Signs from the Invisible

Passage: Exodus 8:20-10:29

Background:

1. Hapi - god of the Nile
2. Heqet - goddess of fertility (had the head of a frog)
3. Geb - god of earth
4. Khepri - god of the dawning sun (associated with scarabs and flies)
5. Apis - sacred bull
6. Imhotep - god of healing
7. Nut - goddess of the sky
8. Nepri - god of grain
9. Ra - god of the sun

Questions and Comments:

1. What is the purpose of miracles and signs? Matthew 11:2-5
2. Each time Pharaoh comes to Moses to lift a plague, he is admitting that the corresponding Egyptian god/goddess is helpless before Yahweh
3. Even though it’s Pharaoh sinning, all of Egypt suffers, including the animals and the earth (think Big Picture diagram)
4. How is the plague of hail different from the previous plagues in its association with who it affected?
5. Moses said, "Let my people go, so that they may serve God," and Pharaoh replied no. Not only is Pharaoh not serving God, one of the ways man glorifies God, he is preventing the Israelites from fulfilling their purpose.
6. This is off topic, but... In all other instances God allows Israel to suffer because of their unfaithfulness. But in the case of the enslavement of Israel, the Bible is silent on what sin they were guilty of committing. What do you think?

Read Psalm 17: 6-15

This is a long passage, so next post will be on Thursday instead of Wednesday.