The Ten Plagues
Ilumi Kids · Stories
A long time ago, God's people lived in Egypt. The king, called Pharaoh, was very mean and made them work as slaves. God heard His people crying and chose a brave man named Moses to set them free.
Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "God says: Let My people go!". But Pharaoh's heart was as hard as a rock, and he said, "No!". So, Aaron touched the Nile River with his staff, and all the water in Egypt turned into blood. The fish died, and the water smelled terrible.
The Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go!’
Moses asked Pharaoh, "Let my people go". Pharaoh hardened his heart, and God sent ten plagues on Egypt: water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, sickness on the animals, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and, finally, the death of the firstborn. The families of Israel, protected by the lamb’s blood on their doors, were set free.
Where it is in the Bible: Exodus 7—12
God is more powerful than any king and protects those who trust and obey him.
After reading, use these questions to help your child remember and apply the story.
A long time ago, God's people lived in Egypt. The king, called Pharaoh, was very mean and made them work as slaves. God heard His people crying and chose a brave man named Moses to set them free.
Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "God says: Let My people go!". But Pharaoh's heart was as hard as a rock, and he said, "No!". So, Aaron touched the Nile River with his staff, and all the water in Egypt turned into blood. The fish died, and the water smelled terrible.
Moses: The Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go!’
Even after seeing the miracle, Pharaoh did not obey. So, God sent a plague of frogs. They jumped out of the rivers and went everywhere: into houses, kitchens, and even into the Egyptians' beds! There were frogs everywhere.
After the frogs, came clouds of lice and swarms of flies that bothered all the people of Egypt. But something wonderful happened: in the land of Goshen, where God's people lived, there were no flies at all. God was taking care of them in a special way.
Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn. Then God sent more plagues. The animals on the Egyptians' farms got sick, and then the people got very painful sores. Pharaoh still would not let the people go.
Then, God sent a rain of ice stones from the sky, called hail. The storm was so strong that it broke trees and crops. But, once again, in the land where the Israelites lived, the sun was shining, and no ice stones fell.
But in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, no hail fell. — Exodus 9:26
Pharaoh's stubbornness had no end. So God sent an army of locusts that ate everything green that was left after the hailstorm. Egypt was left without a single leaf on the trees.
After that, a terrifying darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three whole days. No one could see anything in front of them. But in the homes of God's people, there was light and joy. It was a sign that God was always with them.
God told Moses that He would send one last plague, the saddest of all. But He gave a special instruction to protect His people. Each family was to paint the door of their house with the blood of a lamb. This was a sign of faith and obedience to God.
That night, while the Israelite families ate dinner together and were safe, the angel of the Lord passed through Egypt. Where there was the sign on the door, the angel passed over and protected the family. God's people were saved.
With a broken heart, Pharaoh finally cried out, "Go away!". And so, God's people left Egypt, free forever, walking toward the land God had promised them.
