The sixth plague sees the magicians having to get away from Moses because of the boils. This was torment and hurt to them. It is not uncommon today to see demons scream out in pain and torment when we plead the blood of Jesus. It hurts them.
The blood is defensive as well as offensive. The blood helps us to overcome satan. (Revelation 12:11) When we plead the blood of Jesus, being fully conscious of the power and authority it has, satan will not be able to stand it.
a) Attacking the powers of darkness requires discipline - Exodus 9:13
Exodus 9:13 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, (NIV)
God told Moses to rise early in the morning (Exodus 7:15)
This was not the first time Moses had approached Pharaoh in the morning. (Exodus 8:20)
The significance of the morning lies in the fact that it allowed Moses to dictate the course of the day and not Pharaoh. As a result Moses was fighting from a position of advantage.
Lets consider what Jesus said about the church and warfare.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (NIV)
Notice Jesus said "the gates of Hades will not overcome (or be victorious) against the church" The church (ie you and me) are to go out, like Moses, against satan. We should torment satan with the blood everywhere we see him having a hold on us or other people. Our best means of defence against the enemy is to attack.
Going to Pharaoh early in the morning also speaks of discipline. No army will succeed without it. We need to discipline ourselves to be obedient and faithful in the things we know we should be.
b) Victory so near yet looks so far - Exodus 9:14
Exodus 9:14 for this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no-one like me in all the earth. (NIV)
The seventh plague began the destruction of the heart of Egypt.
Hail destroyed every beast, and man in the field. This was the first plague to kill people (Exodus 9:19). The very existence of Egypt was now being attacked.
The intensity and severity of God's judgement on Egypt was now increasing. Pharaoh still hardened his heart (Exodus 9:35). His hold on Israel was no doubt weakening, but outwardly he tried not to show it. In all the last four plagues (Hail, Locust, Darkness and Death) he asked the Israelites to go (Exodus 9:28, 10:8, 10:24) and later hardened his heart.
The reality was this - Pharaoh was defeated but pride refused to allow him to show it or let Israel go. Victory for the Israelites was so near, yet looked so far. Imagine Moses giving up now.
The same is true of us. As long as we hold onto God and the blood of the lamb we are certain of victory. Satan might try to deceive us and make it look like our prayers and the blood have no effect on him, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The blood of Jesus touches satan at his heart. It causes utter destruction in the kingdom of darkness. The blood always accomplishes its purpose.
c) God's power is being made manifest through us - Exodus 9:16
Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (NIV)
God showed his power by defeating Pharaoh through Moses. The Egyptians defeat got them to know about the God of Israel
The church today shows the manifold wisdom and power of God (Eph 3:10-11) by defeating satan and all his works.
Ephesians 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
If God were to deal with satan directly the battle would have been over long before it ever began. God became man in Jesus and defeated sin, satan, and sickness. It is now to God's glory that we mere human beings, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can now defeat and enforce God's will on earth.
It might take us a while to understand (grasp) and use the authority we have in Christ - and that's the only reason why the battle is ongoing.
Pharaoh was humiliated and defeated. So are the forces of darkness. Pride might causes them to resist even when they are sure that defeat is eminent.
Lets always remember that God's power is being made manifest through us. Its humiliating to satan and that why he is so stubborn.
The People feared no other name more than Pharaoh's before the plagues. The Israelites were just slaves to be stepped on. By the time God had finished with Egypt, they feared Israel more than Pharaoh. God brought all this about by a mere man - Moses. A man brought Pharaoh, who was considered a "god", to his knees.
The authority we have in the blood of the lamb is sufficient for all our needs.
d) New Things - Exodus 9:18
Exodus 9:18 "Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. (NKJV)
God did a new thing. He caused heavy hail and rain, not seen since the founding of Egypt, to fall. Remember that all the plagues were wrapped up in the blood. The plagues demonstrate the power of the blood.
