In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh establishes the nature of his conflict with Moses. He says, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” Pharaoh had his own gods. As a matter of fact he had a whole pantheon of gods – a very confusing pantheon. He didn’t have room for any more gods. Now, Jehovah, The God of Moses sets out to demonstrate to Pharaoh exactly who the real God is. But Pharaoh fights with God.
Blood, frogs, gnats flies & the death of the livestock. Boils, hail, locusts, darkness – nothing convinces him of who the real God is. Then God tells Moses that the contest between the gods of Egypt and the God of the universe is coming to an end. “I will pass through the heart of Egypt.” Yes, to the very heart, to the lives of their children. 11:6 says, “a loud wail will arise throughout the land, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again.” And why did God do this? See 10:2, “So that you will know that I am the Lord.”
Sometimes God must bring great pain in the lives of people to get their attention. Some people are so hardened they do not recognize God when He speaks directly to them. Some people can’t see the hand of God in and above all their circumstances of life. He is definitely there. He’s in the blood, frogs, gnats, boils, hail, locusts, darkness!
But to the children of Israel, God says, “I have spared you for a purpose! To show you my power and to spread my name throughout the earth.”