When God Turns Out the Lights, What Is He Trying to Show Us?

Exodus 10:21–29 (ESV)Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord, your little ones also may go with you, only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also must go with us, not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me, take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” Moses said, “As you say. I will not see your face again.”

There is a kind of darkness that sinks into your bones. It is not the soft, familiar darkness of home when you switch the lights off before bed. It is the sort of darkness that presses on you, where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, and where the silence feels like it is breathing down your neck. Egypt sits in that sort of darkness for three long days, and it reveals more about Pharaoh’s heart than anything he has said out loud.

By this point he has seen plague after plague. His power has been shaken, his gods have been exposed, and his people are begging him to give in. Yet even now, with creation itself seeming to unravel around him, he still tries to negotiate. He still wants control. He still wants God on his own terms. “You may go, but your flocks must stay.” He offers obedience that costs him nothing.

This is where the passage begins to speak to us. Pharaoh is not a cartoon villain who behaves in ways we cannot understand. He is simply human. He wants to look cooperative while keeping his hands firmly on the controls. He wants to obey, as long as the obedience does not touch anything valuable. He wants God, as long as he can hold on to what he thinks he needs.

We do exactly the same.We give God the parts of our lives that feel safe.We surrender habits or attitudes that do not cost us much.We follow Jesus gladly, as long as the path does not touch our comfort, our money, our reputation or our sense of control.

Moses’ response exposes the heart of true obedience. “Not a hoof shall be left behind.” Serving God means serving Him on His terms, not ours. It requires the whole life, not simply the convenient parts.

This is why the darkness matters. God sometimes allows us to walk through dark seasons because the darkness exposes what we cling to most tightly. When the lights are on, we can pretend that we are in control. When the lights go out, we see what we trust, what we protect and what we refuse to surrender.

Yet, even in the darkness, there is grace. Israel has light while Egypt stumbles, not because Israel is better, but because God is merciful. When God exposes us, He does it so He can lead us into freedom. When He confronts us, it is so that we might find life in Him. When He unsettles us, it is because He wants to draw us out of our false kingdoms and into His.

So the real question is not simply, “Why is this season dark.” The deeper question is, “What is God showing me, and what is He asking me to release so that I can walk in His light again.”

PrayerFather, when life feels dark and the way ahead is unclear, keep our hearts soft towards You. Reveal the things we cling to, the areas we hold back and the negotiations we attempt to make. Teach us to trust You completely, and lead us into the light of Christ, where true freedom is found. Amen.