Transcript [00:00] [music] [00:02] >> Life audio. [00:04] >> On today's episode of Timeless Wisdom. [00:07] >> The frogs died away [00:09] from the houses, from the courtyards, [00:11] and from the fields. [00:14] They piled them up, that is the [00:15] Egyptians piled these [00:17] uh [00:18] frogs up [00:19] heaps upon heaps [00:21] and the land stank. [00:25] You can imagine, can you imagine [00:26] millions of dead frogs rotting away? [00:29] This was God's last joke as it were on [00:32] this plague. Okay, I'll take the frogs [00:34] away, but I'm not going to let you [00:36] forget the plague that quickly. [00:39] And here comes [00:41] the great [00:42] classic about the bad guys. [00:46] When Pharaoh but when Pharaoh saw that [00:48] there was breathing room, [00:50] how do you have it translated? [00:53] Relief? Yeah. The relief is as good as [00:55] breathing room. He uses breathing room. [00:59] He made his heart heavy with [01:00] stubbornness. [01:02] And or made his heart heavy and did not [01:05] hearken to them [01:07] as God had spoken. [01:11] What does as God had spoken mean? [01:15] You'd understand it perfectly if the [01:18] word instead of spoken were predicted. [01:22] And Pharaoh acted just as God had [01:25] predicted. That's what it means. [01:27] >> That's coming up on Timeless Wisdom with [01:29] Dennis Prager. [01:31] >> When someone [music] you love is [01:32] hurting, what do you do? We're often [01:34] quick to say, "If there's anything I can [01:36] do, just let [music] me know." But what [01:38] if we stopped waiting to be asked and [01:40] simply showed up? On [music] the If [01:42] There's Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam [01:45] McConnell shares real stories, [01:46] >> [music] [01:46] >> biblical wisdom, and practical ways to [01:49] walk alongside people through grief, [01:51] loss, and life's hardest [music] [01:52] moments. Learn how to show up and make a [01:54] difference. Subscribe now at [01:56] klovepodcast.com, [music] [01:58] YouTube, or wherever you listen to [02:00] podcasts. [02:01] >> Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with [music] [02:03] Dennis Prager. Here thousands of hours [02:06] of Dennis's lectures, courses, and [02:08] classic [music] radio programs. That to [02:09] purchase Dennis Prager's Rational [02:11] Bibles, go to dennisprager.com. [02:15] All right, my friends. [music] We're up [02:16] to the second plague. [02:19] God has uh chosen Moses. Uh [02:22] We've gone through that with tremendous [02:24] depth. There are times when we only do [02:27] half a chapter in an entire uh 90 [02:30] minutes, and there are times when we can [02:32] do two chapters. I hope tonight we can [02:33] do two chapters. [02:35] Uh there it's all about the plagues [02:39] and uh that God brings upon Egypt. [02:42] The significance of the plagues and why [02:45] God does it uh are the uh are the main [02:48] topics. [02:49] But I uh do it verse by verse, and so I [02:51] will read from Fox, [02:53] and then [02:55] refer to the Hebrew when necessary. [03:01] Okay. [03:05] God said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, [03:08] stretch your hand with your staff over [03:10] the tributaries, over the Nile canals, [03:13] and over the ponds. Make the frogs [03:16] ascend upon the land of Egypt." This uh [03:21] was he was already warned. Pharaoh was [03:23] warned in this regard. You will recall [03:26] that eat There are three, as I pointed [03:29] out in a previous session, there are [03:31] three series of three plagues, and they [03:33] each follow a pattern whereby there is [03:36] warning, warning, and then no warning. [03:39] The third comes with no warning in each [03:41] triad. The 10th is sui generis, is its [03:45] own generic [03:46] its own unique entity for many reasons, [03:49] and we'll get to that uh in the course [03:51] of these this four session semester, [03:54] which is of course the killing of the of [03:56] the firstborn. So, Pharaoh has been [03:58] warned about frogs uh [04:01] that uh [04:03] that will just come all over Egypt. [04:05] And I have something to say about frogs [04:07] in a [04:08] in a moment. Aaron stretched out his [04:10] hand over the waters of Egypt. [04:12] The frog horde ascended and covered the [04:15] land of Egypt. [04:18] Why frogs? [04:20] First of all, [04:22] uh [04:22] why any of the plagues? And I'm going to [04:24] talk about that a great deal cuz that's [04:27] really each session I pick at least one [04:30] or I try to pick at least one enormous [04:32] topic. [04:33] And to today, I have referred to this in [04:36] the past. I will amplify on it, God [04:38] versus nature. [04:40] Uh it is it is particularly critical for [04:42] us today and that's part of why I'm [04:44] picking it out. There are three things [04:46] God wants to teach by the plagues. Three [04:49] things and I will tell you them. But why [04:51] frogs specifically? One reason is [04:53] because [04:55] nearly all the plagues, probably all of [04:58] them, [04:59] uh we don't have full access to to what [05:02] everything meant to Egyptians, but we [05:04] know a good deal about Egypt. They [05:07] represented gods of Egypt. God is [05:10] playing with the gods of Egypt. The [05:13] first plague was against the Nile, which [05:16] was worshipped. I am going to turn your [05:18] source of water, your source of life, [05:22] into death by making it blood. [05:25] Remember, I will show you that I am God. [05:29] You, the Egyptians, you, the world, and [05:33] not at all least important, you, the [05:35] Jews, who either forgot about me or [05:38] simply no longer believe in me cuz [05:40] you've you've been slaves for so long [05:42] and gave up on me. I will show you who [05:46] is God. [05:47] The false gods is Judaism's is it let's [05:51] let's be more specific is the Torah's [05:52] battle. [05:54] The Torah's primary battle is against [05:56] polytheism, idolatry, magic, [05:58] superstition, and I will explain that [06:01] later, but that is the battle of the [06:03] Torah. [06:05] The [06:06] the the specifically in the case of of [06:09] frogs, [06:12] there was a frog-headed goddess [06:16] named Heket, [06:17] who was the consort of the god Khnum. [06:21] The only way I can perhaps [06:24] uh uh let me give you a couple of of [06:27] of analogies to what if plagues came on [06:30] America, what God might do to to uh [06:35] give a values message. Perhaps if God [06:38] brought a plague to Los Angeles, where [06:40] we are, [06:41] he would take all of the [06:44] Oscar awards [06:46] and have them bounce up and down [06:48] everywhere, driving people nuts. [06:51] All over the city, every award for film [06:54] would become a little monster. [06:57] Okay? [06:58] All of a sudden, that which had been [07:00] revered, people kiss, people people [07:03] cheat, people compromise their values. [07:07] Not all, by any means, but but many do [07:11] in order to receive one of these awards. [07:13] Imagine if the award, instead of being [07:16] something you ached for, started giving [07:19] you aches. [07:20] Okay? That would be an example of what [07:23] God was doing in Egypt. Taking the [07:26] revered most revered things and making [07:29] them obnoxious. What? I revered this [07:32] this this frog goddess, and now I'm [07:36] being inundated with frogs. Instead of [07:38] revering frogs, I now loathe frogs. [07:42] Specifically in this case, [07:45] and about the frogs, Nahum Sarna, [07:48] whose I think is the finest single [07:50] commentary, though there's a very [07:53] it's the most scholarly. For the most [07:55] accessible, certainly consider they're [07:58] really tied all three, the Sarna [08:01] uh uh commentary, the Plaut Reform [08:03] commentary, and the Hertz Orthodox [08:05] commentary. They're all [08:07] remarkable achievements. But on pure [08:10] scholarship grounds, not that the others [08:13] aren't scholars, but but for [08:15] a scholar studying this Sarna may may be [08:17] the the more valuable. During their [08:20] reproductive period, frogs concentrate [08:22] in particular areas such as ponds and [08:25] lakes. [08:26] As the Nile begins to recede in [08:28] September-October, [08:30] they usually mass on land. [08:33] In the present circumstances, their [08:34] habitat had become polluted by the [08:37] putrefying fish. Right? In with the Nile [08:41] having been a source of death, not life. [08:44] So, the amphibians would have been [08:46] forced to invade the land much earlier [08:48] than usual. What he's pointing out here [08:50] is all the plagues, except for the 10th, [08:54] play with natural phenomena. What is [08:57] {quote} {unquote} miraculous is the [08:59] timing [09:01] uh [09:02] and the extent. [09:05] Plus one other thing, that where the [09:06] Jews lived in Goshen, east of there, uh [09:10] uh by the uh the uh [09:13] there was no plague. You you get So, the [09:15] the geographical locality, the timing, [09:18] and the extent. Frogs exist as a [09:21] possible nuisance. [09:23] Are you with me? That's the point he's [09:24] pointing out here, Sarna. [09:27] Okay. [09:28] It is possible that this plague, like [09:30] the first one, was regarded as a [09:31] judgment on Egyptian polytheism. For a [09:34] frog-headed named Heket was the consort [09:38] of the god Khnum, [09:40] who was credited with having fashioned [09:42] man out of clay. [09:43] She was associated with fertility and [09:46] was thought to assist women at [09:48] childbirth. Hence, the plague may have [09:50] been taken as retribution [09:53] for the decree ordering the midwives to [09:55] kill the newborn males at birth. [09:57] Remember that? [09:59] There are Remember, keep in mind, three [10:02] things God is teaching through the [10:04] plagues. [10:05] Remember the fact that there was [10:07] retribution involved, cuz one of the [10:09] things about God that is being taught is [10:12] in fact [10:14] that there is justice. [10:17] You threw the children in the Nile, the [10:19] Nile will now be blood. [10:22] You midwives did this, I will take your [10:25] goddess of fertility and make her into a [10:27] plague in your houses. [10:30] Okay? This is lost upon the modern [10:32] reader without without scholars telling [10:35] us this. It was not lost upon the [10:37] Egyptians anymore than a thousand years [10:40] from now somebody would have to [10:41] understand if Emmy Awards were bouncing [10:43] down the Sunset Boulevard and and [10:46] breaking houses [10:48] windows, what what what what was that [10:50] all about? Somebody would have to [10:52] explain it. Nobody would have to explain [10:53] it to us. [10:55] >> This episode of Timeless Wisdom [music] [10:57] will continue right after this. [11:02] There are some [music] stories that [11:03] remind you what courage, sacrifice, and [11:06] faith really look like. One of those [11:08] stories is a new movie [music] called [11:10] Jimmy. You know Jimmy Stewart as one of [11:12] Hollywood's greatest actors and maybe [11:15] most