The Lord of the Plagues Part 2

Summary

---

The Chosen People

Episode: “The Lord of the Plagues Part 2”

Host: Pray.com
Date: January 20, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode immerses listeners in the Old Testament’s account of the escalating plagues visited upon Egypt, dramatizing the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh Ramses. The episode explores the psychological, spiritual, and personal ramifications of the plagues—framing them not only as acts of divine judgment, but as a direct challenge to Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s pride. Deep moral, theological, and relational questions are raised as Moses grapples with his past, Ramses’ stubbornness, and the Lord’s mysterious purposes.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Progression of Plagues and Pharaoh's Defiance

• Recap of Plagues: Water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness
• Pharaoh's Oscillation: Ramses vacillates between moments of apparent concession and hardened refusal, deepening Egypt’s suffering.
• Divine Distinction: The plagues strike Egypt, but spare Goshen (where the Hebrews live), emphasizing God’s control and purposeful differentiation.
  • “The God of Israel would not relent. The plagues were far from over. Egypt was rotting from the inside out.” (Narrator, 02:52)

2. Moses and Pharaoh: Reluctant Adversaries

• Their past as “brothers” is invoked, intensifying the personal tragedy as Moses pleads, and Pharaoh’s heart hardens.
  • “None of this gives me pleasure, Ramses. I… I did consider you like a brother once. Tomorrow, the Lord will bring more judgment.” (Moses, 06:11)
• Pharaoh clings to a belief in his invincibility, even as the kingdom crumbles.
  • “It is you who doesn’t understand, Moses. I have experienced defeat in battle before, but in the end, I always win.” (Pharaoh, 05:30)

3. The Plagues as a Battle of Gods

• Moses explains to Miriam that the plagues systematically undermine Egyptian deities—each event a confrontation with a specific god (e.g., Hapi, Heket, Geb, Khepri, Hathor, Nut, Ra).
  • “The Lord is striking down the gods of Egypt one by one.” (Moses, 09:26)
• Miriam presses Moses on divine motives, questioning why God doesn’t act more swiftly.
  • “It feels like the Lord is playing with Pharaoh. Why doesn’t he just strike him down and be done with it? Why prolong this suffering?” (Miriam, 09:05)

4. The Final Showdown Approaches

• With each sign, Pharaoh is isolated further—not only losing the faith of his people and priests, but standing as the last god-king to oppose Israel’s Lord.
  • “Then what will the Lord do when only one God is left standing?” (Aaron, 09:59)
  • “Pharaoh.” (Moses, 10:15)
• Boils, hail, and locusts devastate Egypt, while Moses warns and pleads for repentance, and Pharaoh’s pride grows more brittle.

5. Human Toll and Moral Tension

• Suffering is not glorified—Moses and his siblings wrestle with the pain inflicted on Egypt.
  • “Moses’ heart ached with sorrow. He had never wanted this. Pharaoh’s suffering brought him no joy, only a bitter sense of loss.” (Narrator, 13:46)
• Aaron and Miriam question how far Pharaoh will push, and if Israel’s fate hangs only on his pride or God’s plan.
  • “What if he decides to kill us all instead?” (Miriam, 08:05)
  • “If he kills us, he invites even more wrath upon himself and Egypt.” (Aaron, 08:13)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Nile Turns to Blood

“The onlookers gasped as the clear blue green currents of the Nile began to darken. The colour shifted, deepened, turning from blue to a murky red.”
— Narrator, 00:16

The Psychological Strain

“Pharaoh stood upon the balcony of his palace, his grip tight on the stone railing, knuckles white with rage… his heart twisted with fury, for he knew this was no accident.”
— Narrator, 03:08

Theological Stakes

“The Lord isn’t just at war with Pharaoh, Miriam. He’s going to battle against the gods of Egypt.”
— Moses, 09:16

The Hail and the Warning

“Tell your people to flee if you hold them dear.”
— Moses, 14:30

“How very noble of your God to give me a warning before he attacks my people.”
— Pharaoh, 15:11

The Locusts and Complete Ruin

“A dark mass, swirling and shifting, filled the heavens. Locusts. Millions upon millions of them, descending upon Egypt like a plague from the very pits.”
— Narrator, 21:26

The Darkness and Final God

“Three days of darkness fell upon Egypt… Ra, the God of the sun, was defeated. The people of Egypt were left in darkness, lost and terrified, and Pharaoh sat alone in the pitch black, simmering in his hatred, his pride refusing to bend.”
— Narrator, 23:09

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------| | 00:16 | Nile turns to blood | | 02:08 | Pharaoh denounces Moses| | 04:27 | Moses warns of livestock plague | | 06:11 | Moses’ bittersweet farewell to Pharaoh | | 09:05 | Sibling debate on God’s motives | | 09:26 | Theological “plague vs. gods” explanation | | 10:15 | Pharaoh as the last “god”| | 11:32 | Boils inflicted on Egyptians| | 14:30 | Moses warns of hail| | 15:57 | Pharaoh’s defiance during the storm| | 18:39 | Pharaoh’s first confession of sin | | 21:22 | The coming of locusts | | 23:09 | Darkness descends; Ra defeated|

---

Tone & Style

The episode is rich, cinematic, and deeply empathetic. The language is vivid and emotional, capturing the anguish in both oppressor and oppressed, and conveying the mounting cosmic drama. The narration and dialogues fuse reverence for the biblical story with psychological realism, intensifying the moral tension at the heart of Exodus.

---

Summary Takeaway

This episode masterfully dramatizes the Old Testament plagues as both a supernatural battle and a profoundly human confrontation. By focusing on the unraveling relationship between Moses and Pharaoh, as well as the direct challenge to Egyptian theology, the podcast invites listeners to wrestle with questions of justice, suffering, faith, and pride—reminding us that even in judgment, the biblical narrative is rich with ambiguity, emotion, and theological depth.

