When God initially sent plagues to Egypt, the magicians of Egypt were able to do the same with their enhancements which hardened the heart of Pharoah. In modern times, when God uses nature to send plagues upon nations, just like the magicians of Egypt, today we have climate cults who using their ‘climate emergency’ enchantments harden the hearts of the people.
Rejecting the role of God
So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.
Exod 7:10-13
When Moses showed the first sign of rod becoming a serpent, all the magicians of Egypt were able to do the same. It is important for Christians to understand that the signs which God show for you to repent and obey Him can easily be explained in other ways.
When God sent bushfires in Australia, the climate cult is using their enchantments to harden the hearts of the people and remove the role of God in these plagues. In the below tabulation, we can see how the heart of Pharoah was hardened because he always had an explanation from the magicians or changed his mind when the plague was over.
Plagues of Egypt | Reference | Hardened by Magicians | Hardened himself / Plague over |
---|---|---|---|
Blood | Exo 7:14–24 | Yes (Exod 7:22) | |
Frogs | Exo 7:25–8:15 | Yes (Exod 8:7) | |
Lice or Gnats | Exo 8:16-19 | No (Exod 8:18-19) | Yes (Exod 8:31-32) |
Swarms of flies | Exo 8:20-32 | Yes (Exod 8:31-32) | |
Pestilence of livestock | Exo 9:1–7 | Yes (Exod 9:7) | |
Boils | Exo 9:8–12 | No (Exod 9:11) | Yes (Exod 9:14) LXX suggests only magicians got sores. Based on Exod 9:14, boils were not on Pharoah. |
Thunderstorm of hail and fire | Exo 9:13–35 | Yes (Exod 9:33-35) | |
Locusts | Exo 10:1–20 | Yes (Exod 10:19-20) | |
Darkness for three days | Exo 10:21–29 | Yes (Exod 10:22) | |
Death of firstborn | Exo 11:1–12:36 |
There is a pattern for the plagues and how Pharoah’s heart was hardened. Initially, the magicians were able to do the same plagues using their enchantments. Then, the magicians cannot replicate God’s plagues since they themselves were plagued by boils and cannot stand before Moses. Except for the last plague which had loss of life, all these plagues of Egypt were material losses or inconveniences.
Reinstating the role of God
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
Exod 7:3-5
One of the primary motive of God for all these plagues of Egypt is for Egyptians to know that He is the LORD, reinstating the role of Him in all these plagues.
“And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Exod 14:17-18
God repeats the same after the red sea miracle. God wants the Egyptians to know that He is the LORD and to gain honour over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Conclusion
When God sends wildfires, hail, natural disasters, are we acknowledging His hand in all these and obeying His voice? Or, are we hardening our heart by attributing all these plagues to some non-sense like climate change etc? He will multiply His plagues until He had made known that He is the LORD and gained honour.