Passover to Resurrection Devotional
Exo 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt." Exo 10:22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. Exo 10:23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Darkness is often defined as an absence of light. However, the ninth plague was not only the absence of light but a tangible substance. It was so thick that a fire would not even ignite. The oppressive darkness could be felt (vs.21) and acted as a curtain obstructing God’s light. The physical darkness was rooted in spiritual darkness; and just like today, this present darkness has spiritual roots.
Cycles of darkness are frequently seen in the scripture. In Genesis, God separates the light from darkness. The darkness was described not just as an absence of light, but “bohu” which means without form and void, but also conveys the idea of confusion and disorder. However, Light is always present even in the darkest night amid confusion. Light cannot be subdued or denied and is a constant conundrum to darkness. Darkness cannot comprehend light. John. 1:5 Even now as the church rises to her potential, darkness is like “Are you kidding me? They are still preaching and healing the sick! How is it they still have light?”
As the children of Israel were preparing to cross the Red Sea, the Pillar of Cloud moved between the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. It was darkness to the one but light to Israel. To date, it was the most frightful and darkest experience for the newly birthed Israel. Nonetheless, they had light and we will always have light. Ex. 14:20
Exo. 10:22 says there was thick darkness for three days. As Jesus hung on the Cross, there was darkness for three hours and then He was in the grave of darkness for three days. He took light to the grave and blew it wide open! “Let there be light!” And a new birth, a new creation emerged separated from the darkness. It was good!
Luk 23:44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
BE THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Jesus, the Light of the world hung on the Cross in complete darkness for three hours. Satan was trying to create a curtain of darkness to eclipse the Son-Light. But the Light shone brightly anyway, even the full moon was in tune with the Kingdom of Light. In the deepest hours of His suffering, the Lamb remained resolute in love and cared not about His pain and suffering but only for others. He was mocked, ridiculed, betrayed, slandered, brutalized, and rejected. He didn’t even complain about His disciples forsaking Him. Instead, what does He do? “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do”.
Once again, our path is laid out before us by the Captain of our Salvation. How folks respond to forgiveness is not our problem. Our responsibility is to be light in the darkness.
NINTH PLAGUE Exo 10:23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
During the ninth plague of darkness, they could not even see their brother nor could they leave their homes. This is a challenge for us. Are we making sure that our brothers have light? What about the ones who do not have access to Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom? The greatest darkness is when we no longer see our brother. They couldn’t even rise from their homes. This is all very uncanny.
Are we living in the Land of Goshen or are we living like we’re in Egypt? The Rabbinic teachers teach that the Israelites who did not want to leave Egypt died during these three days of darkness and were quickly buried. God shakes, sifts, and separates and makes a clear distinction between light and dark.
No matter how dark and gloomy things around us become, we will always enjoy light in our dwellings. Jesus painfully absorbed the darkness on the Cross so He could always be with us as the Light within. No one can take that from you. Just as no one took the life of Jesus. He laid it down on His own accord.
The grave is open and the dead are raised! Take that darkness and smoke it.
Mic 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.