The blood allows God to do new things. I believe the church will see God doing new and peculiar things in these last days as he uses us to step over the enemy. The Apostles did some of these new and special things (Acts 5:14-15, Acts 19:11-12). These things are made possible because of the blood.
As we appropriate the blood of Jesus to ourselves we will see more of the power of God moving in strange and wonderful ways. We shall preach intelligently in languages we have never learnt hence getting thousands of people saved supernaturally (all salvation is supernatural). Demons will come screaming out of people simply because we look at them.
All this will be possible because the blood of Jesus will become like heavy hail and rain against satan; such as he has never seen before.
Heavy hail was the seventh plague. As the battle gets longer so does the intensity of the attack.
e) The Kingdom of God is advanced by force - Exodus 9:27-30
Exodus 9:27-30 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said to them. "The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer." 29 Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God." (NIV)
Several times Pharaoh promised to let the Israelites go, but later retreated on his promises. God used Moses to force Pharaoh to let Israel go.
The kingdom of heaven also has to be forcefully advanced
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (NIV)
We will come against all types of demonic forces in advancing the kingdom of God in our individual lives and in the world. Some will be more stubborn than others. Notice the different response from Pharaoh servants to the hail and thunder storm plague.
Exodus 9:20-21 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field. (NIV)
Those who had no regard for God's word suffered the consequences. Not all demonic forces will flee at the mere mention of God's word. Nevertheless all will be defeated by the blood as we persist in holding unto it and using its authority.
We get better in our effectiveness at using the blood as we use it more and more. Some demonic forces will attempt to resist, only to suffer the consequences. The important thing is that we should not grow discouraged when they attempt to resist the blood.
Exodus 10: 1-20
Understanding the strength of satan
Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. (NIV)
Pharaoh strength was his pride not his power.
Pharaoh had no weapon to attack God or even defend himself against God. What kept his heart hardened and his will fixed against God was his pride. A proud person would rather die than humble himself.
Pharaoh's pride is best illustrated during this eight plague of locust. Notice the pleading of his servants (Exodus 10:7). They knew Egypt was being destroyed and so did Pharaoh. Pharaoh's pride however would not let him give up without a face saving outcome of some kind. He desperately negotiated for one (Exodus 10:8-11). His pride was his main obstacle.
The same is true of satan. Its not his power that keeps him resisting us but his pride.
We need to understand this as we come against him.
Satan's power is nothing compared to our authority in Christ. Its the pride of his heart that is his main strength. The way of victory is by us coming to God with a clean heart. God can't use us if we refuse to humble ourselves before Him.
James 4:6-7 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)
Keeping pride in our hearts will only put us in Satan's territory. No wonder why God spent forty years teaching Moses humility, among other things, in the wilderness.
The love, sincerity and humility flowing out of our hearts has to be at least equal to, and better still, more than, the hate, deception and pride flowing out of satan.
The fruit of the spirit is the greatest asset in spiritual warfare.
Exodus 10:21-22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand towards the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt -- darkness that can be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand towards the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. (NIV)
The three days of darkness was no coincidence. This was no natural darkness either, it was so thick it could be felt. It can only be described as darkness from the pits of hell.
The three days of darkness definitely have a lot in common with the three days Jesus spent in the grave. Both lasted for three days and both heralded the defeat of the enemy.
When Jesus rose from the dead, His shed blood became available to all of us. Satan defeat was sealed. The blood became our greatest weapon and asset.
The three days of darkness over Egypt emphasis the relationship between the plagues and the blood. The Passover was bought in after the three days of darkness. Our deliverance came in effect after Jesus rose from the grave.
The next time you hold the blood against satan make sure you do it with the revelation that the blood has already defeated Satan.
We are fighting from victory. Not for victory.
The tenth plague was the slaying of the first-born. This was preceded by the Passover. The Passover sheds much light on how we are to apply the blood of Jesus today.
Next > The Passover