famously as George Bailey in It's a [11:18] Wonderful [music] Life. At the height of [11:20] his Hollywood career, when America went [11:22] to war, Jimmy Stewart put fame aside and [11:25] enlisted in the Army [music] Air Corps. [11:27] He flew 20 combat missions over Europe [11:29] and rose to the rank of colonel. But [11:32] when he [music] came home, he was a [11:33] different man. Then Frank Capra came [11:36] calling with It's a Wonderful Life, a [11:38] role that would help Jimmy find hope and [11:40] purpose again. [music] [11:42] As we approach Veterans Day and the 80th [11:44] anniversary of It's a Wonderful Life, [11:47] this is a story worth seeing [music] [11:49] together. Jimmy, rated PG-13, is in [11:52] theaters November 6th. Get your tickets [11:55] now at jimmysthemovie.com. [11:58] jimmysthemovie.com. [music] [12:04] >> Now, back to more [music] of Dennis [12:05] Prager's Timeless Wisdom. [12:08] >> There's another element to the to the [12:10] issue of uh the frogs and that is the [12:13] ludicrousness of it. [12:15] I mean, of all 10 plagues, frogs are [12:18] least destructive. [12:19] I mean, if you had to choose one plague [12:21] to live with, you would probably not [12:23] choose having your water supply as [12:25] blood. You would not want vermin all [12:28] over you. Uh you would not want uh [12:31] in in uh [12:32] fatal uh [12:34] um [12:34] hail coming down on you. [12:37] Uh you would have chosen frogs. Frogs is [12:39] the least destructive. There is almost [12:42] not even almost, there's actually a [12:44] humorous element to it. You can imagine [12:46] the Jews looking at this and cracking [12:48] up. Look at this, frogs all over Egypt. [12:51] Our enemy is inundated with frogs. [12:55] Uh and that ludicrousness was part of [12:57] it. To make Pharaoh to humble, even [13:00] humiliate Pharaoh, he couldn't go to bed [13:03] cuz there were too many frogs in his [13:04] bed. [13:05] That's how profound the plague was. [13:09] Verse 3. [13:11] This is my favorite part of all of of [13:13] the first two of the first two plagues. [13:16] Now, the magicians did thus with their [13:19] occult arts. [13:21] They made frogs ascend upon the land of [13:23] Egypt. You know why this is my favorite [13:25] part? [13:27] I'm repeating from what I've said in a [13:28] previous session, but forgive me [13:31] uh if you remember it. [13:34] Look at the ludicrous of ludicrousness [13:36] of of Pharaoh's own magicians [13:40] duplicating the plague. [13:43] In other words, imagine if I if I [13:45] magically, I said God is going to give [13:48] you [13:50] whooping cough. And then you say, "Big [13:52] deal, my magicians can do it, too." And [13:55] then they give your spouse whooping [13:58] cough, too. [13:59] Do you realize how silly that is? [14:01] I mean, you know, this is the last thing [14:03] you need is another person to get a [14:05] plague. So, the [14:07] but it was more important for them to [14:08] show, "Big deal, we could bring frogs [14:11] out, too." Of Of what I find is a [14:14] question that I I cannot see I do not [14:17] know an answer to is how did you know [14:19] which frogs were Moses' and which were [14:21] Pharaoh's? [14:23] Right? I mean, if there are millions of [14:25] frogs, how do you know which [14:28] which who brought? So, it was that's one [14:30] of the unanswerable and and it's it's [14:32] not something that I lose sleep over, [14:34] please understand. But, as I was [14:36] studying it again, I realized how did [14:38] they know? [14:39] At any rate, they did it and so it had [14:42] less of an impact on Pharaoh the fact [14:44] that they did it, too. [14:47] But, [14:48] nevertheless, it was it was a terrible [14:50] plague. [14:52] So, verse four, Pharaoh had Moses and [14:54] Aaron called and said, "Plead with God." [14:57] And now he uses God's name. Remember [15:00] what he said in the beginning when Moses [15:02] first showed up, Moses and Aaron, and [15:04] said God, Jehovah by name, said we wants [15:07] uh let my people go? He said, "Who's [15:09] this Jehovah? Never heard of him." [15:12] Now, he's using God's name. [15:14] Pharaoh was being converted, albeit [15:17] reticently and slowly, into a believer. [15:21] "Plead with God by name [15:24] that he may remove the frogs from me and [15:26] from my people. [15:28] And I will send the people free that [15:30] they may [15:32] uh have sacrificial offerings to God to [15:35] to a a God by name." [15:39] Uh [15:43] That was after all what was asked, [15:45] right? "Let my people go so that we can [15:48] go and we can sacrifice, make our [15:51] uh prayers and sacrifices to our God." [15:54] Moses said to Pharaoh, five, [15:57] "Be praised over me [16:00] or have an advantage over me. [16:03] For when I will plead for you, for your [16:06] servants, for your people to cut the [16:08] frogs from you and from your houses, [16:11] so that only in the Nile will they [16:13] remain." [16:17] Uh [16:18] Okay. [16:19] He said [16:21] for the morrow, tomorrow. He said [16:23] according to your word In other words, [16:25] he, Pharaoh, said tomorrow. What is [16:28] happening in five is he is saying to [16:30] Pharaoh, "You pick the time. Remember, [16:35] have the advantage over me." [16:37] "You pick the time that they will only [16:40] remain in the Nile, that they will not [16:42] be around Egypt." This was a very smart [16:47] uh [16:48] Yeah, trick [16:50] on Moses' part. [16:52] Why? [16:55] Pharaoh is not fully convinced that God [16:58] is God. His magicians had already [17:00] brought frogs as well and had already [17:02] turned water into into blood, right? [17:06] So, what [17:08] can Moses do to make more clear that God [17:11] is the source of the frog miracle? [17:14] "You, Pharaoh, pick the time for them to [17:18] disappear." [17:20] That's what he means by [17:22] "Be praised over me or have an advantage [17:24] over to me." What else do you have as [17:26] verse five? What words? [17:29] Glorify what? [17:31] "Glorify yourself what over me." [17:33] Exactly. It's very hard to Hebrew. [17:35] That's why you get all different [17:37] translations of that particular word. [17:39] But do you get the point he's making? [17:41] Okay, you're not as as if to say, "This [17:44] will impress you more." It's almost like [17:46] pick a card, any card. If the magician [17:49] picks the card, it's no trick. If I say [17:51] to you, "Tomorrow at 6:00," it's not [17:54] nearly as impressive if you say, "Well, [17:56] I'll tell you when I want them gone." [17:58] So, that's how what he does to Pharaoh. [18:01] So, Pharaoh answers, "Okay, tomorrow." [18:04] I I'm not fully clear why he didn't say [18:06] five minutes from now. [18:08] I you know, these are the These are some [18:10] of the things that are not just not [18:12] answerable, but it it did occur to me if [18:14] there was time to pick. So, he said that [18:17] we're still in verse six, "According to [18:19] your words, then, [18:21] in order that you may know that there is [18:23] none [18:24] like Jehovah [18:27] our God. [18:30] Now, this idea [18:33] that you will not know [18:35] that I am God or you will know that I am [18:37] God, this began in chapter 7 verse 5. [18:42] It can There are 10 times during the [18:45] plague stories, 10 times that it says so [18:49] that you will know that I am God. Please [18:51] look at them with me. I don't normally [18:53] do this, but something but because it's [18:55] the most important thing in the Bible, [18:57] this one idea [18:59] and certainly the most important part of [19:01] the plagues, it is more important than [19:03] the Jews leaving. [19:06] Okay? The idea that you will know, and [19:09] this is again contrary to what you would [19:11] would normally think. Ask anybody with [19:14] any familiarity with the biblical [19:16] narrative, why were there plagues? To [19:18] force Pharaoh to let the the Jews go, [19:19] right? That would be the answer. It's [19:22] true. It's certainly not false. [19:24] It's not the Bible's answer primarily. [19:28] The Bible or the Torah has 10 times, [19:31] start with me please 7:5 or I'll read it [19:34] to you. You don't have to look, it's [19:35] only [19:37] if um [19:39] if you if you like looking in. [19:42] Or alternatively, don't fully trust me. [19:46] 7:5, the Egyptians will know that I am [19:50] Yahweh when I stretch my hand over Egypt [19:54] and bring the children of Israel out of [19:55] their midst. Second time, 7:17. [20:02] Thus says God, by this you will know [20:03] that I am God. Here I will strike with [20:06] my hand upon the water that is the Nile. [20:08] That's number two. Number three, [20:11] 8:6. [20:14] What we just read was the third one, [20:16] right? We're in 8:6. According to your [20:18] words, [20:19] Moses saying to Pharaoh, in order that [20:22] you may know that there is none like [20:24] Jehovah our God. Number four, 8:18. [20:29] But I will make distinct on that day the [20:31] region region of Goshen. [20:33] You will see that what that means in [20:35] order that you may know that I am God in [20:38] the land. Number five, [20:41] 9:14. [20:44] I will send all my blows upon your heart [20:46] against your servants against your [20:47] people so that you may know that there [20:49] is none like me throughout all the [20:52] earth. [20:53] Number six, [20:56] 9:29. [21:01] The thunder will stop and the hail will [21:02] be no more in order that you may know [21:04] that the land belongs to God. Number [21:07] seven, [21:09] is that what we're up to? Seven? [21:13] Yep, 7:10:2. [21:16] And in order that you may recount the [21:17] years of your children to your child's [21:19] child, and my signs which I have placed [21:21] upon them, that you know that I am God. [21:25] Number eight, [21:27] 14:4. [21:29] I will make Pharaoh's heart [21:31] strong-willed. [21:33] And I will be glorified through Pharaoh [21:35] and all his army so that the Egyptians [21:37] may know that I am God. Number [21:41] 10. Is that right? [21:43] >> Nine. [21:45] >> Well, 14:4 should have been [21:47] Did I miss what what 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 [21:50] 10? Then I miscounting. 11:7 did I do [21:53] with you? [21:54] >> No. [21:54] >> Oh, sorry. 11:7 was number [21:57] was number [21:59] eight. 