The plagues – Exodus 7:14-11:10

God sent plagues on the Egyptians
because they would not let the Israelites go.

God told Aaron to hit the water of the river with his staff.
The water turned to blood. The fish died. The river smelt.

But Pharaoh’s magicians did the same.
Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

After seven days, God sent a second plague.
He sent lots of frogs.
The frogs ran into the houses and everywhere.
But Pharaoh’s magicians did the same.
Pharaoh asked Moses and Aaron to pray to God
to take away the frogs.
He said he would let the Israelites go.
God took the frogs away.
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

God told Aaron to hit the water of the ground with his staff.
The dust on the ground turned into gnats.
There were hundreds of gnats.
Pharaoh’s magicians said, ‘This is the work of God.’
But Pharaoh would not listen.
He would not let the Israelites go.

God told Moses to say to Pharaoh,
‘If you do not let my people go to worship me,
I will send lots of flies. They will fill your land.
But there will be no flies where my people live.
Then you will know that I am God.’
The next day God sent the flies. They ate everything.
Then Pharaoh said the Israelites worship God.
They could worship their God in Egypt.

But Moses said, ‘No. We must go away to do this.’
Pharaoh said they could go into the desert, but not very far.
He asked Moses and Aaron to pray for him.
Moses prayed for Pharaoh. God sent the flies away.
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

God told Moses to ask Pharaoh again.
‘Let my people go.’
If he would not, God would make
all the sheep and cows die.
But the Israelites’ sheep and cows would live.
The next day, all the Egyptians’ sheep and cows died.
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

God sent a very bad hailstorm.
Lots of Egyptians died and the crops spoilt.
There was no storm where the Israelites lived.
Then Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron,
‘I have done bad things. Pray to God.
Then I will let your people go.’
Moses prayed and God stopped the storm.
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

God sent a plague of locusts.
Pharaoh sent for Moses again.
He said the men could go and worship God,
but the women and children must stay in Egypt.
The locusts ate everything in the land.
Pharaoh sent for Moses again.
‘I have done bad things. Pray to God.
Take away the locusts, then I will let your people go.’
God sent the locusts away.
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

Then God sent darkness over Egypt.
Nobody could see for three days.
But the land where the Israelites lived was light.
Then Pharaoh said all the Israelites could go.
But they must leave behind all their animals.
Moses said, ‘No, the animals must go with us.’
But Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.
He told Moses not to come to him again.