“against all the gods of egypt” exodus 12:12

“AGAINST ALL THE GODS OF

EGYPT”EXODUS 12:12

YAHWEH vs. the Egyptian gods

EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY INTRODUCTION Polytheistic Society – over 80 gods Influenced its literature, government,

art, and morality Some sacred animals: lion, ox, ram,

wolf, dog, cat, ibis, vulture, falcon, hippo, crocodile, cobra, dolphin, fish, frog, scarab, locust, etc.

Pharaoh was a god, the son of Amon-Ra

GOD VS. GODS God was going to reveal himself to the

Egyptians by the plagues The plagues were not just against

Pharaoh and his people, but against “all the gods of Egypt”

Every one of the plagues was an insult to the gods of Egypt

PLAGUE OF BLOODEXODUS 7:14-25 Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt -- trade,

commerce, crops All waters became like blood (even

drinking water) Direct attack on many of Egypt’s

greatest gods:1. Khnum – guardian of the Nile

PLAGUE OF BLOODEXODUS 7:14-25 Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt -- trade,

commerce, crops All waters became like blood (even

drinking water) Direct attack on many of Egypt’s

greatest gods:1. Khnum – guardian of the Nile2. Hapi – god of the annual flood

PLAGUE OF BLOODEXODUS 7:14-25 Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt --

trade, commerce, crops All waters became like blood (even

drinking water) Direct attack on many of Egypt’s

greatest gods:1. Khnum – guardian of the Nile2. Hapi – god of the annual flood3. Osiris – god of the underworld whose

bloodstream was the Nile

PLAGUE OF BLOODEXODUS 7:14-25 Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt --

trade, commerce, crops All waters became like blood (even

drinking water) Direct attack on many of Egypt’s

greatest gods:1. Khnum – guardian of the Nile2. Hapi – god of the annual flood3. Osiris – god of the underworld whose

bloodstream was the Nile4. Tauret – goddess of the river

PLAGUE OF BLOODEXODUS 7:14-25 Nile was the heartbeat of Egypt --

trade, commerce, crops All waters became like blood (even

drinking water) Direct attack on many of Egypt’s

greatest gods:1. Khnum – guardian of the Nile2. Hapi – god of the annual flood3. Osiris – god of the underworld whose

bloodstream was the Nile4. Tauret – goddess of the river5. Nu – god of the life in the Nile

PLAGUE OF BLOOD It is fitting that the 1st plague directly

attacks the Nile and its gods and goddesses because the Nile was the lifeline of Egypt.

Where were the gods/goddesses of the Nile to help the Egyptians during this first plague?

2. PLAGUE OF FROGSEXODUS 8:1-15 The appearance of frogs would not have

been unusual after the 1st plague Direct attack on the goddess Heqt

(Heket) – creator of the world and the goddess of birth (head and body of a frog)

2. PLAGUE OF FROGSEXODUS 8:1-15 The appearance of frogs would not have

been unusual after the 1st plague Direct attack on the goddess Heqt (Heket)–

creator of the world and the goddess of birth (head and body of a frog)

She assisted women during childbirth Involuntary slaughter of a frog could be

punished by death What did the Egyptians have to do with the

frogs? Asked Moses for God to take them away Where was Heqt?

3. PLAGUE OF LICE (GNATS)EXODUS 8:16-19 The word kinnim is translated as lice,

sand fleas, or fleas It comes from the word meaning “to

dig” This was an attack on Geb, god of the

earth

3. PLAGUE OF GNATS (LICE)EXODUS 8:16-19 The word kinnim is translated as lice,

sand fleas, or fleas It comes from the word meaning “to

dig” This was an attack on Geb, god of

the earth It was also an attack on the priests of

Egypt, because they had to shave their hair every day (bodies every other day) to keep off the lice

What could they do?

4. PLAGUE OF SWARMSEXODUS 8:20-32 Moses does not use the word “flies” but

rather “swarms” It may have been a plague of beetles

(scarab beetles) Amon-Ra had the head of a beetle

4. PLAGUE OF SWARMSEXODUS 8:20-32 Moses does not use the word “flies” but

rather “swarms” It may have been a plague of beetles

(scarab beetles) Amon-Ra had the head of a beetle He was the creator and king of the gods The scarab beetle was actually a dung

beetle This was the 1st plague in which God makes

a distinction between His people and the Egyptians

God puts redemption between His people and the Egyptians

Did Amon-Ra do that?

5. PLAGUE OF LIVESTOCKEXODUS 9:1-7 Plague against domesticated animals

of Egypt Bulls and bull-calves were sacred and

used for sacrifices (heifers not sacrificed because they were sacred to Isis)

The flies would have become carriers of infectious diseases (anthrax bacteria) and this would have infected the livestock.