11:7. [22:02] Yes, that's right. I'm sorry. [22:05] 11:7. Yes. But against all the children [22:07] of Israel no dog shall even sharpen its [22:10] tongue against either man or beast in [22:11] order that you may know that God makes a [22:13] distinction between Egypt and Israel. [22:15] And then number 10, cuz we did nine [22:17] correct, 14:4 and then 14:18 [22:20] uh is the last one. [22:22] And [22:24] that is the Egyptians shall know that I [22:26] God when I am glorified through Pharaoh, [22:28] his chariots and his riders. [22:30] The uh the purpose of the Jewish people, [22:32] the purpose of the Torah, the purpose of [22:34] Judaism is to let huma- humanity know [22:37] that God is God. [22:39] Why that is so critical will I will come [22:41] to after the the chapter. That is the [22:44] whole point of it all. [22:46] Life is pointless if you do not [22:48] understand [22:50] that God is God. Life [22:53] is devoid of cultural progress, and I [22:56] will explain why and so on. That is the [22:59] That is the purpose. Remember, my [23:01] friends, [23:02] God could have taken theoretically God [23:05] could have taken the Jews out of Egypt [23:07] one day, right? With a magic cloud and [23:11] done the whole thing. [23:13] There is therefore There are critical [23:15] points to the plagues. The plagues are [23:18] educational tools to show God as [23:20] creator, to show God as just, [23:23] and to show that God [23:26] uh is uh over nature. [23:28] Things that I will explain as we move [23:30] on. [23:33] Okay, we were up to seven seven- Oh, no, [23:35] eight six, right? [23:38] Back to eight six. [23:44] The frogs shall remove from you from [23:46] your houses, [23:50] from your servants, from your people. [23:52] Only in the Nile will they remain. [23:54] Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. [23:57] Moses cried out to God. This is very [24:01] important. [24:04] This shows something very moving about [24:07] Moses. [24:12] Moses says that the they will be [24:14] removed. [24:17] The moment he leaves Pharaoh, he cries [24:20] to God to remove the frogs. [24:24] Two very moving things about it. [24:27] And just let me finish the sentence. [24:28] Eight eight eight. [24:31] Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. [24:32] Moses cried out to God on account of the [24:34] frogs that he had imposed upon Pharaoh. [24:39] Two very fascinating things. One is the [24:41] Hebrew. [24:43] Normally after these things, it's Moses [24:45] prayed to God. [24:48] Moses spoke to God. Moses prays to God. [24:51] Moses in Hebrew is Vayitzak. [24:54] It's a very very powerful word. It's [24:58] It's screaming. He screamed. It's [25:00] scream/cry. [25:04] He cried and screamed to God, [25:07] "Get rid of the frogs." [25:10] That's one dramatic element of this [25:12] statement. The second is [25:14] he didn't even wait. [25:16] The moment he left Pharaoh, he cried out [25:19] to God to get rid of the frogs. [25:21] What are you reading What do you read [25:23] from that? I read two things. [25:29] One is [25:31] that and they're both related. I think [25:34] it says he cried out and that he did so [25:37] immediately because he had compassion [25:39] for the Egyptians. [25:44] One of the interesting things of the [25:46] great heroes of the Torah, like Abraham, [25:50] is the crying out for the bad guys. [25:54] As Abraham did [25:57] in Sodom with regard to Sodom and [25:59] Gomorrah. [26:01] "Oh God, well, what if there were What [26:03] if there were 50 righteous people? What [26:04] if there were 40? What if there were [26:06] 10?" So on, right? [26:09] Uh [26:11] as angry as they are about evil, [26:14] they they [26:17] feel for the for the people. Not for the [26:20] evil doers, but for the people [26:21] generally. What if there were good [26:23] Egyptians suffering? [26:25] In other words, [26:27] they embody a very important lesson with [26:31] regards to national evil, I believe. [26:36] Abraham knows Sodom is a bad place. [26:42] Moses knows Egypt is is a is a bad [26:45] place. [26:47] Right? [26:48] But they both believe that there were [26:51] good people there. [26:53] And they're anxious about their [26:55] suffering. [26:59] And it is a problem. [27:01] There's a film [27:03] a comedy of of all and and a light [27:05] comedy at that that actually had a a [27:09] touching scene to me. [27:11] Where the movie is what an American The [27:14] American President or an American [27:15] President? [27:17] An American President. The American [27:19] President. [27:21] Okay. You know, are you you familiar [27:23] with what I'm [27:24] you know, when this when if if this is [27:26] heard by someone 10 years from now, they [27:29] will have to check some CD-ROM cuz this [27:32] will not have a long shelf life, this [27:34] film. [27:36] But there is a scene in that film where [27:39] the president orders a a retaliatory [27:42] attack on Libyan terrorism and he [27:45] worries about the janitor [27:47] who will be killed in the in the Libyan [27:52] uh [27:52] armaments building that will be that [27:55] will be struck by American [27:57] uh planes. [27:59] That's proper. [28:01] It's proper to have ordered the attack [28:03] and it's proper to worry about the [28:05] Libyan janitor. [28:07] It is proper [28:09] for Moses to care about the good [28:12] Egyptians. [28:13] And Jews embody this. [28:17] Uh at the Seder, which is the Jewish [28:20] festival of remembrance of the Exodus [28:23] Jews are supposed to take from their [28:25] happy cup of wine 10 drops spilling the [28:29] wine 10 times [28:31] in honor of the suffering of the [28:34] Egyptians in the 10 plagues. [28:36] They deserved it. [28:39] But good people suffered. [28:41] People who didn't deserve it. Not every [28:43] single Egyptian was terrible. It's not [28:46] possible. [28:47] There were good Germans during the [28:49] Holocaust. [28:50] And it's very important to remember [28:52] that. [28:54] One's enemy, talking about group groups [28:57] that do evil. One's enemy is the ones in [29:00] the group who did the evil. [29:03] The German nation is not the Jews enemy. [29:06] The Germans who did bad are the Jews [29:08] enemy. [29:10] It's tough to to feel that way. Given [29:12] that so many Germans supported Hitler. [29:16] But a lot didn't. [29:19] Some did. [29:21] And a few actually opposed him. [29:25] It's very important is in our time with [29:28] group think and group anger and group [29:31] hate. It's particularly important [29:33] message. [29:35] If in the midst of slavery he could cry [29:37] out get rid of the frogs. [29:40] Then we need to learn whatever our race, [29:44] religion, ethnicity, you can't hate a [29:46] group. You can hate evil doers. [29:50] But not a group. [29:52] Because no group is all evil. [29:55] And if any group ever is all evil, [29:58] well, that was God's decision with the [30:01] flood. Apparently, [30:03] there was enough evil that it was [30:05] virtually unanimous. Because the only [30:07] good ones were saved, Noah and his [30:09] family. [30:11] The second factor to me about Moses [30:14] crying out [30:16] and doing so immediately. You know, he [30:19] could have taken his time. [30:21] He you know, uh [30:23] Pharaoh didn't ask till the morning. He [30:25] could have gone out for dinner with [30:26] Aaron. [30:28] Is that not true? Why so immediate? And [30:31] why crying? [30:33] I think it's in part [30:35] because [30:36] remember [30:38] cuz this is lost in in in our [30:42] identification of Moses as the greatest [30:44] Jew arguably who ever lived [30:47] that he was in many ways an Egyptian. [30:51] His life was saved by Pharaoh's [30:53] daughter. [30:56] >> [snorts] [30:57] >> He knows that. [31:00] He grew up probably very loved [31:03] by this second mother [31:07] and met undoubtedly loving Egyptians. [31:12] To Moses Egyptians were not [31:15] the Egyptians. [31:17] They were this person and this person [31:19] and this person. [31:21] You get the difference? [31:23] It's a very important thing and there's [31:25] no doubt [31:27] that that plays a role a significant [31:30] even determinative role in his being [31:33] chosen [31:34] to be the person to lead the Jews out of [31:36] Egypt. He knows Egypt. It's not an [31:39] abstract source of evil. [31:42] It's a place that has done a lot of evil [31:44] with good humans also in it. [31:48] So he at this stage [31:51] still has a naive hope [31:54] that oh look, he exceeded mo Pharaoh [31:58] exceeded the frogs work. [32:01] That's what I That's what I see him [32:03] thinking at this time. We did it. He's [32:06] letting us go. Right? That was That was [32:09] right before. [32:11] Pray to your God that you get rid of [32:12] this and I'll let you go and and worship [32:14] him. [32:15] So he's probably leaving OH THIS IS [32:17] GREAT. OH GOD GOD NOW GET rid of them. [32:19] Don't make them suffer anymore. We did [32:21] it. [32:22] That's That's the the beauty [32:25] and profundity of of verse [32:27] uh of verse number um [32:30] uh what is it? Eight? Yeah. [32:33] Nine. [32:35] Very touching. And God did according to [32:37] Moses' words. [32:40] Okay. Okay, Moses. Now, remember another [32:43] thing. [32:45] There is an element here of Moses crying [32:48] out that maybe there may be 1/3 a third [32:51] factor. [32:53] He didn't he [32:56] did something not on orders of God. [33:00] God didn't tell Moses, "Tell Pharaoh to [33:03] choose the time that I get rid of them." [33:05] This was totally spontaneous on Moses' [33:09] part. [33:10] So, [33:11] I think his cry, which is unique here, [33:15] is also [33:16] I'm worried. [33:18] Uh you know, right. A I you know, I took [33:20] this whole thing on me and and I I I'm [33:24] feeling [33:25] worried in my credibility with God and [33:28] my credibility with Pharaoh. [33:30] Cuz this is not my instructions to have [33:33] done that. That's why it's very touching [33:35] that immediately it says in nine, "And [33:38] God did exactly as Moses wanted." [33:41] That shows God's faith in Moses. [33:44] We all know about Moses' faith in God. [33:46] This shows God's faith in Moses. [33:50] The frogs died away [33:52] from the houses, from the courtyards, [33:54] and from the fields. [33:57] They piled them up, that is the [33:58] Egyptians piled these [34:00] uh [34:01] frogs up. [34:02] Heaps upon heaps [34:04] and the land stank. [34:08] You can imagine. Can you imagine [34:09] millions of dead frogs rotting away? [34:12] This was God's last joke, as it were, on [34:15] this plague. Okay, I'll take the frogs [34:17] away, but I'm not going to let you [34:19] forget the plague that quickly. [34:25] And here comes [34:27] the great [34:28] classic about the bad guys. [34:32] When Pharaoh but when Pharaoh saw that [34:34] there was breathing room, to the How do [34:36] you have a translated? [34:38] Relief? Yeah. The relief is as good as [34:42] breathing room. He uses breathing room. [34:45] He made his heart heavy with [34:46] stubbornness. [34:48] And or made his heart heavy and did not [34:51] hearken to them as God had spoken. [34:57] What does as God had spoken mean? [35:01] You'd understand it perfectly if the [35:04] word instead of spoken were predicted. [35:08] And Pharaoh acted just as God had [35:11] predicted. That's what it means. [35:14] Why is that added? [35:16] It's added for a lot of reasons. [35:18] First, so that one understands the issue [35:22] that I raised last time or one of the [35:24] times about God saying I'm going to [35:26] harden Pharaoh's heart does it look like [35:28] God [35:29] is being unfair. [35:32] Right? By manipulating uh Pharaoh. God [35:35] knew exactly what would happen. He [35:37] predicted Pharaoh will not allow you to [35:40] go. Just as God predicted had