Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel, and more specifically, begins with the twentieth verse of the thirtieth chapter, and continues through to the eighteenth verse of the thirty-first chapter. This particular passage of Scripture is actually an extension of the prophetic word which had already been revealed unto the prophet Ezekiel. If you journey back to the twenty-ninth chapter of the prophetic book of Ezekiel, you will discover the beginning of the prophetic word which the Lord spoke and released concerning the prophet Ezekiel. In the twenty-ninth chapter of this prophetic book we find the word of the Lord coming unto the prophet Ezekiel in the tenth year, in the tenth month, and in the twelfth day of the month. Consider how this particular chapter opens up concerning the land of Egypt—“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt” (Ezekiel 29:1-2). Pause right there, for it is with these words the prophetic word concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt, as well as the land of Egypt itself are addressed by the Lord of hosts. The way this particular chapter opens up is actually quite remarkable when you consider the fact that the prophetic word of the Lord was not only being released concerning the land of Egypt, but also the king who ruled and reigned over that land. WHEN THE PROPHETIC WORD OF THE LORD TOUCHES BOTH LAND AND RULER! Within the first two verses of this particular passage we discover that not only was the Lord concerned with the land of Egypt as a whole, but He was also concerned with the king who ruled over that land. The Lord’s controversy would touch the entire land of Egypt, but that judgment would extend and reach far beyond the land of Egypt with its inhabitants, and would touch the king of Egypt himself. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord declared that he was to prophesy against Pharaoh, and against all Egypt, for the Lord had something to say concerning both the land and its ruler. Included within the judgment of the Lord would be the land of Egypt as a whole, but also the king who ruled over that land. It’s actually worth mentioning the reality and fact that the king of Egypt was included in the judgment of the Lord, for more often than not—as the king of the nation, kingdom and empire went, so also went that particular nation, kingdom or empire. What’s more, is that the king of any particular nation, kingdom and/or empire was the leading and dominant figure within the land, and held the most influence over the land along with its inhabitants.

 Concerning this concept of a land experiencing the judgments of the Lord in the midst of it as a direct result of the king who reigned over it, it is necessary that we turn and direct our attention to the Old Testament book of Exodus. The reason it is necessary to turn and direct our attention to this particular passage of Scripture is because it is within the Old Testament book of Exodus that we discover the children of Israel living as slaves within the land of Egypt under the cruel oppression and bondage of Pharaoh and his taskmasters. In order to understand this account in a fuller and more complete sense, it is necessary to first begin in the first chapter—specifically beginning with the seventh verse. “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people, of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Ramases. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service wherein they made them serve, was with rigour” (Exodus 1:7-14). It is necessary to begin our journey in this passage of Scripture, for it is within this passage that we uncover and discover how the children of Israel became slaves in a strange and foreign land that was not their own. In this passage we read how the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly within the land, and not only multiplied, but waxed exceeding mighty. So great was their increase within the land of Egypt that the entire land was filled with them. Eventually there arose a new king over Egypt—a king which knew not Joseph, and a king who was fearful at the thought of the children of Israel joining themselves with their enemies, and engaging the Egyptians in warfare, and thus getting themselves up out of the land. It is within this particular set of verses that we discover Pharaoh’s insecurity, Pharaoh’s fear, Pharaoh’s intimidation in the face of a people who had become mighty within the land, and his attempt to subject the children of Israel to hard bondage, labour, oppression and slavery. Within this set of verses we discover Pharaoh setting task masters over the children of Israel to afflict them with their burdens.

