Don’t Be Trapped in the Dark
Today’s Verse:
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. ~Exodus 10:22-23
Have you ever been somewhere that was pitch dark? I mean, where the lights were out, and it was so dark that you couldn’t even see your hand? This can be very frightening and stressful. Our passage this morning takes us to the time when Moses was sent from God to confront Pharaoh about releasing the Israelites from slavery to worship the Lord in the wilderness. Pharaoh repeatedly told Moses that he would not let them go. God would afflict Pharaoh and Egypt with a series of plagues to get him to realize that God would not be mocked. The plague of darkness was the ninth of these plagues. Being stuck in utter darkness should have been enough to cause Pharaoh and Egypt to submit to the Lord. Let us consider some vital lessons from Egypt’s time in the darkness.
We see the scary.
The people of Egypt were so petrified by the darkness that they did not dare to leave their dwellings for three days. The actual rendering of the verse indicates that no one rose from his place: they were too scared to move a muscle because of the thickness of the darkness. In Genesis 15, Abraham fell asleep, and when he awoke, he saw a horror of great darkness. He awoke and realized that the darkness of night surrounded him, and he was very frightened. The picture of darkness should cause concern for God’s people.
We see the sin.
Jesus said that men love darkness rather than light. Judas departed when it was night to betray the Lord Jesus. Thieves prefer to break into homes at night. Men would rather live in darkness. They would prefer to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season than to walk in the light as He is in the light. Men would rather stay in the darkness of a wicked imagination, a wild lifestyle, and a worldly pursuit than to dwell where Jesus is.
We see the suffering.
Three times in Matthew, being cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth is used as a picture of suffering and sorrow. It is a vivid illustration of the regret that some will have for neglecting the opportunities God gave them in this life. No doubt, the Egyptians were suffering from having dwelt in darkness for three days. When you are in darkness for a long period of time, your eyesight adjusts to this, and you can become blind. The lack of exposure to the sun will lead to serious health deficiencies.
We see the solution.
All the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Perhaps, some Egyptians could see the light that was in Goshen from afar and desired to be there. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World! The only solution for darkness is to come out of it and dwell in the light. First, we must walk as children of the light. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Then, we must separate from the works of darkness. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
It’s better to be in the light than to be in the darkness. Let’s determine to reflect that we are children of the light and get out of the darkness. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Have a well-lighted God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 5-8