Apis – Apis Bull was a living image of the god Ptah; had the power of prophecy

5. PLAGUE OF LIVESTOCKEXODUS 9:1-7 Plague against domesticated animals of

Egypt Bulls and bull-calves were sacred and used

for sacrifices (heifers not sacrificed because they were sacred to Isis)

The flies would have become carriers of infectious diseases (anthrax bacteria) and this would have infected the livestock.

Apis – Apis Bull was a living image of the god Ptah – had the power of prophecy

Hathor – cow-headed goddess of the desert; symbolic mother of pharaoh

6. PLAGUE OF BOILSEXODUS 9:8-12

Skin anthrax? Boils on the knees, legs, and soles of the

feet This explains why pharaoh’s magicians

couldn’t stand before Moses Attack on Serapis – god of healing

6. PLAGUE OF BOILSEXODUS 9:8-12

Skin anthrax? Boils on the knees, legs, and soles of the

feet This explains why pharaoh’s magicians

couldn’t stand before Moses Attack on Serapis – god of healing Attack on Imhotep – god of medicine

who was a real man during Zozer’s reign

IMHOTEP

6. PLAGUE OF BOILSEXODUS 9:8-12

Skin anthrax? Boils on the knees, legs, and soles of

the feet This explains why pharaoh’s

magicians couldn’t stand before Moses

Attack on Serapis – god of healing Attack on Imhotep – god of medicine

who was a real man during Zozer’s reign

Attack on Thoth – god of intelligence and medical learning

THOTH

7. PLAGUE OF HAILEXODUS 9:13-35 Cairo receives about 2 inches of rain per

year Attack on Nut – sky goddess

7. PLAGUE OF HAILEXODUS 9:13-35 Cairo receives about 2 inches of rain per

year Attack on Nut – sky goddess Where was Shu – the wind god? Where were Isis and Seth – protectors

of the crops?

ISIS

SETH

8. PLAGUE OF LOCUSTSEXODUS 10:1-20 Locusts could destroy entire village food

supplies in minutes Described as an army (Joel 1:6) The Egyptian gods were silent: Nepri – god of grain

NEPRI

8. PLAGUE OF LOCUSTSEXODUS 10:1-20 Locusts could destroy entire village food

supplies in minutes Described as an army (Joel 1:6) The Egyptian gods were silent: Nepri – god of grain Isis Thermuthis – goddess of fertility and

the harvest

THERMUTHIS

8. PLAGUE OF LOCUSTSEXODUS 10:1-20 Locusts could destroy entire village

food supplies in minutes Described as an army (Joel 1:6) The Egyptian gods were silent: Nepri – god of grain Isis Thermuthis – goddess of fertility

and the harvest Seth – god of crops

9. PLAGUE OF DARKNESSEXODUS 10:21 FF. “But when Moses said that what he

[Pharaoh] desired was unjust, since they were obliged to offer sacrifices to God of those cattle, and the time being prolonged on this account, a thick darkness, without the least light, spread itself over the Egyptians, whereby their sigh being obstructed, and the breathing hindered by the thickness of the air, they were under terror lest they be swallowed up by the thick cloud. This darkness, after three days and as many nights was dissipated.” Josephus, Book II, XIV, 5)

9. PLAGUE OF DARKNESS The plague was insult to Egypt’s entire

religion and entire culture Amon-Ra – sun god

9. PLAGUE OF DARKNESS The plague was insult to Egypt’s entire

religion and entire culture Amon-Ra – sun god Horus – god of light

9. PLAGUE OF DARKNESS The plague was insult to Egypt’s entire

religion and entire culture Amon-Ra – sun god Horus – god of light Ptah – created the moon, sun, and

earth

9. PLAGUE OF DARKNESS The plague was insult to Egypt’s entire

religion and entire culture Amon-Ra – sun god Horus – god of light Ptah – created the moon, sun, and

earth Tem – god of the sunset Shu – god of sunlight and air

10. DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORNEXODUS 11:1-12:30 The first born was not only an heir of

a double portion of his father’s inheritance, but represented special qualities of life

The death of a firstborn son would cripple a family legally and emotionally.

This plague was more devastating than all others combined

This plague is the most memorable (Hebrews 11:28)

10. DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN Directed against ALL the gods of Egypt Exodus 12:12

HABAKKUK 2:18-20(NIV) “Of what value is an idol, since a man

has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he makes it trust in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is not breath in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

HABAKKUK 2:18-20(LIVING BIBLE) “What profit was there in worshiping

all your man-made idols? What a foolish lie that they could help? What fools you were to trust what you yourselves had made Woe to those who command their lifeless wooden idols to arise and save them, who call out to the speechless stone to tell them what to do. Can images speak for God? They are overlaid with gold and silver, but there is not breath at all inside! But the Lord is in his holy Temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”