It was darkness so thick it could be felt; darkness so deep that it literally swallowed light. Difficult as that deep, dark night was, it lasted on until the day, and for two more days and nights as well.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. " (Exodus 10:21-23)
The next-to-the-last plague unleashed on Egypt because of a hard-hearted ruler is a fitting picture of the reality of this present age. This present evil age is enveloped in thick, pervading, darkness so strong that it can be felt. But, like the Israelites in Egypt, there is light in the dwellings of God's people; there is divine brightness with the children of light.
One of the great plagues listed in the book of Revelation parallels this Egyptian plague: "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds." (Revelation 16:10-11). Great darkness encroaches upon an evil world as the end of time approaches.
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8)
Light shines brightest amidst the greatest darkness. As the curtain begins to fall on this present age, and as the darkness of evil and sin increases, the people of God, illuminated by the truth of God, shine brightly as beacons of hope.
We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). May the integrity of our lives and the intense brightness of our hope pierce the darkness and guide those lost in darkness to the brilliance of the King and the coming Kingdom.
Steve
"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. " (Exodus 10:21-23)
The next-to-the-last plague unleashed on Egypt because of a hard-hearted ruler is a fitting picture of the reality of this present age. This present evil age is enveloped in thick, pervading, darkness so strong that it can be felt. But, like the Israelites in Egypt, there is light in the dwellings of God's people; there is divine brightness with the children of light.
One of the great plagues listed in the book of Revelation parallels this Egyptian plague: "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds." (Revelation 16:10-11). Great darkness encroaches upon an evil world as the end of time approaches.
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8)
Light shines brightest amidst the greatest darkness. As the curtain begins to fall on this present age, and as the darkness of evil and sin increases, the people of God, illuminated by the truth of God, shine brightly as beacons of hope.
We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). May the integrity of our lives and the intense brightness of our hope pierce the darkness and guide those lost in darkness to the brilliance of the King and the coming Kingdom.
Steve
posted by steve @ 7:31 AM
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