The first nine plagues are ordered in three cycles of three plagues each. The plagues increase in severity from the first to the ninth and will reach their climax in the tenth and final plague. In these plagues we witness God’s judgment, but we also see His mercy and grace. God warns Pharaoh and his inner circle of the judgment that is to come if they fail to heed the words of His servants.
There are at least 5 areas that we will open up.
1st , God is proving that He is the Lord. Remember Pharaoh was thought to be God in Egypt. Pharaoh declared to Moses in chapter 5 verse 2 “Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” After these plagues,
2nd, God is proclaiming that He is powerful and sovereign in His judgment. He declares in chapter 9 verses 15-16: “For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”
3rd, we see God’s judgment is real and it’s imminent! But then fourthly, God shows His mercy amid His judgment by not completely wiping out the Egyptians in these 9 plagues.
4th Amid God’s judgment we see His grace and mercy within.
5th God is creating worshipers.