 As you continue reading this set of verses, you will discover that the more the Egyptian taskmasters afflicted the children of Israel, the more they multiplied within the land, and the more they grew. How absolutely wonderful and remarkable it is to think that affliction, bondage, oppression and harsh labour could not stop or prevent the children of Israel from growing and multiplying within the land of Egypt. Pharaoh assumed that the affliction, the bondage and the slavery that was imposed upon the children of Israel would bring an end to his problems, yet the children of Israel continued to multiply and increase within the land. Eventually, Pharaoh and all Egypt with him were grieved because of the children of Israel, and as a result, the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. The Egyptians proceeded to make their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. Moses goes on to describe how all their service, wherein the children of Israel were made to serve at the behest of the Egyptians was with rigor. Pharaoh and the Egyptians assumed that the way to solve their dilemma with a growing people within the land was to rule over them with oppression and an iron fist. What’s more, is that as you continue reading the first chapter of the book of Exodus, you will notice that Pharaoh decided to move beyond just harsh labor, oppression, slavery and bondage. Beginning with the fifteenth verse of this chapter we discover Pharaoh king of Egypt’s response to the Hebrew midwives within the land. “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; f it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptians women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty” (Exodus 1:15-20). I absolutely love the account of the Hebrew midwives, for the Hebrew midwives feared God, and so great was their fear of their God that they refused to destroy a generation. Scripture only speaks of two midwives by name, which brings me face to face with the reality that these two women undoubtedly preserved a number of generations simply by refusing to murder male infants when they broke the womb.

 It is important that we pay attention to Pharaoh’s instruction to the Hebrew midwives, for his actions had moved beyond harsh labor and cruel oppression. Scripture already revealed the reality that the more the children of Israel were afflicted, the more they multiplied. By this time Pharaoh and the Egyptians had discovered that it was impossible to destroy, wipe out and even annihilate the children of Israel within the land through harsh labor and cruel oppression. Pharaoh proceeded to move to an additional measure to try and destroy the children of Israel from within the land, and to not only prevent them from multiplying, but also from advancing into future generations. When reading this passage of Scripture, it is important that we recognize and understand that not only was Pharaoh seeking to prevent the children of Israel from increasing within that generation, but Pharaoh was also trying to prevent future generations from rising up within the land. It wasn’t enough to simply halt and bring to an end growth in the present tense, but Pharaoh sought to control growth in the future tense as well by ordering the Hebrew midwives to destroy and cut off all those male infants who broke the womb. Why? Why would Pharaoh order the Hebrew midwives to destroy and cut off all the male infants who broke the womb? The reason is actually quite simple, for when each male broke the womb, that male carried within him the ability to reproduce. Whenever a male infant breaks the womb, it isn’t simply that infant that breaks the womb, but there is also something incredibly vital within that infant—the power of seed. Each and every time a woman gives birth to a son, that son carries within himself the ability to reproduce, as the seed that is present within him provides the opportunity for another generation to break the womb. In all reality, Pharaoh was not only after growth, but he was also after the seed and reproduction. WHEN THE ENEMY TARGETS GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION! We must recognize and pay close attention to this particular fact, for within it we find one of the greatest tactics and strategies within the heart and mind of the adversary. By targeting those males who broke the womb in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh was seeking to control the increase of the people of God beyond just the here and the now, but into the future as well. Pharaoh wasn’t content with just bringing to a halt the increase that could be seed, heard and felt now, but also that growth and increase that could be felt, experienced and manifested in the years to come. If you read the first chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus, you will notice that it wasn’t simply about subjecting the children of Israel to harsh labor, cruel oppression, slavery and bondage, but Pharaoh also targeted future generations as well.

