The Compassion of God Found in the 10 Plagues by: Marsha Stephenson

Each month, our Northside women meet in small groups for prayer, fellowship, and to read and discuss a devotion written by our writers' group. This year we're studying the book of Exodus as we delve into the character of God. The following is from our May devotion:

  

 “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble

yourself before me?’” Exodus 10:3 

 

    There were many beliefs and myths that surrounded the idea of Pharaoh, and most were

based on the concept that all Pharaohs were sons of gods. While we don’t know much about the

Pharaoh leading Egypt during the Israelites’ slavery, we can surmise that he was arrogant and defiant

which eventually leads to the destruction of his land and people.

    In contrast, we know God holds characteristics we can never fully duplicate or even understand.

In Exodus 7:4-5, God tells Moses, "...I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring

my people the Israelites, company by company, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the

Israelites from among them.” (NRSV) While His judgment is for those against the Israelites, His

compassion is focused on His chosen people. But, as we’ll see, His compassion can also extend to the

Egyptians. All of this – the slavery, plagues, and release of the Israelites – is a fulfillment of God’s

covenantal promises with both Abram and Moses!

#1 Nile River to Blood (Ex 7:14-25)

After Aaron’s staff becomes a serpent that swallows up the serpent conjured by the magicians,

Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. Presumably, this is because he was unimpressed by God’s power. So,

God turned the Nile to blood - “its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water...even in

vessels of wood and in vessels of stone” - but the magicians were able to duplicate it. There is a

distinct difference, though. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary says that “even if they were able to

mimic God’s miracle, they were unable to reverse it. The Egyptians thus had to dig for water while the

Nile ran polluted and stank for a week (Ex7:24).

So, where is compassion found? We see it in two ways: First, although they had to dig for it, the

Egyptians still had access to clean water. Second, since the Bible doesn’t say that the Israelites had to

dig for water, we can safely assume that their water was not affected by the blood.

#2 Frogs (Ex 8:1-15)

Pharaoh’s magicians manage to replicate this plague as well. But, again, though they can create, they

cannot dispose, and Pharaoh asks Moses to “pray to the LORD to take away the frogs from me and

my people...” God does so, but not by sending them back to the water. Instead, they die where they

are “in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the

land stank.” Eww.

Look for God’s compassion - the frogs are only found in Egypt, not affecting the Israelites, and He

does remove them, in His own way.

#3 Gnats (Ex 8:16-19)

This time compassion is again seen in God’s protection of the Israelites because only the Egyptians

are affected. The magicians are also forced to acknowledge, “This is the finger of God!” (v19). Their

recognition of their own failure leads others to be aware of God’s power even if Pharaoh ignores

their wisdom.

#4 Flies (Ex 8:20-32)

We aren’t told this, but some experts believe these could have been biting flies, making this the first

potentially afflicting plague. It’s also important to notice that the magicians aren't mentioned this

time.

Where is compassion here? Although only the Egyptians are affected again, this is the first time God

declares His compassion for the Israelites, saying that “on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen,

where My people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there...Thus, I will make a distinction

between My people and your people” (v21-23). God’s compassion is found in His continued protection

of the Israelite people.

#5 Death of Livestock (Ex 9:1-7)

This is the first definitively afflicting plague killing all the Egyptians’ livestock.

God’s compassion: The obvious answer is His protection of His people’s livestock, but an easily

overlooked aspect is that He first gave warning - “The LORD set a time, saying, ‘Tomorrow the LORD

will do this thing in the land’” (vs 6). By announcing a specific time, He was both declaring His power

as being behind the plagues while also giving anyone who believed an opportunity to prepare.

#6 Boils (Ex 9:8-12)

Where can we see compassion? Once more, the Israelites are protected as God’s chosen people,

leaving only the Egyptians to be afflicted. In addition, although they are clearly in pain, the Bible does

not state that anyone died.

#7 Hail (Ex 9:13-35)

How can you say there’s compassion in death and destruction? Here is the harshest plague yet,

killing people as well as animals and crops, yet it also holds the most compassion.

According to verses 15 and 16, God could have easily killed Pharaoh just to have him out of the way,

but He didn’t. He could have caused all the Egyptians to drop dead, allowing the Israelites to simply

walk out of Egypt. But He didn’t. Why? Because God is merciful, offering Pharaoh opportunity after

opportunity to acknowledge His power.

Secondly, God again gives a warning in verses 18 and 19 of what is to come as well as when it will

happen. Verse 20 tells us that some of Pharaoh’s officials believed in God and “hurried their slaves

and livestock off to a secure place.” This means that even the Egyptians could be protected from

God’s wrath, but it was still only in Goshen where the Israelites lived that no hail fell.

Third, God keeps his promises. He told Moses where and when and He did just that. There was no

waiting and wondering, just fulfillment of His promises.

Last, all of the crops in the fields of the Egyptians were destroyed, but we’re specifically told in verses

31-32 that “the wheat and spelt were not ruined, for they are late in coming up.” God didn't leave the

Egyptians destitute.

#8 Locusts (Ex10:1-20)

In verse 3, God asks Pharaoh, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” It reminds

me of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pharaoh’s

refusal to humble himself has already brought about the destruction of his country, economy, and

people.