happened. [35:43] So, Moses got all excited, I think, [35:46] thinking it will end. [35:48] And Pharaoh was good for his word, but [35:50] it didn't happen. Just as God predicted [35:53] indeed the took place. [35:56] So, it's now time for the third plague, [35:59] which means the third of the first set [36:01] of three, right? [36:03] Meaning what? [36:05] No warning. [36:07] God said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, [36:09] stretch out your staff and strike the [36:11] dust of the land. [36:13] It will become [36:16] uh mosquitoes is the general [36:18] understanding. Gnats, which are [36:21] apparently a biting [36:23] uh a particularly obnoxious form of [36:25] mosquito, which I find hilarious given I [36:28] think the mosquito is the most obnoxious [36:30] creature anyway. It was part of my [36:32] reason for moving to LA. [36:35] I I hate mosquitoes. [36:38] This would For me, if I would have been [36:40] Pharaoh, the third plague would have [36:41] done it. [36:42] You know, locusts I can handle, darkness [36:45] not so terrible, [36:47] uh you know, hail I'll stay indoors, but [36:49] mosquitoes, goodbye. [36:51] >> This episode of Timeless [music] Wisdom [36:53] will continue right after this. [36:59] There are some stories that remind you [37:01] what courage, [music] sacrifice, and [37:03] faith really look like. One of those [37:05] stories is a new movie called Jimmy. You [37:08] [music] know Jimmy Stewart as one of [37:09] Hollywood's greatest actors, and maybe [37:12] most famously as George Bailey in It's a [37:15] Wonderful Life. [music] At the height of [37:16] his Hollywood career, when America went [37:19] to war, Jimmy Stewart put fame aside and [37:22] enlisted in the Army Air Corps. [37:24] >> [music] [37:24] >> He flew 20 combat missions over Europe [37:26] and rose to the rank of colonel. But [37:28] when he came home, he was a different [37:30] [music] man. Then Frank Capra came [37:32] calling with It's a Wonderful Life, [37:35] [music] a role that would help Jimmy [37:36] find hope and purpose again. As we [37:39] approach Veterans Day and the 80th [37:41] anniversary [music] of It's a Wonderful [37:43] Life, this is a story worth seeing [37:46] together. Jimmy, rated PG-13, is in [37:49] theaters November 6th. Get [music] your [37:51] tickets now at jimmysthemovie.com. [37:54] jimmysthemovie.com. [38:00] >> Now, [38:01] >> [music] [38:01] >> back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless [38:04] Wisdom. [38:05] >> Uh no warning and uh [38:08] stretch out your staff and strike the [38:10] dust of the land and will people It will [38:12] become mosquitoes, gnats throughout all [38:15] the land of Egypt. [38:17] Now, [38:18] you understand now why is that? [38:21] It's to give you an idea of how many [38:22] mosquitoes there will be. For like every [38:25] particle of dust, there was a mosquito. [38:28] Very uh very uncomfortable. [38:33] Uh they did thus. [38:36] Uh Aaron stretched out his hand with the [38:38] staff and struck the dust of the ground [38:40] and gnats were on the man and on the [38:44] beast. [38:46] All the dust of the ground became gnats [38:49] throughout all the land of Egypt. [38:55] Now the magicians did thus. [38:59] >> [laughter] [39:00] >> Good, if you're laughing, that's good. [39:02] There is a lot of humor in the Torah. [39:04] You I I I and it is and it's [39:06] intentional. So here they come. Big [39:08] deal, we could do it. [39:11] >> [laughter] [39:14] >> Bring forth with their occult arts. By [39:16] the way, each time it's with their [39:17] occult arts. What do you have the word? [39:20] They did it with what? [39:23] Spells, incantations, occult. [39:26] It's again the Torah's way of wanting to [39:30] make war on the occult. There is no [39:34] power but God in the universe. That's [39:37] the whole message. [39:39] And people don't want it. [39:43] I'm sorry? [39:45] They didn't. [39:46] As you will see. How did they do the [39:48] first two? Hey, listen, I'm I mean I've [39:50] seen things in Vegas that make this look [39:52] like nothing. [39:53] Are you kidding? How did they do it? I [39:55] saw an elephant disappear in front of [39:57] me. [39:58] Frankly, that's more impressive than [40:00] turning water into red substance. I did. [40:04] I was sitting there. There's an [40:05] elephant, there's no elephant. You know, [40:07] that's not a rabbit. That's a big thing. [40:10] So you're asking me? I I don't know. I [40:12] you know, and they don't even claim that [40:14] it was occult, right? You know, [40:16] so [40:18] Well, I heard a good joke about that [40:19] that the the only stable relationship in [40:21] Vegas is Siegfried and Roy. Yeah, okay. [40:24] >> [laughter] [40:28] >> So what can I say? [40:31] Anyway, so the now 14. So now the [40:34] magicians did this with their occult [40:36] arts to bring forth the gnats. [40:40] We could do that, too. I love I just I [40:42] love it. But they could not. But they [40:44] could not. [40:46] It's all over. They could turn rods into [40:49] snakes. They could turn water into [40:51] blood. They could bring out frogs. [40:54] But now it's over. [40:57] And they knew it. To their credit, [40:59] they're the first ones [41:01] the most biggest realists in Egypt [41:04] were the magicians [41:06] because they know a magician knows [41:08] what's fake and what's real. That's the [41:10] beauty. A magician would be the first [41:12] person to say if they saw a miracle, [41:14] "Hey, that is no trick." [41:17] Right? So they're the first ones to [41:19] realize [41:21] uh that this is no trick. And what do [41:23] they say? They say [41:26] uh [41:28] let the [41:29] the natural [41:30] the magicians said to Pharaoh they could [41:32] not the natural man and beast. [41:34] The magicians said to Pharaoh 15, "This [41:39] is the finger [41:41] of God." [41:43] Now, they use Elohim, not God's name. [41:47] They're not acknowledging the Jews' God, [41:50] but they're acknowledging [41:52] he has an interesting translation. [41:54] That's why you need more than one [41:55] translation if you don't know the [41:56] Hebrew. [41:58] He's the best in the sense of the most [42:00] literal, but all translations are part [42:02] translator part text. He writes, "This [42:06] is the finger of a god." [42:10] Which is possible, [42:12] by the way. [42:13] Whatever and he may be right. It's a [42:15] fascinating read into it, which is why [42:18] it's such an interesting translation. [42:20] You all have, I'm sure, what? It's the [42:22] finger of God? [42:23] Right. He's right and they're right. But [42:26] remember, it's Elohim meaning deity. [42:29] It's the finger of a deity or or the [42:31] deity. Remember, Hebrew does not have an [42:33] article. Articles are A and B. [42:37] So you don't know if it's Oh, excuse me, [42:39] it has the. Excuse me, it doesn't have [42:40] A. Of course it has the. Ha. [42:44] The Egyptians may have had an article. [42:46] It was there It was an article on the [42:47] Egyptians just the other day, in fact. [42:49] Yes. [42:50] I never pun. I was It just came out. [42:53] Yes, but we don't know what so we don't [42:55] know what they said. Obviously they [42:56] weren't talking Hebrew. That's right. [42:58] Uh [43:00] So it could be a cuz V is in of course [43:03] in Hebrew but A isn't. [43:05] And [43:06] at any rate they knew this is no trick. [43:09] God is involved here and I could see the [43:11] magician saying, "We would like to leave [43:13] at this time." [43:16] You know, like they they knew [43:18] immediately not not [43:21] this is serious stuff. But Pharaoh's [43:23] heart remains strong and he did not [43:26] hearken to them. [43:28] Who's the them? [43:30] Who is magicians? [43:33] Now not just Moses and Aaron are saying [43:35] there's God involved even his own top [43:38] people he didn't hearken to them and [43:40] what are the next words? [43:42] Last words of 15 [43:45] as God had spoken meaning as God had [43:49] predicted. Reminding you this is exactly [43:52] what God said would happen. Now ladies [43:54] and gentlemen remember [43:56] God had said originally I will [43:59] strengthen Pharaoh's heart, right? Or [44:01] harden his heart. [44:04] So far has God done it? [44:06] No. [44:08] It's all Pharaoh doing it on his own. [44:10] That's very important you remember that. [44:12] God doesn't enter in the hardening of [44:14] the heart till later. [44:17] So it in effect [44:20] possibly in implied here is that had he [44:23] really wanted to change his mind in the [44:25] early plagues God might have allowed [44:27] him. [44:28] It's only implied cuz there it would [44:30] subvert the other messages [44:32] of the of the plagues so [44:35] the odds are not. In any event [44:39] uh the uh [44:40] there is no mention incidentally here [44:44] of Pharaoh's response to Moses [44:47] or how it ended. [44:49] Okay, unlike the other plagues just [44:52] to give you a little [44:53] uh [44:55] insight into the uniqueness of any given [44:57] plague. 16. [45:00] 16. Start early in the morning, station [45:02] yourself before Pharaoh. Here he goes [45:05] out to the water and say to him, "Thus [45:07] says God, [45:09] send free my people [45:11] that they may serve me." [45:13] Remember, I just want to repeat a theme, [45:15] the purpose of the liberation from Egypt [45:17] is not to be liberated from Egypt. It's [45:20] to be free and and to be God-rooted. [45:24] Okay? [45:26] Otherwise, God should have been involved [45:27] in the liberation of every slave on [45:29] Earth. [45:32] Remember, there's a an ethnocentric, [45:36] almost racist element [45:38] to God saving the Jews from slavery and [45:41] not other groups. [45:43] Even though Amos says I have liberated [45:45] other groups, nevertheless, the only [45:47] story here is of the Jews. There is an a [45:49] a a quasi-racist element, [45:52] right? [45:54] Unless there is a higher purpose for [45:56] Jewish liberation than being liberated. [45:59] That's very, very important to remember. [46:02] If it was merely let my people go and [46:04] then do as you please, [46:07] it would be a chauvinist, racist God [46:10] depicted here. [46:13] That's why this is why [46:16] since I do not subscribe to an [46:18] ethnocentric, racist God, [46:21] I it is the only possible understanding [46:24] of the Jewish survival and and and [46:28] Exodus [46:29] is that it has a universal purpose. [46:33] The Jewish people's existence is [46:35] universally [46:36] must touch everyone or it is pointless [46:40] to be Jewish. [46:42] The point most lost upon Jewish life [46:45] in for hundreds and hundreds of years. [46:49] It's is the very sad and uh something [46:52] I've talked about at other times, but [46:55] we'll keep repeating cuz [46:57] it's so evident. [46:59] Number 17. [47:03] Indeed, if you do not send my people [47:06] free, [47:08] I will send upon you, and the word send, [47:12] it's it's a play on words. The very word [47:14] misha'ach [47:16] uh is work used. In other words, if you [47:20] don't send them, [47:22] I will send to you. In other words, [47:24] something's going to be sent, either the [47:26] Jews out of Egypt or a plague on you. [47:29] Okay, choose which send, Pharaoh. That's [47:32] what's being said here. [47:34] I will send upon you, upon your [47:35] servants, upon your people, upon your [47:37] houses, insects. [47:41] Why do you have folks as the uh [47:44] as the translation for what he's going [47:45] to send? [47:47] Flies. Anybody else? [47:50] Wild animals, right. The Hebrew is not [47:53] fully clear. It's a lot of [47:55] which is a a big mixture [47:58] of something. [48:00] Uh and and both are possible [48:02] explanations. [48:04] The wild beasts, though apparently [48:06] modern scholarship leans towards flies. [48:16] Well, [48:17] in modern Hebrew it might be kimium as [48:19] lice. It was It was It In as understood [48:23] as a plague, it is mosquitoes or gnats. [48:25] I know, I agree with you. The truth is [48:27] we don't know the exact definition of a [48:29] number of the plagues. And arov, [48:32] definitely, cuz it only, as you know, [48:33] means mixture. [48:35] Mixture of what? [48:38] Uh [48:38] at any rate, the houses, it seems [48:40] insects, cuz you can't imagine filled [48:42] with wild beasts, but could be too. [48:44] Anyway, we'll live with insects. [48:47] As well as the ground upon which they [48:49] are. [48:50] So So, who knows? In that sense, that [48:53] might argue for the um [48:56] Here, for example, [48:58] uh he writes a fox [49:00] as in the last plague, and this might [49:02] answer you with the lice issue, there [49:04] are many opinions as to what these were. [49:07] Example, gnats, gadflies, mosquitoes, [49:09] that's the other one. The mixture is [49:11] understood by one [49:13] commentator, Sarna, [49:15] as wild animals. So, both are [49:19] okay. We just don't know. [49:22] Uh, [49:24] 18. [49:26] But, I will make distinct on that day [49:28] the region of Goshen where my people is [49:31] situated, [49:33] so that there will be no mixture, wild [49:36] mixture there, [49:37] in order that you may know that I am God [49:40] in the land. Okay, back to that which I [49:42] showed you was is there 10 times just as [49:44] there were 10 plagues. [49:46] Uh, [49:52] This is the first time in the plagues [49:54] that God adds another miraculous element [49:58] to the impression he is making upon [50:00] Pharaoh, and that is the Jews are not [50:04] getting the plagues. [50:07] Okay, obviously Pharaoh was not [50:09] impressed enough thus far with the first [50:11] three. [50:12] So, now I'd like to tell you one [50:14] additional factor, uh, Pharaoh, that [50:17] might impress you even more. [50:19] Not only are you getting these plagues [50:21] as I predicted, [50:23] the Hebrews are not. [50:25] That's a pretty big deal. [50:28] Nahum Sarna notes, [50:31] he has an interesting observation on the [50:33] word in the land, where it says, "In [50:34] order that you may know that I am God in [50:36] the land," [50:37] he adds, "in the land, not only in the [50:40] wilderness." [50:41] In other words, you might have thought [50:43] that because I'm asking that the Hebrews [50:46] come and uh, pray to me, worship me in [50:50] the wilderness, you might think I am a [50:52] God only in the wilderness. [50:54] But, that's not true. I am also a God in [50:57] the land. That's Sarna's very [50:59] interesting point, which [51:02] I think, uh, makes a lot of sense. [51:06] Okay, hold on on arove. I want to read [51:09] to you Sarna. [51:14] The second triad of plagues now begins. [51:17] Pharaoh is warned as he goes down to the [51:19] river. [51:20] The plague cannot be identified with [51:22] certainty [51:24] because Hebrew arove occurs only in the [51:27] present context. If a word appears only [51:30] once, it's not really possible to know [51:32] exactly what it is. [51:35] But usually, indeed, diverse [51:37] interpretive traditions already existed [51:39] in ancient times. The word itself was [51:41] taken to mean mixture, and the most [51:42] widely accepted understanding was [51:44] various kinds of wild animals. [51:47] An alternative tradition understands [51:49] swarms of insects, which the Septuagint [51:51] and Philo specify as the dog fly. [51:56] Then, since they're ancient, they may [51:57] have some ancient tradition. [52:00] Does anybody know what a dog fly is? [52:04] Bunch of entomologists like me in this [52:06] room. All right. [52:08] This Well, in case you didn't, this [52:10] might help. This is also known as the [52:12] stable fly or Stomoxys [52:15] calcitrans. [52:17] I knew that would help you. I know [52:19] you're all right. You're You're on top [52:20] of it. Caltrans. These are Caltrans. [52:24] >> This is what we need. [52:25] >> That's right. Uh this will do it. If [52:28] this is true, now listen to what it's [52:30] like. [52:32] Now you may [52:34] feel it was a genuine plague. [52:36] A vicious, blood-sucking insect that can [52:40] multiply prodigiously [52:42] in tropical and subtropical regions, [52:47] given the proper environmental [52:48] conditions. It is known to transmit [52:52] anthrax and other animal diseases. [52:56] Not good. [52:58] All right? [53:00] All right. [53:02] If arove, he adds, indeed refers to the [53:04] species. It would explain why Goshen, [53:07] where the Israelites lived, was exempt, [53:10] for its climate is Mediterranean. They [53:12] lived much closer to the Mediterranean [53:14] and wouldn't have been struck. And that [53:17] would have made sense to Pharaoh. [53:19] So, that would have though if that's [53:20] true though would have minimized the [53:21] miraculous nature. [53:23] So, who knows? [53:25] Uh we're up to uh 19, correct? [53:30] I will put a What word do you have here [53:33] in your translations? [53:35] Dis- distinction division. Okay. He, [53:38] remember, translates literally and it [53:40] literally it is ransom. But your [53:43] translation makes more sense. That's why [53:45] you shouldn't use Fox alone. [53:47] Okay? [53:49] I will put a distinction or ransom [53:51] between my people and your people. [53:53] Tomorrow will this sign occur. [53:57] >> [cough] [53:58] >> And uh God did thus. Heavy swarms came [54:02] into Pharaoh's house. [54:04] Into the houses of his servants [54:06] throughout all the land of Egypt. [54:09] The land was in ruins in the face of the [54:13] swarm. [54:15] Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron called. They [54:18] didn't go to him now. [54:21] Okay? They were just waiting quite, you [54:23] know, I could just see them talking, you [54:25] know, Well, let's see. What time, Aaron, [54:28] do you think we'll get the call? [54:31] Somebody this it is so odd to me. Maybe [54:34] it's a good thing cuz it maybe it should [54:36] just be left as text. [54:39] But the richness of a serious play [54:43] with with [54:44] stories like this Exodus story could be [54:47] so profound [54:49] as a screenplay. [54:51] You agree, Alan? [54:52] Or is it not something we should ever [54:54] tamper with? We, the human race, I don't [54:58] At any rate, [55:00] cuz you could have a scene like that of [55:02] of Moses and Aaron sitting there, you [55:04] know, [55:06] >> No Brooks. [55:07] >> Yeah, well, all right. Certainly, right. [55:08] Yeah. [55:10] Right. [55:11] Mel Brooks. [55:16] What? With what? [55:18] A booking on the side, right, yeah, [55:19] right. What do you say? Yeah, I 10 [55:21] Right. 10 shekels says four says 4:00. [55:25] Right. [55:30] All right. [55:31] Uh [55:32] Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron called and [55:34] said, "All right, go bring your [55:36] offerings to your God in the land." [55:41] Now, interestingly, [55:43] he gives in less [55:45] than he did the last time he gave in. [55:48] This is just give your offerings in the [55:50] land, not go go out and leave and do [55:52] your thing. Stay here and do your thing. [55:56] And this is what This is remarkable [55:58] about the mindset of Pharaoh. [56:00] It's the fourth plague and he gives in [56:02] less than he did in the second plague. [56:07] Moses said Moses is getting to be a very [56:10] shrewd [56:12] uh negotiator now. [56:14] Now, what is the What He's responding to [56:17] the minimal [56:19] uh uh agreement uh of Pharaoh, right? [56:22] Pharaoh said, "Oh, okay, you can [56:25] If the purpose if your purpose is to [56:26] worship your God, fine, do it here in [56:28] our land. Don't leave." So, Moses has to [56:31] come up with a good answer as to why [56:35] it wouldn't be a good idea for the for [56:37] the Jews to do their sacrifices in the [56:40] land, but have to leave. [56:42] It's a brilliant answer. [56:45] Moses said, "It would not be wise to do [56:48] this. [56:50] For Egypt's abomination is what we [56:53] slaughter for our God. [56:58] The very animals that we slaughter, you [57:00] worship. [57:02] We're going to do that in your land? [57:04] Be like burning Emmy Awards on Sunset [57:07] Boulevard. [57:09] If we were to slaughter Egypt's [57:11] abomination before their eyes, [57:14] wouldn't they stone us? [57:17] Which is a very good argument. [57:20] I mean, that is [57:21] it's a big insult. [57:23] Imagine taking cows in a Hindu country [57:26] and on mass slaughtering them, okay? As [57:28] an example. It's terribly offensive to [57:31] to to the people. [57:32] So, how can we do this, Pharaoh? Good [57:35] answer, huh? [57:39] Of course, there was another reason for [57:41] the answer. It's to rub it into Pharaoh [57:43] about who's really God. [57:45] We think so little of your gods, we use [57:48] them as worship and food that we eat in [57:51] worshipping our God. [57:54] Okay, so there was a two [57:56] but it was a it's a beautiful way of [57:58] knocking Pharaoh while sounding like his [58:00] friend. [58:01] Hey, pal. We can't do this to your gods. [58:05] We can't make a mockery of what you [58:06] worship here. Let us make a mockery of [58:09] what you worship elsewhere. [58:12] That's That's what he's saying. [58:14] Let us go a three days journey into the [58:16] wilderness. Three days journey just [58:18] means far. [58:21] It doesn't mean 72 hours. [58:23] It's It's a [58:25] It's a mode of expression. [58:27] And we will uh [58:29] make our offerings to uh [58:31] to Jehovah our God [58:34] as he has said to us. [58:37] Pharaoh said, [58:39] "I will send you free [58:41] that you may [58:43] make your offerings to Jehovah your God [58:46] in the wilderness. [58:48] Only [58:50] you are not to go far, not too far. [58:53] Okay? I still want you as slaves, but [58:56] I'll I'll give in on this minimal [58:58] demand." And then [59:00] adds, "Plead for me." [59:03] At this point, [59:05] uh I think Moses is probably starting to [59:09] realize God's predictions were pretty [59:11] accurate about this man. [59:13] At any rate, [59:15] it now says, let me check the Hebrew. [59:18] Yeah, exactly. [59:20] Very different now, Moses, [59:22] from the last time he he Remember he [59:25] cried out and screamed to God on the [59:27] Egyptians' behalf? [59:29] Now Moses says, [59:32] Moses, first of all, doesn't go out [59:34] immediately. [59:35] He answers Pharaoh's [59:38] request [59:40] to plead for him. [59:41] "When I go out from you, I will plead [59:44] with Jehovah, [59:45] with God, and the insects the the the [59:49] mixture will be removed from Pharaoh, [59:51] from his servants, and from his people [59:54] on the morrow. [59:56] But only [59:58] let not Pharaoh continue to trifle with [60:01] us." [60:03] Very different now, you see? He now He's [60:06] now starting to realize, "Hey, wait a [60:08] minute. [60:09] This is not a serious a dealer of [60:12] Pharaoh. [60:13] I plead for him, and then nothing [60:15] happens. [60:16] So now he's warning Pharaoh in another [60:18] way, "Stop [60:20] make trifling with us." What word do you [60:22] have in your [60:24] mock? Same thing. Okay. [60:26] Act deceitfully, right. [60:29] "Let not Pharaoh continue to trifle with [60:32] us by not sending the people free [60:35] to make their offerings [60:37] to God." [60:39] And God in all these cases is God by [60:41] name Jehovah. [60:44] So, okay, which is important, and hold [60:47] on. [60:51] Okay. [60:54] Moses went out from before Pharaoh and [60:57] didn't scream to God, didn't cry out. He [61:00] did exactly what Pharaoh said, pleaded [61:02] with God. [61:04] It's the same verb in Hebrew [61:06] both times. You with me? It's very [61:08] different than before. [61:10] He pleaded with God. [61:16] And God did according to Moses' words. [61:20] He removed the swarm from far Pharaoh, [61:23] from his servants, and from his people. [61:25] Not one remained. [61:27] Making it a very an obvious miracle [61:30] again. [61:33] That itself is a miracle that not one [61:35] remained. It's hard to remove every last [61:39] dog fly. [61:41] Try it. [61:46] But Pharaoh [61:47] made his heart heavy. [61:50] This is Pharaoh still, right? [61:53] Not God. Still on the fourth plague, [61:56] after the fourth plague, Pharaoh was [61:58] still hardening his own heart. [62:02] This time as well, and he did not send [62:05] the people free. [62:06] >> This episode [music] of Timeless Wisdom [62:08] will continue right after this. [62:13] There are some [music] stories that [62:15] remind you what courage, sacrifice, and [62:17] faith really look like. One of those [62:20] stories is a new movie [music] called [62:22] Jimmy. You know Jimmy Stewart as one of [62:24] Hollywood's greatest actors, and maybe [62:26] [music] most famously as George Bailey [62:29] in It's a Wonderful Life. At the height [62:31] of his Hollywood career, when America [62:33] [music] went to war, Jimmy Stewart put [62:35] fame aside and enlisted in the Army Air [62:38] Corps. He flew 20 combat missions over [62:40] Europe and rose to the rank [music] of [62:42] Colonel. But when he came home, he was a [62:45] different man. Then Frank Capra [music] [62:47] came calling with It's a Wonderful Life, [62:49] a role that would help Jimmy find hope [62:52] and purpose again. As we approach [62:54] Veterans [music] Day and the 80th [62:56] anniversary of It's a Wonderful Life, [62:58] this is a story worth seeing together. [63:01] Jimmy, [music] rated PG-13, is in [63:04] theaters November 6th. Get your tickets [63:07] now at jimmysthemovie.com. [63:09] jimmysthemovie.com. [music] [63:15] >> Now, [music] back to more of Dennis [63:17] Prager's timeless wisdom. [63:19] >> Chapter nine. [63:21] Plague number five. [63:27] God said to Moses, "Come to Pharaoh and [63:30] speak to him. [63:33] Thus says God, the God of the Hebrews, [63:36] God said Jehovah, the God of the [63:37] Hebrews, [63:38] set send free my people [63:41] that they may serve me. [63:44] If you refuse to send them free, [63:52] and continue to hold on strongly to [63:54] them, [63:56] here God's hand will be on your [63:58] livestock in the field, on the horses, [64:02] on the donkeys, on the camels, on the [64:05] oxen, [64:06] and on the sheep, an exceedingly heavy [64:09] pestilence. [64:13] Let me read to you about pestilence. [64:16] Allusion to the importance of sacred [64:18] animals in Egyptian religion [64:20] is now followed by a visitation that [64:23] exposes the inherent absurdity of such a [64:26] notion. [64:28] The God of Israel strikes the animals [64:30] with pestilence. [64:32] Most likely the soil contaminated by [64:36] mounds of rotting frogs [64:38] became the breeding ground of disease, [64:41] probably the highly infectious anthrax, [64:44] which strikes the cattle in the fields. [64:47] Once again, the livestock of the [64:49] Israelites are unaffected. The time of [64:53] the plague's onset is forecast, and [64:56] Pharaoh is warned in his palace. [65:01] So, the animals, the livestock, will now [65:03] be struck [65:04] with pestilence. [65:07] Number four, God will make a [65:09] distinction. See now, what is happening [65:12] here is in each case Moses adds more [65:14] miracles, as it were, to make an [65:16] impression upon Pharaoh. [65:19] So, one is the plague is a miracle. [65:22] Number two, God will make a distinction [65:25] between the livestock of Israel and the [65:27] livestock of Egypt. That's remarkable, [65:28] right? That some cattle that only your [65:31] cattle should be affected. [65:33] There will not die among all that [65:35] belongs to the children of Israel a [65:36] thing. [65:42] God set an appointed time. [65:44] Miracle part number three of this [65:46] miracle. [65:49] Saying, "Tomorrow God will do this thing [65:52] in the land." [65:57] God did that thing on the morrow. [65:59] All the livestock of Egypt died. [66:03] But the lives of the livestock of the [66:05] children of Israel, there died not one. [66:09] Now, it's very interesting what Pharaoh [66:11] does. [66:13] Seven. [66:15] Pharaoh sent to inquire. [66:18] And here [66:20] there had not died of the livestock of [66:23] the children of Israel even one. [66:26] So, he sent to check is this true? [66:30] See, obviously had their livestock died, [66:32] he it would have been an unimpressive. [66:35] This was the key to the miraculous [66:37] for Pharaoh. [66:40] But Pharaoh's heart remained heavy [66:42] and he did not send the people free. So, [66:45] even after plague five [66:48] it is still [66:51] it is still Pharaoh hardening his own [66:53] heart, right? Not God hardening [66:55] Pharaoh's heart, the language. [66:58] Now, what are we up to? Plague number [66:59] what of the second series? [67:02] Plague number what of the second series? [67:04] And the third plague happens with no [67:07] warning. [67:09] Verse eight. [67:11] God said to Moses and to Aaron, [67:13] "Take yourselves fistfuls of soot from a [67:17] furnace [67:18] and let Moses toss it heavenward before [67:21] Pharaoh's eyes. [67:24] It will become fine dust [67:27] on all the land of Egypt and on man and [67:30] on beast [67:32] it will become boils sprouting into [67:35] blisters. [67:37] Good. I'm glad you reacted that way. The [67:40] dog flies didn't seem to do that to you. [67:44] Boils would have really gotten you. [67:46] Except especially with the blisters [67:47] part. I mean, this is really now rubbing [67:50] it in. [67:51] Not only will you have boils, but [67:52] Pharaoh, they will become blisters. [67:56] Uh actually, this is not the Pharaoh. [67:57] This is in no warning, so this is just [68:00] uh this is what God is telling um [68:03] Moses will happen throughout all the [68:05] land of Egypt. [68:07] 10. They took the soot from the furnace [68:09] and stood before Pharaoh [68:13] I these are great scenes. And Moses [68:16] tossed it heavenward and it became boil [68:19] blisters sprouting on man and on beast. [68:23] Now, of course, it's fair to say if all [68:25] the livestock had died, how were they [68:27] getting boils? [68:29] I don't have an answer. [68:31] Uh the odds are it was a a a a little [68:35] hyperbole [68:36] that it about all of them died. [68:39] Either that or you have a very clear [68:40] contradiction. I'm willing to accept [68:43] contradictions in in the biblical [68:45] narrative, but one that's so obvious [68:47] within five verses of the next [68:50] had to mean that it was a it was just a [68:52] you know, a a throwaway line and they [68:55] all died. It was as if to say not one [68:57] Israelite cattle died, but all the [69:00] Egyptian died. Not all, but a lot, okay? [69:03] Otherwise, it it doesn't mean anything. [69:05] >> Is that the same word for beast and [69:07] cattle? They all died. [69:08] >> One moment. Check the Hebrew. [69:13] What verse are we on now? [69:19] Yes, 10. So, 10 [69:23] 10. [69:27] No, they are different words. [69:29] They are different words. The word [69:31] originally, the first one was livestock. [69:34] You're right, that's the answer. [69:36] He did it. You're right. [69:38] Absolutely right. There's no [69:39] contradiction whatsoever. Livestock is [69:42] livestock, beasts are beasts. Correct. [69:45] The beasts got the boils, the livestock [69:47] were already dead. One is mickna and one [69:51] is behema. [69:52] Thank you. Nothing like having the [69:54] Hebrew here. [69:56] Correct, that answers the question. [70:00] Uh 10, 11. [70:03] Now the magicians could not stand before [70:05] Moses because of the boils. [70:08] I you know, at this point I feel for the [70:10] magicians, don't you? You know, they [70:12] gave it a try, they knew they lost and [70:14] they're getting boils. And they and and [70:16] not only that, they wanted him to get [70:18] rid of it. He said, you know, get rid of [70:19] them already. This is not funny, [70:21] Pharaoh. And poor guys are, you know, [70:24] are now have boils with with with [70:26] blisters, right? [70:27] For the boils were upon the magicians. [70:30] And it's so great the text and upon all [70:33] Egypt. [70:34] It's so visual. [70:36] Uh it's really it is it is a screenplay [70:38] in the best sense. [70:41] 12. [70:42] But God made Pharaoh's now [70:45] first time [70:47] God made Pharaoh's heart strong after [70:49] the sixth plague. [70:53] And he did not hearken to them. Who's [70:55] the them? [70:57] Yes, it's apparently the magicians [70:59] again. [71:00] It could be Moses and Aaron. [71:03] But uh the it seems more logical it's [71:06] the magicians he's not hearkening to [71:08] which is makes it more dramatic. And [71:11] what are the next words? [71:15] After and he did not hearken to them, he [71:17] did not listen to them [71:19] as God had predicted. Don't you love [71:21] this recurring theme? You know, like I [71:24] told you. [71:26] Just as I told you. [71:27] It's it's And it's It's very interesting [71:30] that it keeps being repeated. [71:33] All right. [71:36] The Midrash, that is the rabbinic [71:39] commentary on the Bible, [71:42] said, "Now, after five plagues of not [71:47] exceeding when he could have, [71:50] Pharaoh deserves full punishment. And so [71:52] God hardens his heart." [71:54] Okay? That is [71:56] the Midrash's way of