Great Bible Stories: Moses, part 3 (Exodus 5-10)

We last left Moses after an intense conversation with God in a burning bush. Now he is returning to Egypt to try and convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.

But the first time, it doesn't go well at all!

Bricks Without Straw
Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and ask for him to let the Israelites go.

This is how he replies: "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:2)

Ouch. And to make matters worse, he then takes away the straw given to the Israelites to make bricks with and tells them to gather straw for themselves, while still making the same number of bricks in a day. The Israelites are mad at Moses and Aaron and things are not looking good.

The Plagues
Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh again, and this time they perform a miracle that God had given them: Aaron's staff turns into a serpent. But somehow Pharaoh's magicians are able to recreate the trick and Pharaoh still will not let Israel go.

So God sends nine awful plagues on Egypt.

• Water turns into blood
• Frogs
• Gnats
• Flies
• Animals die
• Boils (sores) all over men and animals
• Hail
• Locusts
• Constant darkness

Each time, Pharaoh repents, tells Moses that the Israelites may leave, and when the plague is taken away he changes his mind.

But God has yet another plan in mind...(for next week!)

Lessons Learned:

• When we try to achieve something without God, it won't work: The first time they met with Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron relied on their own words instead of the miracles God would work. We can see that that was not a good strategy!
• Opposing God will never go as planned: Pharaoh thinks he can just dismiss them and refuse to let God's people go; unfortunately for Egypt, things will not go well if you oppose God's will.

What do you think? Do you like this story and the lesson's I've drawn from it? Are there other lessons you would add?

 P.S. Read parts 1 and 2 of Moses' story here and here.