 THE ENEMY IS TARGETING FUTURE GENERATIONS! Before I proceed with this particular reality, I must preface anything I write beyond this by declaring that I do not have any clue or idea how much time we have left before the return of Jesus Christ. I have felt and believed for the past few years that we are quickly approaching and spiraling toward the return of Jesus Christ, and that time might in fact be running out. I believe that the remaining part of this year, as well as the next year will prove to be critical and crucial years in the history of mankind. It is in the year 2018 that we will have approached seventy years since the Hebrew people became a nation with the earth and were established as the nation of Israel. There is and has been a growing sense within my heart and spirit that we need to ready and prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus Christ, and that we need to keep our eyes and our ears opened over these next sixteen months, for I believe we are going to witness critical events within human history—events that can and will bring us that much closer to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. With all of that being said, I have to say that I believe the enemy and adversary has always been, and continues to target future generations. I believe with everything within my heart and soul that the enemy absolutely hates the idea of future generations emerging within the earth, and he can and will seek to do anything and everything to bring about the destruction of those generations. Within the first chapter of the book of Exodus we notice Pharaoh’s attempt to cut off future generations within the land of Egypt by ordering the Hebrew midwives to destroy and cut off all male infants which broke the womb. When that didn’t work—because the Hebrew midwives feared God and spared the male infants alive—Pharaoh proceeded to take this course of action a step further. When you come to the twenty-first and twenty-second verses of this chapter, you will find Pharaoh’s second attempt to cut off future generations of the children of Israel within the land of Egypt. “And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive” (Exodus 1:21-22). What I find to be so incredibly intriguing and powerful about this particular act of Pharaoh is that it was not only this act that set in motion the events which would lead to Moses being spared alive by his mother and set among the reeds of the Nile River, but it would also be Pharaoh’s own actions that would bring into his own home the very seed that would emerge within the earth to bring about the deliverance of the people of God from the slavery, bondage and oppression he inflicted.

 In the Old Testament book of Genesis we read of a snake in the garden, yet in this particular Old Testament book we read of a seed in the palace. A SEED IN THE PALACE! Pharaoh thought that by ordering all the sons which broke the womb to be cast into the Nile River he could somehow control the increase of the children of God, and to cut off the emergence of future generations. Oh how I absolutely love that Pharaoh’s own actions would set in motion an act that would be performed based on a mother’s love for her son. Consider if you will what is recorded beginning with the first verse of the second chapter—“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the children for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water” (Exodus 2:1-10). I absolutely love reading the end of the first chapter of the book of Exodus together with the first ten verses of the second chapter, for Pharaoh’s own actions to destroy all the sons of Israel by casting them alive into the Nile River would actually set in motion the events that would cause one of those sons to not only be spared alive, but to also be brought straight into his palace. How absolutely incredible it is to think that the Lord caused that seed which He would use to bring about the deliverance of His people from their slavery and bondage to grow within Pharaoh’s own house. It would have been one thing for the child to grow among the Hebrew slaves which were indeed his people, but the Lord caused the seed that would bring about the deliverance of the children of Israel to grow within Pharaoh’s own house. Pharaoh’s own actions would actually bring about the seed of deliverance to be planted—and not just planted, but also to grow—within Pharaoh’s own house.

 THE LORD SEND JOSEPH DOWN INTO THE LAND OF EGYPT TO PRESERVE ISRAEL IN THE EARTH! THE LORD SENT MOSES INTO PHARAOH’S OWN HOUSE TO PRESERVE THE SEED THAT WOULD BRING ABOUT THE DELIVERANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD! When you read the Old Testament book of Genesis together with the Old Testament book of Exodus, you will encounter two incredibly powerful realities concerning the Lord of hosts, the land of Egypt, and not only the preservation of His people, but also the deliverance of His people. In the Old Testament book of Genesis you will read of the life of Joseph, and how Joseph was sent down into Egypt ahead of his brothers and his family in order to preserve their lives in the midst of a great and fierce famine that would strike the earth. It would be the Lord’s sending Joseph down into the land of Egypt—albeit through circumstances that most would consider far less than ideal—in order that the lives of his brothers, his father, the wives of his brothers, as well as their children to be preserved within the earth. It was as a direct of the famine that struck the earth that Joseph’s brothers ended up coming down into the land of Egypt to buy food and supply to sustain themselves in the midst of the famine. Joseph’s slavery and Joseph’s imprisonment would eventually bring him to the place where he would be made second in command in all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh king of Egypt himself. It would be a direct of Joseph’s position within the land of Egypt that the entire household of Israel would be preserved in the midst of the famine, and within the land of Egypt itself. It would be Pharaoh’s actions in seeking to cut off and destroy all Hebrew sons in the earth by having them cast into the Nile that would eventually set in motion the events that would bring a Hebrew mother from the tribe of Levi to spare her son alive, and to spare him alive in the very same waters that others were destroyed and cut off in. The same waters that spelt death and destruction for countless other Hebrew sons would be the same waters that would cause Moses to be spared alive, for the ark his mother built for him would cause him to be found by Pharaoh’s own daughter. Pharaoh’s actions would cause Moses’ mother to spare him alive by setting him among the reeds in the Nile, and it would be among those reeds that Moses would be found by Pharaoh’s own daughter. I absolutely love that neither Pharaoh, nor his daughter even knew the significance of the child that was permitted to grow up in the midst of their house. Little did either one know that the child that was growing up right under their noses and right before their eyes was that seed that would be used to bring about the deliverance of the people of God. The Lord of hosts sent the seed of deliverance straight into the house of bondage in order that it might be preserved for His purposes. WHEN THE LORD SENDS THE SEED OF DELIVERANCE INTO THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE AND AFFLICTION!

