We finally come to “the Plagues” from the book of Exodus. We're not saying that COVID-19 is a plague of judgment from God. But the story does make us think about who we are when we’re at a breaking point… and more importantly: who God always is, even when we've become hard-hearted.
Discussion Questions
In Exodus 5, Pharaoh asked, "who is God that I should obey him?" How might the plagues (Exodus 5-12) be a direct answer to that question?
The plagues directly challenged the Egyptian gods. If God were to challenge the current American gods, what might that look like? If God were to challenge your gods, what might that look like?
The plagues are a "descent back into chaos" – as a reversal of creation (Genesis 1-2). How do our sins bring about similar problems; revealing who God is and who we are?
Pharaoh's magicians repeated the first few plagues, but the obvious need was to undo them. Eventually, they had to acknowledge that this is the "finger of God." But still Pharaoh "hardened his heart" (Exodus 8:15). Why is it so critical that we come to the end our own ability to see who God is? When has your end become God’s beginning? When did your limits and brokenness become a moment for God to pick you up and recreate you?
Explore “hard-heartedness” in the Bible: Pharaoh & God (Romans 9:14), Israel's own pattern of hard-heartedness (Psalm 95:6-11), The NT Church (Hebrews 3:12-13), and Humanity as a whole (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
In light of humanity's hard-heartedness, what is the hope offered in Ezekiel 36:24-28? How does the cross bring that about? What does the over-arching narrative of Scripture say about God's long-term resolve in pursuing hard-hearted people like us? Have you ever pursued someone who was hard toward you? How did you pay the cost for their hardness in order to see that relationship soften? How does that help you appreciate the depth of God’s love?
Tim Keller said, "I cannot stay angry at someone unless I feel superior to them." Why then should the cross put an end to holding grudges? In what sense is this both good and bad news to you? To whom in your life does this apply?
How do the particular events that we consider most injurious to us reveal a lot about what we value? Get specific about one or two areas in your life that God wants to soften and reign.
