As God was drawing Israel’s captivity to a close, the next to last plague was a plague of darkness. It was not simply a shady night; it was so dark that the darkness felt like it was going through them. It was a true feeling of fear and hopelessness that comes with a life outside of God’s presence. Israel did not have to experience it. While they were still enslaved, God showed them that they were living a life in the light of His presence. It was a noticeable difference.
Pharaoh tried to stave off the darkness with another empty promise. But when Moses would not agree to his hollow offer, Pharaoh told Moses never to return or Pharaoh would have Moses killed…big mistake. The darkness the Egyptians were feeling reflected the heart of their leader. It was more than just a lack of light; it was a sense of independence and loathing of God and the Lord’s chosen people. It was also a reflection of a total lack of hope. This was where God would leave Egypt.
God does not want to leave the world with that same darkness. He sent Jesus to be the light. In John 14, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the LIGHT! Nobody comes to the father but by me.” John 14:6.
As with Egypt, the difference between God’s chosen people and the rest of the world is the lack of light and the lack of hope. We, Like Israel, must cling to the promise of liberation and salvation. As we do, He will lead is with His light and His hope. We simply need to trust and follow. We must not allow our hearts to grow dark with a lack of hope–Jesus is that hope! We all need to cling to him and allow him to be our way, our truth, and our Light!
God Bless You
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” 22 So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.
24 Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”
25 “No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. 26 All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.”
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”
29 “Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”
Walking With God 