not talking about slightly dark, girls.  This was a darkness so dark that it could be felt.  For three days, they could not leave their homes because it was that dark.  Over in Goshen, the sun shone brightly.  Can you imagine that it was so dark at Lock Haven that no one could even walk around, and yet, up at the Circle K, they had beautiful light.  Wouldn't that be strange?  That's what happened.  The Egyptians were fully aware that this was the hand of God.  Pharaoh, though he knew it was God's power, refused yet again, and not only did he refuse, but cried, "Get out of my face and don't ever let me catch you before my presence again!"

He didn't realize it at the moment that he had spoken his own "prophecy", so to speak.  Moses knew full well that there would be no more opportunities.   What would come next would not only allow the Hebrews to leave, but would drive Pharaoh to demand their departure.

Scripture Reading for the Day:

Proverbs 5

Revelation 12