Plagues

[Ex. 7:7] And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
Moses 80 years old and Aaron was 83 years old.
PLAGIJES
1-3 The staff is stretched out by Aaron
4-6 no staff used
7-9 Moses used his staff
1, 4, 7 came in the morning 3, 6, 9 came unannounced
The plagues begin with the magicians imitating the miracles of Moses and Aaron, under Satan’s power. Then they admitted the finger of G-d. The “officials” of Pharaoh (who seem to be a different group from that of the magicians) have within their numbers those who heed the warning of Moses and put their slaves and cattle under cover. (9:10) finally, all of Pharaoh’s officials plead with him to release the Israelites before Egypt is completely ruined (10:7).
The Nile was an object of superstitions, reverence, and the patron deity of the country. The turning water into blood was a righteous plague and justly inflicted upon the Egyptians, for the Nile was their idol that they worship more than the creator. They had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrew’s children. Rev. 16:6
It was also the significant plague. Egypt had a dependence upon their river. Zec. 14:18 and the plagues lasted 7 days. 7:25.

PURPOSES OF THE PLAGUES
1. The plagues was an indictment and judgment of idols of Egypt. Ex. 12:12; 18:11; Nub. 33:4 Isa. 19:1 Josh. 24:14.
2. The plagues were a demonstration of G-d’s existence and power. Ex. 7:5, 17; 18:10, 22
9:14, 16; 10:2.
3. The plagues were a judgment on Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their cruelty and harshness Gen. 15:14.
4. The plagues were G-d’s means of forcing Pharaoh to release Israel from Egypt.
Ex.3:19-20, 6:1; 7:4-5; 12:31,33,39; 13:3
5. The plagues were a prototype, a sample of G-d’s future judgment. Deut. 28:27; Rev. 15:3
6. G-d judged the idols of Egypt more than he did the Egyptians. But whoever chooses to serve these idols shares in their judgments.
7. G-d’s judgment was intended to bring some of the Egyptians to a saving faith, concealing some left Egypt with the Israelites. Ex. 12:3 8
8. G-d’s judgment upon the Egyptians was the means of delivering His people from bondage.
9. There was an alternative provided by G-d’s warning and doing as He commanded. His judgments could be avoided by faith and obedience.

FIVE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE PLAGUES
1. Intensification: frogs, insects, and darkness were known in Egypt, these were intensified for beyond any ordinary occurrence.
2. Prediction: Moses predicted the moment of the arrival and departure sets then apart from purely natural occurrences.
3. Discrimination: Did not occur in the land of Goshen were Israel was living 8:22; 9:4, 26
4. Orderliness: There is a gradual severity in the nature of the plagues concluding with the death of the first-born.
5. Moral purpose: These are not freaks of nature but were designed to teach moral lessons.

The plagues were:
Loathsome (blood water, frogs and lice).
Painful (stinging flies, cattle plagues, and boiled).
Appalling (hail, locust, darkness).
Overwhelming (death of the first-born).]

Plagues were from July to March