Exodus 10:21-29
21 Then
the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be
darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven,
and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one
another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people
of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then
Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may
go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You
must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to
the Lord our God. 26 Our
livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must
take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must
serve the Lord until we arrive there.” 27 But
the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to
him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day
you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses
said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”
It was not three hours but three days. It was not forty days
but forty years. There was darkness over the land of Egypt for three days. This
is not an eclipse. This is darkness, which the people felt. Many people thought
this was dark clouds or smog or some other explainable darkness. But whether we
can identify the type of darkness, it is God who causes the darkness and keeps
the darkness in the land for three days.
God sends darkness over the land of Egypt. This darkness was
so great that it would have shut down all operations. This darkness is very similar to the
Darkness, which came over the land of Israel for three hours while Christ was
upon the cross. We live in a world that is filled with darkness. The world is
full of darkness, because lack of faith and disobedience to God.
But here God provides light in the midst of this darkness.
He provides light in the land of Goshen among the Israelites. Jesus Christ is
our Light in the midst of this dark world. He shines his light into our lives
as St Paul says to show us our sinfulness. But he also shines light upon our
path so that we can see where we should step, so not to fall. But most
importantly, Jesus Christ dwells in darkness for three hours. He suffers in
darkness so that you may live in the light. He takes your darkness upon himself
and offers you his light.
St John recounts the Lamb is the lamp of the New Heaven and
New Earth.
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