“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” — Exodus 1:8
Introduction: A World at the Height of its Pride
When Moses was born, Egypt stood as the unrivaled superpower of the ancient world. Its armies were feared, its monuments unmatched, its religion deeply demonic, and its Pharaoh worshiped as a god. Egypt represented the height of human civilization—and at the same time, the depths of spiritual darkness. The book of Exodus reveals that God did not simply deliver His people from slavery—He executed judgment upon an entire culture that exalted itself against the LORD (Ex. 12:12). To understand the story of Moses, one must understand the world God was overthrowing.
A Kingdom of Power, Wealth, and Oppression
1. A Centralized Empire
Egypt in Moses’ day was a fully developed monarchy with Pharaoh as absolute ruler, believed to be the human embodiment of the gods Horus and Ra. His word was law, his will unquestioned, and his throne considered eternal. The state controlled land, labor, taxation, and military power.
2. A Wealth Built on Forced Labor
The Hebrews were not merely “workers” — they were the backbone of state construction. Egypt’s wealth and prestige were built on oppression, quota-driven brickmaking, and state-enforced slavery (Ex. 1:11–14). What seemed like a glorious culture to the world was, in God’s eyes, cruelty and corruption.
3. A Military Superpower
The Egyptians possessed advanced chariots, organized armies, and fortified cities. No nation imagined Egypt could fall. Yet God showed that no military power can stand when the LORD rises to judge.
A Religious System Rooted in Idolatry and the Occult
Egyptian culture was inseparable from its religion. Exodus makes clear that the plagues were not random disasters—they were targeted strikes against the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12).
1. Polytheism and Demon Worship
Egypt worshiped a vast pantheon—Ra the sun god, Hapi the Nile god, Heqet the frog goddess of fertility, Hathor the cow goddess, and many others. Behind these idols were demonic powers (1 Cor. 10:20). The worship of animals, rivers, insects, celestial bodies, and even Pharaoh himself was normal life in Egypt.
2. Priests, Magicians, and Sorcery
The priestly and magician class held enormous power. They practiced occult arts, enchantments, and demonic imitation of miracles (Ex. 7:11–12, 22). Egyptian “wisdom” was a dark, supernatural system. God exposed it as powerless before His Word.
3. Ritual Purity and Death Culture
Egypt was obsessed with the afterlife—pyramids, tombs, mummification, burial rituals, and spells from the Book of the Dead. Their culture revered death while rejecting the God of life.
Social Structure, Education, and Daily Life
1. Strict Class Hierarchy
Pharaoh and the royal elite sat at the top; priests, scribes, craftsmen, and soldiers formed the middle; peasants and slaves filled the bottom. Hebrews were the lowest and most expendable.
2. Advanced Learning and Culture
Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Egypt possessed advanced writing, mathematics, engineering, astronomy, agriculture, and medicine. Yet knowledge without God only deepened their pride.
3. Moral Corruption and Pagan Norms
Egyptian art, customs, sexuality, and social life were entwined with idolatry, superstition, and ritual impurity. What was “normal” in Egypt would later be condemned by God in the Law. This is why Israel was warned not to return to Egypt’s ways (Lev. 18:3).
God’s Confrontation with Egypt: A Culture Brought to its Knees
The Exodus plagues were a direct assault on every pillar of Egyptian culture:
- The Nile — struck, because it was their economic lifeline and their god
- Frogs, livestock, darkness, and death — judgments against their deities
- The death of the firstborn — judgment upon Pharaoh and the entire system
Egypt trusted in idols, armies, magic, and monuments—but none could save them. God crushed the greatest culture on earth to show that no nation can stand in rebellion against Him.
Conclusion: Egypt as a Warning to the Last Days
Egypt in the time of Moses was more than a civilization—it was a prophetic picture of the world system: wealthy, proud, religious, and utterly hostile to the authority of God. The Lord shattered Egypt to redeem His people and to declare His supremacy to the nations.
In the same way, the kingdoms of this world will soon face judgment once again. Human pride will fall, idols will be exposed, and Christ will deliver His people. Exodus is both history and prophecy: what God did to Egypt, He will one day do to the entire rebellious world.
“For the LORD is a great God… above all gods.” — Psalm 95:3