Why did God send ten plagues on Egypt?

In Exodus 7-11, God strikes Egypt with ten devastating plagues. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains that the plagues were far more than natural disasters — they were a contest between God and Egypt’s false gods.

Each plague, Dr. Holt explains, struck at a specific Egyptian deity, exposing them as powerless before the living God. Through it all, God set His own people apart — the land of Goshen was spared the swarms, and Israel had light while Egypt sat in darkness. Pharaoh’s heart only hardened. The plagues reveal both God’s justice against persistent rebellion and His mercy toward those He calls His own.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God send ten specific plagues? To judge Egypt’s false gods and prove that He alone is the LORD. Each plague toppled an idol Egypt trusted.

2. Why did Pharaoh’s heart stay hardened? Because he kept refusing to humble himself before God, even as the judgments mounted. His pride would not bend.

3. What do the plagues reveal about God? Both His justice and His mercy — judgment on stubborn rebellion, and protection for His covenant people.

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” — Exodus 7:5 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Exodus Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.