Old Pharaoh - 2 of 2

For Pharaoh still exalts himself and thinks he’s in control, But if he won’t release my folk, he’ll pay a heavy toll. Tomorrow I will bring down hail like Egypt’s never seen, On plants and trees and man and beast, and flatten everything. But those who fear this word of mine will bring their stuff inside, Will spare themselves ensuing loss; now go tell all: decide.” And so did Moses stretch his hand; this time he raised it higher. The LORD sent thunder, rain, and hail, and lit the sky with fire. The storm came down with monstrous force; the king cried in dismay, But Goshen, where the people lived, did not see hail that day. Then Pharaoh said, “This time I’ve sinned; the LORD is in the right, I and my people, in the wrong, and He has shown his might. So Aaron, Moses, plead my case; I’ve had a change of heart. Just ask your God to calm this storm; your people may depart.” So Moses did just what he asked, and so the storm withdrew, But he warned Pharaoh there’d be more if his word was untrue. “If Pharaoh truly changed his mind, I’d give relief, assuage, But since he’s got that hard old heart, I’ll send another plague.” eight: locusts For God knew Pharaoh’s silver tongue; he knew that very hour, And so He called the locusts forth, to trample, bite, devour. Just for a bit, it looked as though the king would grant relief, For his advisors counseled him, “This Mo brings naught but grief! Just let him and his people go, remove him from our sight, His God has destroyed everything, with boils and hail and blight.” So Pharaoh summoned Moses then, to let him off to serve, But when Mo told him ALL must go, then Pharaoh lost his nerve. “No, I don’t trust your evil plan; there’s something here not right.” With that, his men accosted them and drove them from his sight. So down the locusts came in swarms; a heavy price was paid. They gobbled everything in sight down to the last green blade. And once again the king cried out, “Mo, tell your God I’ve sinned!” And so the LORD dispatched the cloud to sea on a west wind. And what of old king Pharaoh’s heart? I’m pretty sure you’ll guess. Yup, back it went, hard as a rock; this king was one hot mess. nine: darkness The LORD then brought a darkness out, a darkness to be felt. For three long days, it was pitch black; the bravest hearts did melt. But God spared Moses and his folks; yes, Goshen was all right; While Egypt felt oppressive, dark, Israel basked in light. Then Pharaoh called for Moses, “Come, I’d like to have a word. I’m going to let the people go, but you must leave the herds.” “Our livestock too must go with us, to be our sacrifice, For ours is a forgiving God, but sin comes with a price.” The king then raged, “Get out of here, and never see my face, For, on that day, you’ll surely die; get out! Just leave this place!” Then Moses said, “Just as you say!” He tried hard not to grin, This time, the king had told the truth; would not see Mo again. ten: firstborn threatened Before he left, the LORD revealed his final, awful plan; That very night, his hand would strike the first-born of the land. This time there would be no defense, no way to get prepared, Not people, cattle, even slaves, nor king’s son would be spared. Yet God touched not a single hair on any Hebrew head, He consecrated all the Jews, struck Egypt’s first-born dead. “A cry will rise across the land, such as has never been, And once death’s hand on Egypt rests, she won’t resist again. Your servants will come bow to me, ‘Please leave, you and your lot!’” On that note, Moses left the king, his anger burning hot. For Pharaoh would not let them go, not let the Jews depart, For he was still a prideful man, possessed a hardened heart. ten: angel of death Then God described the Passover, just how it would go down, And how the Jews would mark, observe this night of great renown. This month would start a year anew, the 14th day, of note. For it preceded Passover, a night they learned by rote. For on this day did every man, each house, a lamb prepare, And if the household was too small, then with his neighbor shared. His lamb would be without a spot, a male in its first year, And it could be a sheep or goat, for four days, kept quite near. At twilight on the fourteenth day, then all would kill their lambs, And smear the blood upon their door: on lintels, posts, not jambs. And they would eat it all that night, fresh-roasted on the flame, With bitter herbs, unleavened bread, let none of it remain. And not to eat it raw or boiled, but eat the legs and head, And burn whatever else remained when everyone had fed. And in this way, they ate their meal with sandals on their feet, With belts secured and staff in hand, in haste, they did thus eat. For this night differed from all nights: Passover of the LORD, The night He struck the firstborn down, the night Egypt abhorred. For God passed all throughout the land; He struck down beast and man. Exacting judgment on their gods, He spared where lamb’s blood ran. For where the LORD saw doors so marked, He spared all those inside, But if there was no covering, the firstborn surely died. passover memorial “So make this a memorial, remembered as a feast, To generations, hand it down: the night you gained release. For seven days, unleavened bread: the only bread you’ll eat; Remove the leaven from your house, a sign of quick retreat. For when all Egypt mourned their dead with wails and screams and cries, You made your exodus in haste; your bread: no time to rise.” And so the LORD thus called them out; He freed the slaves that day, But now, for us, the Passover prefigures Christ this way: See, Jesus was a firstborn son, “The Lamb of God,” said John. And right there upon heaven’s door, His precious blood was drawn That all who found belief in Him, confessed Him as their Christ, Would be passed over by God’s wrath, through His blood sacrifice. (from Exodus 7-12)