God hears the cries of the children of Israel, as they serve under the bondage of the Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. God is going to take them from the labors that are so great in Egypt, to a land promised them by God through their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was a land that was said to "flow with milk and honey."
Moses is chosen by God to go to Pharaoh to secure the release of the children of Israel. He, though, did not think he was the man for the job, even to the point that God gave him his brother, Aaron, to be his spokesman. After Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh, the burdens of the Israelites became harder. As human nature is today, so it was then: Moses and Aaron received the blame for this. God, though, had a plan that was being carried out, although Moses did not understand it yet. He questioned God as to why the people had not been brought forth from Egypt, rather than their burdens being made heavier. You may read of this from Exodus 3:5-5:23. In Exodus 6:1-8, God states that the children of Israel will know that He is "the Lord your God." Yet, when Moses tells them this, they "hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage" (Exodus 6:9). God then says, "the Egyptians shall know I am the Lord..." (Exodus 7:5).
From Exodus chapters 7 through 12, we find the plagues God brought upon the Egyptians, so they would know He was the Lord, and so that the Egyptians would let His people go. (1) The first plague was to turn the water of the river to blood, so the Egyptians could not drink the water. (2) Next, frogs were brought up from the streams, rivers, and ponds, so that frogs were everywhere, even in their beds. (3) Then, the dust was turned into lice, and covered man and beast. (4) Swarms of flies were then sent, and filled the houses of the Egyptians. (5) A very serious murrain was sent upon all the livestock of the Egyptians, and all their cattle died. (6) Boils broke forth on man and beast, so much so that the magicians of Pharaoh, who were able to duplicate the previous plagues, could not even stand before Moses. (7) A mighty hailstorm was next sent against Pharaoh and his people. All that did not fear the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh and stayed outside, and left their cattle outside, died in the storm. Exodus 9:20 indicates there were some Egyptians who feared (believed) the word of the Lord. (8) Pharaoh's heart was hardened after the terrible hail, fire, and rain. Locusts were then sent against the Egyptians, so many that the land was darkened, and every green thing in the trees and fields of the entire land was eaten by them. (9) Darkness was then sent against Pharaoh and the Egyptians; it was so dark that the Egyptians could not see each other for three days. Please read Exodus chapters 7-10. Next lesson, the last plague.
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