 I so absolutely love the account of Moses’ mother sparing his life by setting him among the reeds of the Nile in an ark made of bulrushes, for it would be her actions that would cause the very seed of the deliverance of God’s people to be sent into the very house of bondage and affliction. Pharaoh wasn’t trying to annihilate the seed that would bring about the deliverance of the people of God, for there is no indication in Scripture that he was even concerned with such a reality. That which Pharaoh was seeking to do during his day was to cut off the seed of the people of God from producing future generations from emerging in the earth. Pharaoh was attempting to cut off the seed that would produce future generations, yet he didn’t realize that what he was actually doing was setting in motion the sparing of the seed which would bring about the very deliverance of the people he was trying to cut off. In all reality, Pharaoh’s actions weren’t that wise, for let’s say he was successful in cutting off any and all future generations of Israel within the land of Egypt. What happened when the children of Israel were no more within the land of Egypt, for those who built his treasure cities, and those who served the Egyptians would be no more. I don’t believe for one minute that Pharaoh’s actions involved much common sense, for if he was successful in cutting off future generations—eventually the workforce within the land of Egypt would be no more, and then what? What would the Egyptians do if the workforce that had worked and served under their lash and whip was no more within the land? Pharaoh’s attempt to cut off future generations would actually help facilitate and bring about the sparing of that seed that would be born within the earth that would bring about the deliverance of the people of God. PLANTING THE SEED OF DELIVERANCE IN THE HOUSE OF THE SERPENT! One of the most interesting realities concerning the land of Egypt is that one of their symbols was indeed the snake and the serpent, for you will see certain Pharaoh’s, certain rulers within the land where ornaments on their head that bore the symbol of the serpent. There were those in Egypt who even wore jewelry and bracelets that bore the symbol of the serpent. I do not believe this is any coincidence, for the Lord of hosts sent the seed of into the very house of the serpent. In the garden of Eden it was the serpent that beguiled the woman and through subtile deceit was able to tempt her to eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the land of Egypt, it was the seed of deliverance that would be thrust straight into the house of the serpent. That serpent which sought to cut off and destroy the children of Israel and people of God from the earth would have the very seed of deliverance planted in his own palace, and there in the midst of that palace, it would grow until the appointed time when it would be removed and thrust into the wilderness. If you study the history of Moses, you will discover that he spent his first forty years living in Pharaoh’s house in the land of Egypt, while he spent the next forty years living in the land of Midian where he looked after his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep. It would be at the conclusion of this second period of forty years that Moses would return to the palace of the serpent and demand that Pharaoh king of Egypt let God’s people go.

