The Ten Plagues - God's Power Over Egypt

But Pharaoh laughed. "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him? I will NOT let Israel go!" Instead, Pharaoh made the Israelites work even harder!

So God sent plagues - terrible disasters - to show Pharaoh His power!

**Plague 1: BLOOD!** Moses held his staff over the Nile River, and all the water turned to blood! The fish died, and the river smelled terrible. The Egyptians couldn't drink the water. But Pharaoh's heart was hard. He refused to let the people go.

**Plague 2: FROGS!** God sent millions of frogs! They hopped everywhere - in houses, bedrooms, ovens, and even in people's food! "I'll let your people go!" Pharaoh promised. But when the frogs died, Pharaoh changed his mind.

**Plague 3: GNATS!** Tiny bugs swarmed everywhere, biting people and animals! Pharaoh's magicians said, "This is the finger of God!" But Pharaoh still refused.

**Plague 4: FLIES!** Swarms of flies filled Egyptian homes! But in Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there were NO flies! God was protecting His people. Still, Pharaoh said no.

**Plague 5: LIVESTOCK DISEASE!** All the Egyptian horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats got sick and died. But the Israelite animals were perfectly healthy! Pharaoh checked, but his heart remained stubborn.

**Plague 6: BOILS!** Painful sores broke out on the Egyptians and their animals! Even Pharaoh's magicians got boils and couldn't stand before Moses. But Pharaoh refused to listen.

**Plague 7: HAIL!** The worst hailstorm in Egypt's history struck! Thunder crashed! Lightning flashed! Huge hailstones pounded down, destroying crops and killing animals and people who were outside. Only in Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there was no hail. Pharaoh said, "I'll let you go!" But when the storm stopped, he changed his mind again.

**Plague 8: LOCUSTS!** Massive swarms of locusts covered the ground so thick you couldn't see it! They ate every plant and every fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained in all of Egypt! Pharaoh begged Moses to pray, but then hardened his heart again.

**Plague 9: DARKNESS!** Thick darkness covered Egypt for three days! It was so dark that people couldn't even see their hands in front of their faces! They couldn't move around. But the Israelites had light in their homes! Pharaoh still refused to let them go.

Finally, God told Moses about the last and most terrible plague.

**Plague 10: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN!** God said, "At midnight, every firstborn son in Egypt will die - from Pharaoh's son to the slave's son, and even the firstborn of the animals. But not one Israelite will be harmed!"

God told the Israelites to mark their doorposts with lamb's blood. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you," God promised. This is called Passover!

At midnight, the LORD struck down every firstborn in Egypt! Pharaoh's son died. There was loud crying throughout Egypt - everyone had lost someone! But in the Israelite homes, everyone was safe!

Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night. "Go!" he cried. "Leave my people! Go and worship the LORD! Take your flocks and herds and GO!"

The Egyptians urged the people to hurry. "Leave quickly, or we'll all die!" they said. They even gave the Israelites silver, gold, and clothing!

That very night, about 600,000 Israelite men, plus women and children, left Egypt! They had been slaves for 430 years! But God had set them free!

This story shows us that God is more powerful than any king or any false god! When God says something will happen, it WILL happen! And God always keeps His promises to rescue His people!