dealing with why [71:58] now. Why Why it first says it now. [72:03] All right. [72:06] Next plague, 13. With me? Seventh [72:10] plague. [72:11] First of the third and final series [72:14] of plagues. [72:16] God said to Moses, [72:19] "Start early in the morning. Remember, [72:21] here we go again. Station yourself [72:24] before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus [72:27] says God, Jehovah, the God of the [72:29] Hebrews, send free my people that they [72:32] may serve me.' [72:34] Indeed, this time I will send all my [72:37] blows upon your heart and against your [72:40] servants and against your people, so [72:43] that you may know, [72:45] and here's the theme again, that there [72:47] is none like me throughout all the land. [72:50] Indeed, by now I could This is [72:52] fascinating. [72:55] Indeed, by now, [72:58] I could have sent out my hand and struck [72:59] you and your people with the pestilence, [73:01] and you would have vanished from the [73:03] land. I could have killed you by now. [73:05] It's a very interesting additional [73:07] argument. Wake up, Pharaoh. Do you not [73:09] understand what I can do? You'd all be [73:12] dead if I wanted it. [73:13] You saw what I did to the livestock. I [73:15] could have done it to you. [73:18] However, [73:19] I didn't. And you know why I didn't? [73:22] Just on account of this have I allowed [73:24] you to withstand to make you see my [73:26] power. [73:28] That's why you're alive to bear witness [73:30] to my being God. [73:33] In order that they may recount my name [73:35] throughout all the land. [73:38] I want you to see more. That's why [73:39] you're alive. You deserve to die for [73:41] what you've done and for your [73:43] abstinence. [73:44] But I want you to which is in a sense is [73:46] a greater punishment. [73:48] To see [73:51] uh to see all of what is happening. I I [73:54] I often think in terms of the of the [73:57] Holocaust and the Jews and the Germans [74:00] and I while I I certainly wanted all the [74:03] Nazi criminals to be executed. [74:05] I've often thought that for those that [74:08] weren't [74:09] the creation of Israel and the [74:12] subsequent successes of the Jewish state [74:14] and Jewish people that they saw in their [74:17] lifetime was a terrible punishment. [74:20] That they stayed alive to bear witness [74:22] to this. To see this happen. [74:25] Was not what was in its own way a [74:28] punishment. [74:29] Uh it's it's analogous though not at all [74:32] the same because in this case it's God [74:34] the issue not the Jews but I I just [74:36] wanted to give you an idea of of a [74:38] contemporary parallel. [74:41] 17, but still you set yourself up over [74:44] my people by not sending them free. [74:48] So around this time tomorrow I will [74:50] cause to rain down an exceedingly heavy [74:54] hail. [74:55] The likes of which have never been seen [74:58] in Egypt from the days of its founding. [75:01] That's how it's said in Hebrew. It's [75:02] dramatic. Since Egypt was founded [75:05] Pharaoh, nothing like this has ever been [75:07] seen until now. [75:10] So now send word. Give refuge to you Now [75:13] this is very interesting. [75:16] This is dramatic. [75:18] Send word. You Pharaoh send word. [75:22] Give refuge to your livestock and to all [75:25] that is yours in the field. All men and [75:27] beasts. [75:28] There you go. Oh, but here's livestock. [75:30] Hold on. So I knew there was a [75:32] contradiction somewhere. One second, 19? [75:37] >> [clears throat] [75:37] >> Yeah, here it is, livestock. [75:40] >> Maybe he ordered some from Libya. [75:42] >> Yes, ordered some from Libya. Well, he's [75:44] the one who believed in Caltrans, so [75:46] what are you going to do? Okay. [75:50] Give your refuge to your livestock and [75:51] to all that is yours in the field, all [75:53] men and beasts who are found in the [75:54] field and who have not been gathered [75:57] into a house, [75:58] the hail will come down upon them and [76:00] they will die. [76:02] This is very interesting. God is making [76:04] it clear, I don't I'm not here to kill [76:06] you all. [76:07] I'm here to show you my might [76:10] and get the Jews out. [76:12] So, if you follow my word, you will do [76:14] this. [76:16] Now, this is very interesting though. [76:19] If If now that you understand the purp- [76:22] the greater purpose of the plagues is to [76:24] show that God is God, [76:27] what could be more powerful than Pharaoh [76:30] sending word, "Don't go outside because [76:34] God, Jehovah, is going to send hail on [76:37] us."? [76:39] Right? That's much more persuasive than [76:42] anything and terribly humiliating to [76:44] Pharaoh. [76:46] Isn't that interesting? [76:49] And clearly progress had been made among [76:52] the Egyptians to acknowledge one God. [76:56] Because look at what it men then says in [76:58] verse 20, [76:59] "Whoever had awe for the word of God, [77:08] Yes. [77:09] That or or fear. [77:11] This is the fear {slash} awe word. [77:13] For the word of God among Pharaoh's [77:16] servants had his servants and his [77:18] livestock flee into the houses. But [77:20] whoever did not pay any mind to the word [77:23] of God, left his servants and his [77:24] livestock out in the field." [77:27] Isn't that interesting? [77:29] So, you could get saved if you believe [77:31] that I'll do this. You don't believe [77:32] that I do this, [77:34] what am I going to do? I warned you. [77:37] But if you don't believe that there is [77:39] one who gives a warning, you certainly [77:40] don't believe in the warning. Warnings [77:42] have to come from a source. If you don't [77:44] believe in the source, you're not going [77:46] to believe in the warning. [77:48] The uh [77:51] There are three things I said to you [77:53] earlier tonight. [77:55] There are three things [77:57] that God wanted to teach. [78:01] Uh in addition to God being God [78:05] and not the gods of Egypt and not [78:06] nature. [78:08] Justice [78:10] and compassion. [78:14] Here is an example of In other words, I [78:17] don't only want you to know, Egyptians [78:19] and Jews and world, that I am the God [78:23] who is God and there were no other gods. [78:26] I also want you to know things about me. [78:29] Right? [78:30] I want you to know that I am just. [78:33] Therefore, I punish evildoers. [78:38] That's a very big part of this. [78:40] Remember, [78:41] God could have taken the Jews out [78:43] without punishing one Egyptian, correct? [78:45] Taken them out, as it were, on a magic [78:47] carpet. [78:48] God punishes Egyptians for many reasons, [78:51] not least of which is they deserved it. [78:55] Right? [78:56] I, God, remember, it is not at all [79:00] enough to say you believe in God. It is [79:02] like saying, "Baba gaba daba." It means [79:06] nothing. [79:07] When I am told someone believes in God, [79:10] I know nothing about the person's [79:13] beliefs. [79:15] I want to know, what do you mean by God? [79:18] What God? The God of the Hebrew Bible is [79:22] a God who believes in reward and [79:24] punishment and in fact engages in it. [79:27] And is a God of compassion. [79:30] The compassion part is taught here. I [79:33] don't want to hurt your people, put them [79:34] inside. [79:37] But the justice part is is the the most [79:41] obvious here. I punish bad and I reward [79:44] good. [79:46] The the I will take the good people out [79:48] of bondage. The innocent. Now, good is [79:51] not [79:52] uh necessarily the case here, the [79:53] innocent. [79:56] So, it's a it's very important for all [79:58] of you, for all of us, [80:01] when we say, if we do, I believe in God, [80:05] try to give as many characteristics of [80:08] the God you believe in as possible. If I [80:10] were to give a homework assignment to [80:12] you, that would be it. [80:14] And I I will not ask you for your [80:16] answer. I think you should ask yourself [80:18] for the answer. [80:20] Name five characteristics of this God [80:22] for yourself in the next week. [80:25] Otherwise, [80:27] if you can't, [80:29] it's not really meaningful. It's a word. [80:32] It's a childhood carryover into [80:35] adulthood. [80:36] Is it Superman? [80:38] Is it really an old man in heaven? [80:41] What is it? [80:43] Likewise, if you don't believe in God, [80:47] give the characteristics of the God you [80:48] don't believe in. [80:50] I have found that in talking to [80:52] atheists, the God they don't believe in, [80:54] I don't believe in either. [81:00] We may we may in fact believe in God, [81:03] uh both you the who think you're atheist [81:05] and I, if you might hear the God I [81:07] believe in. [81:10] I I the typical atheist calling my radio [81:13] show doesn't believe in a God who, uh [81:17] if you're in trouble, bails you out. [81:20] I don't tend to believe in that, either. [81:24] Okay? [81:26] I mean, [81:27] given that two that that 100 million [81:30] largely innocent people were killed in [81:32] this century, [81:34] and most of whom prayed not to be killed [81:36] before they got killed, [81:38] I'm not a big one on [81:41] uh on on God as [81:48] the the [81:50] as a celestial policeman [81:54] or a celestial army to protect the [81:56] innocent. [81:58] God allows innocent people to be killed [82:00] all the time. [82:02] So if that's the God you don't believe [82:03] in, you may in fact believe in a very [82:06] similar God to to to me. [82:08] Now something we'll deal with another [82:10] time, that God and I and I I thought I [82:12] would tonight more I won't. [82:15] But [82:16] that'll be next week. [82:18] But that's important for you. Please do [82:20] that. [82:21] Name characteristics of this God. Good [82:26] to give you hints. Just does this God [82:28] reward good people in this life or an [82:31] afterlife? Is this God in nature or out [82:34] of nature? [82:35] Is is this God universal God? [82:39] Is this God an answerer of prayers? I [82:41] mean a lot a whole host of things. Does [82:44] this God intervene in daily life? Did [82:46] this God cause [82:48] the pain of your life or the joy of your [82:51] life? [82:52] Did this God bring you the child that [82:54] you've had [82:57] or take away the child you might have [82:59] lost? [83:01] And these that's that's when you know [83:03] otherwise believing in God [83:05] I might as I say I might as well make up [83:07] a a nonsense syllable and say I believe [83:10] in it. [83:13] Oh I will. I will give the [83:15] characteristics. This is like a you know [83:17] it's a trailer. [83:19] I'm starting to believe in trailers. [83:20] They're apparently very effective [83:23] in in film. I will but I rather you work [83:27] on it seriously for your own sake this [83:30] week. Um [83:32] okay? [83:33] It's obviously not okay. You look very [83:35] disappointed. [83:39] I hate when somebody asks a question and [83:41] they hate my answer. [83:44] Uh [83:46] let's let's finish this um [83:48] So though that is what is being In other [83:50] words, not just God [83:53] but God [83:55] out uh who controls nature, God who is [83:58] not one of the Egyptian gods, God who is [84:00] just, God is who is compassionate are [84:04] critical characteristics of the Jewish [84:06] understanding of God and the God being [84:09] understood by the Egyptians and the [84:10] Hebrews through the plagues. What uh [84:14] what verse are we up to? [84:16] Thank you. 22? [84:19] Okay. God said to Moses, stretch out [84:22] your hand over the heavens. [84:25] Let there be hail throughout all the [84:27] land of Egypt on man and on beast and on [84:29] all the plants of the field throughout [84:30] the land of Egypt. [84:32] 23, Moses stretched forth his staff over [84:35] the heavens. [84:37] And God gave forth thunder sounds and [84:40] hail. And fire went toward the earth. [84:43] And God caused hail to rain down upon [84:45] the land of Egypt. There was a hail and [84:48] a fire taking hold of itself amidst the [84:50] hail, exceedingly heavy. [84:53] The like of which had never been seen [84:54] throughout all the land of Egypt since [84:56] it had become a nation. [84:58] The hail struck throughout all the land [85:01] of Egypt all that was in the field [85:05] from man to beast. All the plants of the [85:08] field the hail struck and all the trees [85:10] of the field it broke down. [85:12] I think you're getting from this a very [85:14] vivid picture of [85:17] fire and brimstone as it were. [85:19] Only in the region of Goshen [85:22] where the children of Israel were [85:24] was there no hail. [85:27] Pharaoh sent and had Moses and Aaron [85:29] called. There we go again. Little deja [85:31] vu in the plagues taking place. [85:34] And said to them [85:35] this time I have sinned. [85:39] Jehovah is the one in the right. [85:43] I and my people are the ones in the [85:44] wrong. [85:46] Wow. [85:50] Plead with Jehovah. He keeps calling God [85:53] by his name now. This has definitely had [85:56] an effect. [85:58] Especially, you have to realize because [86:00] the people who listened to God's word [86:03] were saved, the Egyptians and the [86:05] Egyptians who didn't were hurt, were [86:06] killed. That's got to have had had an [86:09] effect. [86:10] And by the way, obviously he stayed [86:12] indoors. [86:15] That's had a big effect. [86:20] Plead with Jehovah for enough is the God [86:24] thunder and this hail. [86:26] Let me send you free. Do not continue [86:28] staying here. This time he sounds [86:30] sincere, doesn't he? I'm wrong, he's [86:32] right, my people are wrong, you don't [86:34] have to stay here. [86:37] Moses said to him, "As soon as I have [86:38] gone out of the city, I will spread out [86:40] my hands to God. The thunder will stop [86:43] and the hail will be no more." [86:46] It's interesting how he doesn't say I [86:48] will I he's I will [86:51] plead with God. [86:52] It's different from the last times, [86:54] isn't it? [86:55] Is it a more confident Moses? [86:57] It would strike me as yes. [87:00] It's very interesting the change here. [87:02] Pharaoh says plead with God and it would [87:04] have said and he went to plead with God, [87:06] but no, did it on his own, spread his [87:08] hands. [87:10] What kind of effect would that have on [87:11] on a on a person? Think about that. [87:14] It's a fascinating human, Moses. [87:18] How could you How could you not become a [87:20] little intoxicated with your power if [87:23] you spread your hands and it stops [87:25] hailing? [87:27] Okay? [87:29] I mean, I feel powerful turning my [87:30] windshield wipers on. [87:35] But as for you and your servant Oh, [87:37] excuse me. [87:38] Uh the thunder will stop and the hail [87:39] will be no more in order that you may [87:41] know that the land belongs to God. [87:44] But as for you and your servants, I know [87:46] well that you do not yet stand in fear [87:49] before the face of Jehovah God. [87:54] Now, the next two the next [87:57] two [87:58] sentences are [88:00] a parenthesis in the Torah. [88:03] The actual reason for it being written [88:06] may be to explain what was destroyed and [88:08] what not later. [88:10] But the interesting thing about the next [88:13] two [88:14] verses of which I understand minimal [88:16] amount because I don't I just don't know [88:18] much about plant life [88:20] is that it has given scholars enormous [88:24] information about the time the the [88:29] chronology of the events of the Torah. [88:32] To know what grew when in Egypt, this [88:34] was a tremendous help to historians. [88:38] Now, the flax and the barley were [88:39] stricken and there were a lot of [88:41] different words here. [88:43] Some have different words, so just we'll [88:45] live with his. Now, the flax and the [88:47] barley were stricken for the barley was [88:49] in ears and the flax was in buds, but [88:51] the wheat and the spelt were not [88:53] stricken for late ripening are they? [88:56] Just leave it and know it's [88:57] parenthetical statement of what was [89:00] existent plant life [89:02] as a result of the hail and whatnot. [89:05] Moses went from Pharaoh outside the city [89:07] and spread out his hands to God. [89:10] That's important. Not to the not to the [89:14] sky. [89:15] Okay? It's just to let you know in case [89:17] you were worried, Moses is still knowing [89:19] this is all coming from God. [89:22] Okay? It's that's important, isn't it? A [89:23] little phrase. He didn't spread them out [89:26] He said He said to Pharaoh, I'll spread [89:28] them out. [89:30] Right? [89:32] Oh, no, he did say to God. Excuse me. [89:35] So, it it is it it it reinforces the [89:38] theme um that he spread it to God, but [89:40] it wasn't the matter of please. There [89:42] was no more necessary praying for [89:44] Pharaoh. The thunder and the hail [89:46] stopped and the rain no longer poured [89:48] down to earth. [89:50] But guess what happened? [89:53] When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the [89:55] hail and the thunder had stopped, [89:57] he continued to sin. It's so great, [90:00] the way it's written. Remember he just [90:01] said I have sinned, and now what does it [90:04] say? He continued to sin. [90:06] As soon as it stopped. [90:08] Don't you know that is that not the [90:10] psychology of bad people? [90:12] They plead and please, please, and then [90:15] you give in and then they resume exactly [90:17] what they had done before. [90:20] They're made differently from the rest [90:22] of us. [90:23] They are, I'm convinced of it. I I I [90:25] It's it's a it's a long-standing issue. [90:28] Some people are not like the rest of us. [90:32] There are some that that are just so [90:34] good they're not like the rest of us. [90:37] And there were some that are so bad [90:38] they're not like the rest of us. [90:43] He continued to sin. He made his heart [90:45] He made his heart heavy. [90:48] His and his servants. [90:50] That's interesting that he made their [90:52] hearts hard now. Isn't that interesting? [90:56] That they might have been very willing, [90:58] as we saw with the magicians certainly, [91:00] who were probably at this time quite [91:02] disgusted with their boss. [91:05] But being that their boss was also [91:06] believed to be a half god, there's not [91:09] much you can do. [91:11] Pharaoh's heart remained strong and he [91:13] did not send the children of Israel [91:15] free. [91:16] How does the [91:17] How does it end? [91:19] As God had said [91:21] through Moses. Right? Just as God had [91:25] predicted. [91:26] >> On tomorrow's Sunday Fireside Chat. [91:31] >> Hey Dennis Prager, my name's Kong Man. [91:32] I'm 23 years old, currently in [91:34] Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I have a [91:36] question about moral ontology. If the [91:38] Bible is the standard from which we [91:41] derive an objective moral code, how do [91:43] we know which commandments are timeless [91:44] and which ones are cultural, apart from [91:47] the contemporary understandings and [91:48] exegesis of the text? If we're always [91:50] learning more about the intent and [91:52] context behind the scriptures, doesn't [91:54] that essentially make morality that's [91:55] rooted in scripture subjective to the [91:58] times of the people interpreting the [91:59] text? [92:00] >> All right, you're clearly a thinker, I [92:02] must say. [92:04] Uh [92:04] how do we know which is timeless? You're [92:07] right. Look, [92:08] that's a great question. How How do we [92:10] know what's timeless [92:12] and what is cultural or time-bound? [92:16] So, [92:18] that is the reason that I have been [92:20] working so many years on my commentary [92:23] on the first five books, which called [92:25] the Torah. [92:26] The Torah is the basis of Judaism and [92:28] Christianity. No Torah, no Ten [92:30] Commandments. No Torah, no God of [92:32] creation. No Torah, no Judaism. No [92:35] Torah, no Christianity. [92:37] It Everything is based on that. Love [92:39] your neighbor as yourself in the Torah. [92:42] Uh [92:43] Adam and Eve, [92:45] everything [92:47] is rooted in those first five books, and [92:49] I'm explaining them, including the [92:50] toughest verses. Let me give you an [92:52] example. [92:53] So, there's a law that says that if your [92:57] child is a uh a truly awful child, [93:02] curses the parents, uh etc., etc., [93:06] uh and in any other way that this was [93:08] understood, you bring him to the court, [93:13] the elders, as it's called, and if he's [93:15] found guilty, they execute him. So, [93:18] people look at that, and they say, "Boy, [93:19] that's primitive." [93:21] Well, as I point out when I explain that [93:24] law in the book of Exodus, [93:26] the second book of the Bible, [93:29] it was actually one of the great [93:32] steps forward, morally speaking. [93:36] The genius of that law was it retained [93:39] parental authority, [music] [93:42] but it did not allow the parents [93:44] to harm their child. [93:46] In virtually [music] [93:47] every society, [93:49] parents own their children. [93:53] >> This has been [music] Timeless Wisdom [93:55] with Dennis Prager. Visit Dennis [93:57] Prager.com for thousands of hours of [93:59] Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic [94:01] radio programs, and [music] to purchase [94:03] Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles. [94:09] We want to take just a second to thank [94:10] the team at Life Audio for their [94:12] partnership with us on the podcast. Go [94:14] to lifeaudio.com to find dozens of other [94:16] faith-centered podcasts in their [94:18] network, including shows about prayer, [94:20] Bible study, parenting, and more. [94:23] >> Precious metals dealers come and go. [94:25] This is Nick Grovich, president of AmFed [94:27] Coin & Bullion. We've stood the test of [94:29] time since 1983. With the flurry of coin [94:31] and bullion dealers coming and going, [94:33] how do you know who to trust and what to [94:35] buy? At AmFed Coin & Bullion, we value [94:38] educated consumers. 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