Opening Questions and Prayer
Tell a story about a time you were afraid of the dark.
What happened when you turned the lights on?
What does the term “spiritual darkness” mean?
What are some ways people live in spiritual darkness?
Pray that the Lord would help you to see how to be the light into the darkness that He calls you to be.
Read Exodus 10:21-23
Exodus 10:21-23 (All verses are from the NLT unless otherwise noted)
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” 22 So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.
How do you think the people of Egypt felt during this plague?
How was God showing His power over the Egyptian gods?
Why is it hard for people to leave behind their spiritual darkness?
Who helped you to go from darkness to light?
Read Exodus 10:24
Exodus 10:24
24 Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”
Why didn’t Pharaoh want the Israelites to take their flocks and herds with them?
How does the enemy try to get us to leave some areas of our life in darkness when we go and worship the Lord?
What are some areas of your life that you have a hard time turning over to the light of the Lord?
Who is a follower of Jesus that you could start meeting with to make sure you aren’t allowing any darkness in your life?
Read Exodus 10:25-26
Exodus 10:25-26
25 “No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. 26 All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.”
Why did Moses not compromise when Pharaoh offered a different plan than what was originally asked?
What are some ways the enemy tries to rob you of your worship of the Lord?
During the past few months, how has your worship and relationship with Christ changed?
In what areas have you grown closer?
What areas have you compromised?
What is one thing you can do this week to worship the Lord?
Read Exodus 10:27-29
Exodus 10:27-29
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”
29 “Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”
Why is Pharaoh so angry?
How has Pharaoh let darkness consume him?
When life doesn’t go the way you expected how do you respond?
When was the last time you were angry at God?
What did your anger stem from?
How did/are you resolving that situation?
Read Colossians 1:11-14 & John 12:46
Colossians 1:11-13
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
How has the Lord enabled us to share in the inheritance of those who live in the light?
How do we live in the light?
What are some ways people remain in the dark?
Who do you need to talk to this week to help them start to take steps away from the dark and into the light?
Memorize it!
John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
Closing thoughts and prayer
Pharaoh started out not knowing the Lord or anything about Him. Now, after nine plagues that struck at the religious, agricultural, and cultural core of the Egyptians, Pharaoh knows good and well who the Lord is. But like the ninth plague, he continues to dwell in the darkness. Pharaoh, and many people like their sense of control over their own life. They don’t really have control, but they like to think they do. Stepping into the light would mean letting go of that and giving their life fully to the Lord. Even in our own lives, there are still some areas of darkness that we don’t want others to see or know about.
Pray that the Lord would show you those areas that still remain in darkness. Get with your accountability partner this week and discuss those things.
Pray for the darkness in this world. Pray that the followers of Jesus would rise up and shine the light of Christ into the darkness around them. Ask the Lord specifically how He wants you and your group to do that.
Finally, pray for someone you know who is still in the darkness. Ask the Lord to allow you to share with them this week about His love and light.
Further Study
Exodus 10:21-23
What are some ways the Israelites view of God may have changed during all of these plagues?
Why is it that the longer people are in the darkness, the harder it is to come out of that darkness?
Who is someone you need to pray for this week that you could show the light of Christ to?
Exodus 10:24
How is Pharaoh trying to get the Israelites to compromise in their worship of the Lord?
What are some ways the world wants the Church to compromise its beliefs?
How could those compromises hurt the Church in the long run?
Why do people have a hard time giving their full life to Christ?
What are some ways you could help someone who has an area of their life that is still in the darkness, but they are doing their best to live in the light of Christ?
Exodus 10:25-26
How do you connect best with the Lord in worship?
What do you do during the week to connect with Him in that way?
What can you reduce in your life to make more time to connect with Jesus this week?
Who will ask you about this and hold you accountable?
Exodus 10:27-29
What is the difference between Pharaoh before the plagues started and now?
See Exodus 5:1-2: After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” 2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
Since Pharaoh went from not knowing God, to knowing His powerful ways, why didn’t Pharaoh step from the darkness into the light?
What is holding you back from stepping fully into the light?
Colossians 1:11-13 & John 12:46
How does giving thanks to the Father help you live in the light?
What are some qualities of the kingdom of darkness?
What are some qualities of the Kingdom of Light?
Why is it difficult to move from the dark kingdom to the Light Kingdom?
How can you shine the light of Jesus this week?