to prove God’s power against those lifeless deities, and to show His strength, the
intervention of the Pharaoh’s magicians being useless in front of God’s miracles.
The brief enumeration of those ten plagues will be accompanied by only a few
lapidary explanations.
We might say that they represent the “overture” of God’s great miracle: the
Crossing of Red Sea, the final act of a complex nature, both protector and savior of
the Hebrew people, on the one hand, and punitive and disastrous for the Pharaoh
and his army, on the other hand. The historical documents (J. Ashton and D. Down
2006; D. Rohl 1995) mentioning this miracle, when the sea was God’s main
working tool, are true and impossible to refute. It is assumed that the crossing
took place near the present-day Suez Canal. It is obvious that this miracle can be
explained by its supernatural deployment. The waters were like a wall and it means
more than a mere defense of the Hebrew people. There is no need to assume that
there were vast amounts of water that defy the laws of gravity. The waters stood,
like a perpendicular wall, on both sides. The Israelites went through the sea, on dry
land (Book of Exodus ch. 14, verse 22 and ch. 15, verse. 12). This was a great
miracle for those fleeing to save their lives. In these circumstances, they felt fully
the hand of God, their Savior.
17
For the first time, the sea, cradle of divine creation, was a working tool for the
majestic perfection of God’s plans, with a strong echo across the centuries. Looking
at Moses and at the Red Sea, we express our admiration and gratitude that we have a
great creator – a Father – Who leads the entire universe. Before concluding this part
referring to one of the most wonderful and complex micracles of God’s plan, we
want to emphasize the fact that He used the sea (the stretch of water of His creation)
in order to show His greatness, to make known His Word and Will, and especially
His borderless forgiveness and kindness towards people. We also want to turn for
the first time to the Mediterranean Sea, and, in the course of our paper, we will
17 As described by the Scripture, the ten plagues were against the Egyptian gods:
(a) The first of the ten plagues turned the Nile waters into blood; the fish died, people could not
drink water. The Nile was considered a god. Of the Egyptian deities, the bull was the most
sacred animal, while the crocodile was reviled.
(b) The plague of frogs, lice and flies. The frog was also considered a god.
(c) The cattle plague, the black smallpox. It is significant that all the cattle of the Egyptians died,
while almost none of the Israelis. Sores have covered both people and animals, and even the
wizards.
(d) Locusts and darkness – this was one of the worst plagues; the insects ate everything. The work
of God’s hand is obvious: “Darkness” was a direct blow given to “Ra”, i.e. the great god of the
Egyptian Sun.
(e) The death of the firstborn. This plague was turned including against the Pharaoh’s firstborn.
Almost a year had passed since the crisis. The Pharaoh reluctantly gave in and the people of
Israel could leave. Interestingly, with their departure, the decline of Egypt began. The Red Sea
would be the one that would bring it down permanently. God can not compromise. The heart
must be entirely given to the Lord. Emperor Asa would go through a bitter experience later in
the 39th year of his reign (2 Chronicles, ch. 16, verse 12 and 13).
1 The Sea, Cradle of Divine Spirituality
15
intervention of the Pharaoh’s magicians being useless in front of God’s miracles.
The brief enumeration of those ten plagues will be accompanied by only a few
lapidary explanations.
We might say that they represent the “overture” of God’s great miracle: the
Crossing of Red Sea, the final act of a complex nature, both protector and savior of
the Hebrew people, on the one hand, and punitive and disastrous for the Pharaoh
and his army, on the other hand. The historical documents (J. Ashton and D. Down
2006; D. Rohl 1995) mentioning this miracle, when the sea was God’s main
working tool, are true and impossible to refute. It is assumed that the crossing
took place near the present-day Suez Canal. It is obvious that this miracle can be
explained by its supernatural deployment. The waters were like a wall and it means
more than a mere defense of the Hebrew people. There is no need to assume that
there were vast amounts of water that defy the laws of gravity. The waters stood,
like a perpendicular wall, on both sides. The Israelites went through the sea, on dry
land (Book of Exodus ch. 14, verse 22 and ch. 15, verse. 12). This was a great
miracle for those fleeing to save their lives. In these circumstances, they felt fully
the hand of God, their Savior.
17
For the first time, the sea, cradle of divine creation, was a working tool for the
majestic perfection of God’s plans, with a strong echo across the centuries. Looking
at Moses and at the Red Sea, we express our admiration and gratitude that we have a
great creator – a Father – Who leads the entire universe. Before concluding this part
referring to one of the most wonderful and complex micracles of God’s plan, we
want to emphasize the fact that He used the sea (the stretch of water of His creation)
in order to show His greatness, to make known His Word and Will, and especially
His borderless forgiveness and kindness towards people. We also want to turn for
the first time to the Mediterranean Sea, and, in the course of our paper, we will
17 As described by the Scripture, the ten plagues were against the Egyptian gods:
(a) The first of the ten plagues turned the Nile waters into blood; the fish died, people could not
drink water. The Nile was considered a god. Of the Egyptian deities, the bull was the most
sacred animal, while the crocodile was reviled.
(b) The plague of frogs, lice and flies. The frog was also considered a god.
(c) The cattle plague, the black smallpox. It is significant that all the cattle of the Egyptians died,
while almost none of the Israelis. Sores have covered both people and animals, and even the
wizards.
(d) Locusts and darkness – this was one of the worst plagues; the insects ate everything. The work
of God’s hand is obvious: “Darkness” was a direct blow given to “Ra”, i.e. the great god of the
Egyptian Sun.
(e) The death of the firstborn. This plague was turned including against the Pharaoh’s firstborn.
Almost a year had passed since the crisis. The Pharaoh reluctantly gave in and the people of
Israel could leave. Interestingly, with their departure, the decline of Egypt began. The Red Sea
would be the one that would bring it down permanently. God can not compromise. The heart
must be entirely given to the Lord. Emperor Asa would go through a bitter experience later in
the 39th year of his reign (2 Chronicles, ch. 16, verse 12 and 13).
1 The Sea, Cradle of Divine Spirituality
15