For many years I didn’t give much thought to the plagues found in Exodus. My thinking bent toward “that was then, this is now”. But then the Lord led me to use the plagues in my first book One Way Out. So, I became more familiar with them.

Before getting a deeper look at the plagues, I thought the Israelites were only spared the deaths of the firstborn. Well I was wrong! I didn’t realize that the Israelites were also spared the swarm of flies, the animal diseases with deaths, the unprecedented hailstorm, and the darkness. What a miracle in how God protected His people more than once.

Another thing I overlooked were the powers of the priests of Pharaoh. Yes, I remembered the changing of water to blood. But what I neglected to see was their ability to copy God’s plague of frogs. How did I miss that? When I recently re-read that, I recalled how the powers who seek control of the weather in our modern-day era have seeded the air ways for some time – copying God’s control of the elements. Interesting how man still wants to copy the power and miracles of God.

Moving on… recently, I’ve heard several prophets speak about a coming darkness and lock-down. Hhmm. Will the upcoming darkness be heavy like the one in Exodus, or will it be another more modern form? I don’t know. The Lord hasn’t shared that with me. But I do know, if the Lord told His prophets this then it’s coming.

Should I worry? No.

What I do know is that He will distinguish those who are for Him and those who are not. I trust that any darkness will not affect His followers in the same way.  

One more lesson I’ve learned from The Lord, which deals with the lock-down possibility. This may be heavy food for thought, but bear with me. If we look at Exodus 11-12, we see that the Lord gives specific instructions to the Israelites in order to be spared from the last plague. They were to place the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the door frame – which I learned created a cross-like appearance. Interesting, right!? They also had to stay in their house so that as the angel of death passed through the country he would see the blood and leave those in the house alone.

What does this have to do with us today?

Well, we don’t make animal sacrifices anymore because Jesus’ death cancelled any further need for sacrifices. But, if God plans to send an angel of death out again, He may cause us (by way of the earthly authorities) to remain in our homes just like He did for the ancient Israelites. And just like it was those thousands of years ago, this will be for our physical protection. And because followers of Jesus have His blood covering, we don’t need to worry about an angel of death taking our lives before God is ready for us.

The experience of all these plagues prepared the Israelites for the grand choice of trusting God enough to walk through gigantic walls of water in their final step toward freedom.

Jesus is our ONE and ONLY hope. Look to Him. Call out to Him. Trust Him to guide you through any upcoming Red Sea moments. I encourage you to look at Psalm 55:22 and 121:7-8. They brought me comfort and I know they will bring you the same reassurance.