Purpose for the Plagues
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Sermon text: Exodus 8:20-10:29
“When it pleases God by his judgments to humble men, he is never at a loss for means: he can use lions or lice, famines or flies. In the armory of God there are weapons of every kind, from the stars in their courses down to caterpillars in their hosts.”
—Charles Haddon Spurgeon
The plagues reveal the greatness of God
—He is the True God
—He is the Creator
—He is is the Judge
—He is the Savior
Taken together, these purpose statements explain why God plagued Pharaoh’s Egypt. He did it to show his unique omnipotence, his universal praise, and his unlimited authority over all the earth. God accomplished the same purposes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By raising Jesus on the third day, God displayed his mighty power over sin and death. Now the good news of salvation in Christ is proclaimed around the world, so that God’s name is praised in all the earth.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
The plagues reveal important truths
—the meaning for our salvation
—the purpose for our lives
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
—the foolishness of idolatry
—the necessity of faith
He sent a Redeemer to rescue them from their slavery to sin by paying their ransom with his very own blood. Now his cross rightly discriminates between those who are God’s people and those who are not. God’s people are the ones who put their trust in Christ and in his cross, but anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ remains outside the people of God.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
—the consequences of rebellion
Hebrews 3:12
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: Exodus 8:20-10:29
“When it pleases God by his judgments to humble men, he is never at a loss for means: he can use lions or lice, famines or flies. In the armory of God there are weapons of every kind, from the stars in their courses down to caterpillars in their hosts.”
—Charles Haddon Spurgeon
The plagues reveal the greatness of God
—He is the True God
—He is the Creator
—He is is the Judge
—He is the Savior
Taken together, these purpose statements explain why God plagued Pharaoh’s Egypt. He did it to show his unique omnipotence, his universal praise, and his unlimited authority over all the earth. God accomplished the same purposes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By raising Jesus on the third day, God displayed his mighty power over sin and death. Now the good news of salvation in Christ is proclaimed around the world, so that God’s name is praised in all the earth.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
The plagues reveal important truths
—the meaning for our salvation
—the purpose for our lives
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
—the foolishness of idolatry
—the necessity of faith
He sent a Redeemer to rescue them from their slavery to sin by paying their ransom with his very own blood. Now his cross rightly discriminates between those who are God’s people and those who are not. God’s people are the ones who put their trust in Christ and in his cross, but anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ remains outside the people of God.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
—the consequences of rebellion
Hebrews 3:12
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Discipleship Questions:
- In what ways does God reveal Himself as the True God, Creator, Judge, and Savior today?
- What are some ways you have experienced God’s deliverance in your salvation?
- What does it look like practically to give God your worship and your work?
- In what ways have you experienced the foolishness of idolatry?
- How do we experience the benefits of faith in Jesus both now and in the future?
- How can the consequences of rebellion towards God motivate us as His followers?
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