 Within chapters twenty-nine through thirty-one of the prophetic book of Ezekiel we notice the prophetic word of the Lord being directed—not only toward the land of Egypt itself, but also toward Pharaoh king of Egypt as well. The prophetic word of the Lord found in the twenty-ninth chapter of the book of Ezekiel is actually quite interesting, for within it we find some incredible language concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and the land of Egypt itself. “Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3). The Lord was going to bring upon Pharaoh king of Egypt, and the land of Egypt judgment, devastation and destruction just as He did during the days when the children of Israel were slaves in the midst of the land. Remember the words which the Lord spoke to Moses, which are recorded in the seventh chapter of the book of Exodus—“And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. And Moses and Aron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1-7). It’s worth noting and pointing out that the first sign Moses performed before Pharaoh king of Egypt was in fact the casting down of his rod and its transformation into a serpent before the eyes of all those present. Not only did the seed of deliverance return to the house of the serpent, but the Lord caused a serpent to manifest in the very house of the serpent. Not only this, but when Pharaoh’s magician’s cast down their rods and they too became serpents, Aaron’s rod which had become a serpent swallowed up all the rods of the magicians. This was but the beginning of the signs and wonders the Lord of hosts would perform within the land of Egypt. If you continue reading in the Old Testament book of Exodus, you will read of ten plagues which the Lord struck the land of Egypt with—ten plagues which were designed to bring about the deliverance of His people up from and out of the land of Egypt.

 “Thus saith the Lord, IN this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink: and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river…And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifte dup the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:17-21). “Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people god, that they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: and the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughts: and the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants…And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt…And the Lord did according to the word of. Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank…” (Exodus 8:1-14). “Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And thy did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land because lice throughout all the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 8:16-19). “Let me people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my p Eppler dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end that thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people…And the Lord did so: and there came a grevious swarm of flies into the house of. Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies” (Exodus 9:20-32). “Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Behold the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, and upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a. Very grievous Murray not. And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel…And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one” (Exodus 9:1-7). “Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with brains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses
because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians” (Exodus 9:8-12)  

“For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in the very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been seen in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die…So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field…And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled. But the what and the rise were snot smitten: for they were not grown up” (Exodus 9:14-34). “Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: and that you mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: and they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the reside of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which growth for you out of the field: and they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day…Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locust went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt” (Exodus 10:1-20). “Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretch forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness sin all the land of Egypt three days: they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings” (Exodus 10:21-23). “Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterward he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether…And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more…And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord mote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle” Exodus 11:1-12:30).

 In the first two chapters of the Old Testament book of Exodus we discover the seed of deliverance which was sent straight into the house of bondage, and straight into the house of the serpent where it would grow until the time it could be removed and brought into the wilderness. In chapters seven through twelve we find—not the seed of deliverance, but the signs, wonders and judgments of the Lord being thrust upon and manifested within the land of Egypt. When we come to these chapters within the prophetic book of Ezekiel, we find not the seed of deliverance, nor the signs and wonders of the Lord through plagues, but rather the sword which the Lord Himself would put in the hand of the king of Babylon. Through the prophet Ezekiel the Lord declared that He would thrust His sword straight into the heart of the land of Egypt, and it would utterly consume both land and king alike. The Lord had somewhat against Pharaoh and the land of Egypt, and as a direct result of this, He would thrust His sword straight into the midst of the land that it might devour throughout. Oh that we would read the words contained within the prophetic book of Ezekiel and understand the concept of the seed, the plagues and the sword, for the Lord wrought judgment, devastation and destruction in the land of Egypt while the children of Israel were slaves in the midst of it. If you read the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, you will notice that the remnant of Judah which remained within the land would journey down into the land of Egypt in order that they might escape the sword of the king of Babylon that had entered into and consumed the land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. The sword they attempted to flee and escape from would find its way down into the land of Egypt, and would not only judge their rebellion in the midst of it, but would also judge the wickedness, the rebellion, the evil, the immorality, the iniquity of Pharaoh and all Egypt with him. Oh that we would be aware of the judgments of the Lord, and that we would understand His ability to bring devastation and destruction upon nations, kingdoms and even empires, and that He is able to thrust plagues and a sword into the very heart of the land and territory of the enemy. Oh that we would read these words found within the prophetic book of Ezekiel, and that we would understand the mighty works and mighty acts of the Lord within the earth, and His ability to move within, upon and against any nation, any kingdom, and even any empire that exists within the earth.