A historian might look at the story of the exodus from Egypt and say, “Moses must have been a great leader, and the victory there was his victory. He succeeded in rallying the people to the point at which they were ready to leave Egypt.” Another might conclude, “No, what we have here is not a great historical genius or leader, but a mass movement of the people.” But neither of these would be correct. God tells us that, if we will look at the confrontation through spiritual eyes, we shall see that the battle was not so much between Israel and Egypt, or between Moses and Pharaoh, as between Jehovah, the true God, who moved Moses and Israel, and all of the false gods of the Egyptian pantheon, backed by a host of fallen angels who had turned from God as a part of Lucifer’s original rebellion.

The battle was waged with great intensity. But the result was a total and uncompromising victory for Jehovah. Through that victory the power of Egypt was broken, the people of Israel set free, and a series of stern judgments enacted against the false gods who figure prominently in the deliverance story.

This spiritual perspective on the exodus may be questioned by some. But it is set forth in a very explicit statement in this text: “the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them. On their gods also the Lord executed judgments.” The last sentence is a clear statement that the real battle in Egypt was not a battle between Moses and the Pharaoh or even between the Israelites and the Egyptians. It was a battle between God and the gods. And the victory of the Israelites was actually a victory over Satan in which Jehovah once again brought the history of Israel back into the line that he had previously determined.

What then are the spiritual lessons of the plagues? First, that of all the gods of this world, both demonic and imaginary, only one God, Jehovah, the God of Israel, deserves to be worshiped. He alone is the true God, and he alone is all-powerful. Second, the inevitable result of any conflict with God is always disastrous to God’s adversary. Consequently, it is utter folly for anyone at any time to resist or turn his back upon God. Third, those who have been called by God and stand with him can be assured of his victory, even though it may be delayed and even though it may take great courage to stand with him. If you are so called, then you may stand with him courageously. And you may rejoice in the strength of him who has permitted us to share in his victories.