Exodus 10:21-29

²¹ Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and let that darkness cause people to feel around with their hands.” ²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was deep darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. ²³ No man saw his brother, nor did any man leave from under his roof for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. ²⁴ Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” ²⁵ But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may present them to the LORD our God. ²⁶ Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, because we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we will not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” ²⁷ But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. ²⁸ Then Pharaoh said to him, “Go away from me; keep yourself from ever seeing my face again, for on the day you see my face you will die.” ²⁹ Moses said, “You said that right! I will never again see your face.”

no more bargaining

Darkness for three solid days was a felt personally by Pharaoh because it was an attack upon Ra, the sun god, king of the gods of Egypt, and patron to Pharaoh himself.[1] It only took three days of groping around in the daytime, not being able to leave from under their roofs, for Pharaoh to call Moses back to the bargaining table. But what happened then was unprecedented. Pharaoh demanded one more concession – that the Israelites leave their property behind. But Moses responded that the very purpose for their leaving Egypt is their relationship with God. They had to bring their animals because the LORD would require some kind of animal sacrifice. At the time, the law of Sinai had not yet been put into place, so no one but God knew what those requirements would be. So, Moses insisted that “not a hoof will be left behind.”

Pharaoh gave up. There would be no more appearing before him. He told Moses that by saying that he would never again see his face. Moses responded by telling Pharaoh that he had just prophesied. Pharaoh would not see Moses again. Time for bargaining was over.

How is your exodus coming? Are you serving and worshipping God alone, or is there another king who seeks for primacy and control in your life? Have the good sense to call off the bargaining, and get out of Egypt while you have the chance.

LORD, we commit ourselves to serving and worshipping you alone.

[1] see http://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/ra.html