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Youth Worship 19th August 2023 : "This is the finger of God"

Text: Exodus 8:16-32
19 August 2023

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 19 August 2023

Message: “This is the finger of God” Exodus 8:19

Text: Exodus 8:16-32

INTRODUCTION

1. A quick Review of the Plagues

a) Water to blood
b) Plague of frogs

2. The response of the Pharaoh

a) He hardened his heart
b) He went back on his word to release the children of Israel

THE THIRD PLAGUE

16 So the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ”

17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:16-17

1. The third plague was Lice

2. This plague afflicted both man and beast

THE ATTEMPT OF THE MAGICIANS

18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.

19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:18-19

1. The magicians tried to duplicate this plague

2. But they failed

3. They came to this conclusion
“This is the finger of God!”

4. But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard (i.e. “grew harder”)

THE FOURTH PLAGUE

20 And the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

21 Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.

22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.

23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”

24 And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

Exodus 8:20-24

1. Moses would confront Pharaoh as he comes out of the River Nile

2. He was there to perform rituals and to offer worship at the River Nile

3. This time round

a) The plague would affect only the Egyptians
b) It would not affect the children of Israel

4. The 4th Plague involved huge swarms of flies!

5. Grave consequences if the Pharaoh did not obey the LORD

THE COMPROMISE OFFERED BY THE PHARAOH

25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”

26 And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us?

27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us.”

Exodus 8:25-27

1. The Pharaoh offered the first Compromise

a) He would let the children of Israel go and worship the LORD
b) But it must be “In the land” Exodus 8:25

2. Moses was sharp and discerning

a) He objected to this offer
b) If the children of Israel stayed in the land and offered worship
The Egyptians may stone them Exodus 8:26
c) The ox was a sacred animal to the Egyptians!

THE SECOND COMPROMISE OFFERED BY PHARAOH

So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”

Exodus 8:28

1. The Pharaoh then said they could go into the wilderness as Moses requested

2. But not very far away Exodus 8:28

3. He asked Moses to intercede on his behalf to the LORD

MOSES AGREES BUT WITH A WORD OF WARNING

29 Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”

30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.

31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

Exodus 8:29-32

1. Moses will take the children of Israel into the wilderness to worship God

2. He will also intercede for Pharaoh and Egypt

3. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully

4. He must let the children of Israel go

5. Moses prayed and God removed the plague of flies from Egypt

6. The flies were removed but Pharaoh hardened his heart once again

CONCLUSION

1. Lessons learned from the Pharaoh

a) The danger of a hardened heart
b) The danger of a deceitful heart

2. Lessons learned from Moses

a) He was getting stronger
b) He was sharp and discerning
c) He was becoming more and more of an intercessor