THE NINTH PLAGUE — DARKNESS
Then Adonai said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt—a darkness that may be felt.”So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They could not see one another, nor could anyone rise from his place for three days. Yet all Bnei-Yisrael had light within their dwellings.
Exodus 10:21-23, TLV
Have you ever been in the dark. I don’t mean the dark when the sun has gone down and there is no moon and it’s really hard to see. I mean the total, profound darkness I have only experienced deep underground in a cave; a darkness so profound that you can’t see your hand right in front of your own eyes when you are waving it around. That is the sort of darkness that HaShem placed over the people of Egypt for three whole days. As human beings we are very visual creatures. A sudden and profound darkness of that sort must have been completely terrifying. What’s more one of the most important of all Egyptian gods was Ra—the sun god. What a complete defeat of his powers that there was no light at all for that time.
But Exodus tells us that the Hebrews had light in their homes. What a contrast that must have been. Egyptians who were living close to a Hebrew home may well have seen only that tiny shred of light coming from their neighbors. Can you imagine how attractive and inviting that would have been to those in darkness?
All around us there is a world that is staggering around in spiritual darkness. And, right now, it seems as if that darkness is becoming more and more profound—but there is Light in the homes of the Children of HaShem.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16, TLV
Questions to ponder: Are we protecting and cultivating the spiritual light in our homes? Are we allowing the darkness of the world to creep in? How are we allowing the light we have been given to be a beacon to those in spiritual darkness? What “good works” are you called to?