Where is God’s compassion? When God asks Pharaoh why he refuses to humble himself, He is

telling Pharaoh exactly why all of this is happening. But it’s up to Pharaoh to change. God also gives

another warning of the coming destruction in verse 4. Once again, only the Egyptians are affected;

the Israelites are protected. Lastly, when Moses prays to God, He removes the locusts.

#9 Darkness (Ex 10:21-29)

God did not give a warning for this plague. It must have been terrifying especially considering their

“belief that the regular circling of Amun-Re, the sun god, meant his blessing on Egypt. Any

interruption in that cycle spelled disaster” (NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible).

Look for compassion. Even though there was no warning, the timing was set and after three days

there was light. (Yes, there are parallels with Jesus’ death and resurrection; no, we don’t have time.

😊) The Israelites did not experience this darkness as they were again protected by God.

Warning of the Final Plague (Ex 11:1-10)

Before God describes the final plague to Moses, He shares with him that His covenant with Abram in

Genesis 15 is about to be fulfilled. He tells him that after this last plague, Pharaoh will let them go,

and that they will come out with great possessions.

Find God’s compassion. The entirety of this section is a warning for all who hear, and He even

includes the time, “about midnight.” The horror coming is only directed toward the Egyptians -from

Pharaoh down to the female slave and livestock; once again, the Israelites will be shielded.

Aside from the specific glimpses of God’s compassion found within each plague, there are several

overall instances of compassion to recognize. First, God planned and held to it, to only have 10

plagues. Second, for many of the coming plagues, there is either a warning for the people of what it

will be or when it will occur. Third, because God offers the warning and/or time, His provision can

carry over to anyone who believes in or fears him. Fourth, we cannot finish without recognizing God’s

compassion toward Pharaoh to not kill him even in his stupidity. Do not fall under the belief that God

needed him or was simply using him. God could have easily found another way, but He didn’t.

The Attributes of God by: Alaina Mankin

Each month, our Northside women meet in small groups for prayer, fellowship, and to read and discuss a devotion written by our writers' group. This year we're studying the book of Exodus as we delve into the character of God. The following is an excerpt from our February devotion:

“The LORD passed in front of [Moses] and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation” (CSB). 

     God speaks these words to Moses during a time of restoration. In chapter 32 we read that Israel had rebelled against God. While God was establishing his covenant with Israel on the top of Mt. Sinai, the Israelites were at the base of the mountain, giving their worship to a golden calf. Over the course of the next two chapters, we read about Moses’ angry response as he by breaks the tablets on which were written God’s commandments, and then sends the Levites (the one tribe in Israel who responded to Moses’ call that “whoever is for the LORD, come to me”) to go from one end of the camp to the other “each killing his brother and friend and neighbor” (Ex. 32:27, NIV). God then sends a plague among the people as punishment for their sin and removes his presence from the Israelite camp. But even in the midst of sin and punishment and brokenness, God does not forget his people. A tent is set up away from the camp, and it is in this tent that God continues to meet with Moses. It is during this time that we read these unfathomable words: “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11a, NIV). And it is during this time that God renews his covenant with his people and reminds Moses of who he is: He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, loving, faithful, forgiving, and just. 

When we think about the attributes of God, we can divide them into two categories: communicable and incommunicable. Communicable attributes are things that are true about God, but they can also be true about us as we continue to grow in Christ. Attributes like love, mercy, righteousness, and goodness fall into this category. Incommunicable attributes are those things that are only true about God. God is all-seeing, all-knowing, eternal, sovereign. These are things finite beings can never be. Another of God’s incommunicable attributes is his immutability. God never changes. He is the same now as he was at the beginning of time. The same God who struck the Israelites with a plague at the base of Mt. Sinai is the same God who came to earth as a man and became the atoning sacrifice for our sin. James, the brother of Jesus, refers to God as “the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17b, NIV).  The eighteenth Psalm asks and answers: “And who is a rock? Only our God” (Ps. 18:31, CSB) The writer of Hebrews proclaims, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8, CSB). Sometimes in our humanity we can forget that the same God we worship today is the same God who spoke the universe into existence, parted the Red Sea, brought down giants and empires, and calmed raging storms with a word. He’s still the same God. He hasn’t become disinterested. All of God’s attributes are still just as true of him today as they were then. 

Culturally, we can be guilty of elevating one of God’s attributes above the others. For example, the over-emphases of one phrase from 1 John 4:8 has left some with the impression that because “God is love,” they are free to live however they please; but they have forgotten that God is also holy, just, and wrathful toward sin. But to lean too far in the other direction also distorts the character of God. God doesn’t sit on his heavenly throne stewing in righteous anger and gleefully hurling down judgments. To understand who God is, we need to consider the complete picture of his character. We cannot pick and choose only the attributes that we like and discard those that we don’t. 

 Another important thing to remember is God's attributes do not exist in isolation from each other. All of God’s attributes are on display in everything that he does, and that’s good news! God is sovereign all the time! God is holy all the time! God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present at the same time that he is loving, merciful, compassionate, and gracious! And even though we humans are a mess of contradictions, there is no contradiction in the character of God. When life feels unfair, God is still good. When it looks as though the wicked prosper over the righteous, God is still just. When it feels like our circumstances are spiraling out of control, God is still sovereign. Remember, our lives compose just a few stitches on the tapestry of time, but God not only sees the finished product—he’s the one weaving everything together. And it’s beautiful!