Today's Verse: ²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. ²³ No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ex 10:21-23

This was the ninth plague that Moses brought upon Pharaoh. For three days, the land of Egypt lived in total darkness, except for the light in the homes of the Israelites.

Today's Comments: What the Bible describes in this passage is total and absolute darkness. I can hardly imagine what total darkness would be like. It would the the sky without starts, the city without lights. To not be able to even see anyone else in front of one's very own nose is virtually incomprehensible. From the description, this implies that the laws of nature may have even been altered. Obviously, the passage suggests that the Israelites could light fires to see inside their homes, but the Egyptians could not. To the Israelites, it meant that their gods were powerless against the great God of Israel. It especially showed the Egyptians that their sun god, Ra, could not withstand the power of the Lord God of Israel.