February 28, 2024

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.
Exodus 10:21-23 ESV

A thick, tangible darkness covered Egypt — “a darkness to be felt.” Can you imagine such a darkness? Not a single person even got out of bed for three days because they couldn’t even see right in front of them. This kind of darkness is a complete absence of light. You’d think the wicked would go crazy and have a wild party of pillage and mayhem, but even the wicked require a little light. For the Egyptians it was three days of being buried alive in a tomb of darkness.

Just prior to this moment, in verse seven, the servants of Pharaoh were crying out to him to please let Israel go, saying, “Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” The nation was already in a state of ruin by Yahweh, who had overpowered Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. They begged Pharaoh to quit being stubborn. Unfortunately, he persisted and now the nation was plunged into a darkness beyond experience or imagination.

The Lord had already made a distinction between Israel and Egypt. Curses, death, and hail had fallen on all of Egypt, but the land of Goshen (where Israel lived) was untouched. The people of Egypt saw how Israel had been set apart and remained unscathed as they (the Egyptians) suffered disaster after disaster. And now the Egyptians couldn’t see it, but they knew in their hearts that as they were being crushed by darkness, right in their midst the people of Israel had light. All of the people of Israel had light. The Egyptians were in “a darkness to be felt” while the Israelites had light. As an oppressive tangible darkness covers the world, the children of God have light.

As a follower of Jesus you may face oppression, tribulation, and persecution by the hands of the children of this world, but don’t lose sight of the big picture. The Lord has set you apart. He has made a distinction between you and the world. And when the darkness seems to become tangible and you can feel it in your skin and smell it in the air, all of the people of God will have light where they live. Your loving Father is the Father of Light, and He is the Light that not only shines on you but from within you. And in this present rising darkness in which we find ourselves, the Lord is going to operate in a different way… The Egyptians could not move, but in the midst of this darkness the nations will be moved. This present distinction will also serve as an invitation to salvation, for those kept in darkness to arise in the resurrection power of Christ. Three days in the darkest tomb to rise in glory!

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Isaiah 60:2-3 ESV

Seeking His face!
Matt