Dear Friends,
The narrative of Exodus 7 � 12 is dramatic. The plot is simple. Aaron and Moses plead with Pharaoh, threaten him, and bring about a wonder. In a few cases, Pharaoh�s magician tries to duplicate these marvels, but is unable to match the astonishing events. A sort of dual takes place between Pharaoh and Moses, which eventually results in Pharaoh conceding to the wishes of Moses.
What has always been interesting to me, is how the early ascetics of my tradition (Byzantine) interpreted this particular sequence of events and applied them in there daily rule of life. For the christian soul eager to progress to virtue, the plaques are not afflictions, but falls and shortcomings. In a way, the following interpretation gives us an interesting view of what the struggles might have been for a monk living in a monastic community. The following is an interpretation of the philosopher and Christian writer, Origen (185-254 A.D.).
1. The changing of water to blood is the slippery slope of youth, or the transition of the Old to the more concrete New Testament.
2. The frogs are empty and vain talkativeness.
3. The Gnats are the purification of evil thoughts and the power of craftiness.
4. The gadflies and pestilence stand for removing the bites of the passions or foolish understandings in the soul.
5. The sores can signify the censure the soul�s swelling arrogance.
6. The hail and fire represent the use of the teaching of the gospel, for the Apostles are �sons of thunder�. They can also mean the restrain the luxury and/or pleasure and employing the fire of penance.
7. The locusts may signal a consumption of the soul�s restless and disturbed emotions.
8. The darkness occurs when the soul has been restrained from morals and is sufficiently constrained to make its life more faultless. When it has begun to make some progress and begins to see God�s progress at work. Then, the soul sees the darkness of its conduct.
9. The destruction of the firstborn can mean the death of the Egyptian in the soul or the first movements of the soul toward sin.
It is important for me to note that the main focus of this interpretation is an attempt to point out the error of pagan worship. I also think it would be good of me to say that this is just one of many interpretations and by no means is a representation of a wholesale view of the fathers of the ancient church, for there are many and I am just a layman. It does however, show us how modern these early father�s were in their theology of these tales. With this in mind, it is my hope that this will excite some good responses from you.