Transcript

[Moses]

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.

[Narrator]

Previously on the Chosen People. I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will show him signs of my power through you. Wonders shall descend upon him like fiery arrows. The onlookers gasped as the clear blue green currents of the Nile began to darken. The colour shifted, deepened, turning from blue to a murky red.

[Moses]

Relent, Ramses, relent.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Your people will feel my heel. Dig further into their throats. What my people lose in resources will be taken from Goshen.

[Narrator]

Suddenly, the frogs came. Hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands. They surged from the water like a living tide, their croaks deafening, their bodies leaping and scrambling over each other in their mad rush to the shore.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Fine. I shall allow your people to go offer sacrifices in the wilderness. Just make this madness end.

[Narrator]

He withdrew his promise, refusing to let the Hebrews go. Tell Aaron to stretch out his staff and strike the dust of the ground. Throughout the land of Egypt. The dust will become nurse. In one fell swoop, he struck the earth. The dust rose in great clouds, twisting and writhing in the air before transforming into into a swarm of gnats. They descended upon Egypt, covering man and beast alike. The buzzing was incessant, filling the air with an endless drone that drowned out all thought. The fields lay empty, the workers driven mad by the swarm. And even the mighty Pharaoh could find no refuge from the gnats that plagued his land.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

I will crush him beneath the heel of Egypt. He is nothing but a dog, an insect, crawling at my feet.

[Narrator]

The following day, the flies came. Dense swarms poured into Pharaoh's palace, darkening the air, their buzzing a near deafening roar.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Very well. I will let you go into the wilderness now. Pray for me at once. Pray for the flies to cease as.

[Moses]

Soon as I leave. I shall. But how can I trust that you won't act deceitfully? How can we trust that you won't go back on your word?

[Narrator]

The God of Israel would not relent. The plagues were far from over. Egypt was rotting from the inside out. The corpses of frogs, gnats and flies clogged the streets, decaying under the relentless sun. The once bountiful fields lay desolate, still reeling from the curse of blood that had turned the life giving Nile into a river of death. The stink of rot and disease hung heavy in the air like a fog that refused to lift. Pharaoh stood upon the balcony of his palace, his grip tight on the stone railing, knuckles white with rage. His eyes, sunken and bloodshot from sleepless nights, gazed out toward the land of Goshen, where the Hebrew slaves dwelt in peace, untouched by the plagues ravaging the rest of Egypt. His heart twisted with fury, for he knew this was no accident. The sound of footsteps echoed behind him, accompanied by the soft clatter of wooden staffs against the stone floor. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Moses. I do not need a prophet to foretell what your next words would be. You want me to let your people go?

[Moses]

The Lord demands it. Ramses. If you refuse to let them go, the hand of the Lord will fall with a severe plague upon your livestock. The horses, donkeys, camels and flocks will die. He'll spare the livestock in Goshen as proof to you that this is no coincidence or random occurrence. The God of Israel is doing this to you because of your hardened heart.

[Narrator]

Pharaoh remained silent for a long moment, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The shadows beneath his cold gaze deepened, but his voice, when it came, was calm, almost thoughtful.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

I will admit that I underestimated you, Moses. You left this land as my sister's household pet, but you returned from the dead desert as a gun.

[Moses]

You still don't understand who you're dealing with, Ramses.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

It is you who doesn't understand, Moses. I have experienced defeat in battle before, but in the end, I always win. These small defeats will be blotted out in history, replaced with the glorious stories of my victory over the God of slaves.

[Narrator]

Moses, his heart heavy, turned to leave. But before he stepped through the doorway, he paused, looking back at Pharaoh, hunched over the balcony, consumed by bitterness.

[Moses]

None of this gives me pleasure, Ramses. I. I did consider you like a brother once. Tomorrow, the Lord will bring more judgment.

[Narrator]

With those words, Moses left the broken king to his solitude. Death came swiftly, like a thief in the night. By dawn, the breath of life had been stripped from the fields of Egypt. The horses lay dead in the dirt, their once proud forms crumpled and lifeless. The camels, donkeys and cattles all fell where they stood, their bodies becoming part of the blighted landscape. The people cried out to Hathor, the goddess of cattle, but their prayers were met with silence. No offerings could stay the hand of the Lord, and no plea could reverse his judgment. Once rich with the hum of life, Egypt became a land of rotting carcasses, a graveyard of bones and broken hopes. But Pharaoh did not call for Moses. He did not plead for mercy or lift a finger to comfort his people. He sat alone in his throne room, stewing in his rage, his heart as hardened as the sea stone surrounding him. By the fire that Evening, Moses, Aaron and Miriam sat in uneasy silence, their faces drawn with the weight of what was still to come. Each plague seemed to sink Pharaoh deeper into madness. But still he refused to bend. Miriam's eyes lingered on her brother, searching his face for answers.

[Miriam]

What's our endgame here, Moses? What if Pharaoh breaks the wrong way? What if he decides to kill us all instead?

[Aaron]

Pharaoh is stubborn, but he is no fool. He knows the Lord's power. If he kills us, he invites even more wrath upon himself and Egypt.

[Miriam]

I wouldn't be so sure, Aaron. There have been pharaohs that bury their servants alive in the grave with them. He may have enough spite in himself to invite that wrath. If it means he can get back at the Lord.

[Narrator]

Moses stared into the fire, his face unreadable. He knew Ramses better than any of them. He had seen the fire in his eyes, the way his pride had grown to consume him. It surprised Moses how much control Pharaoh had maintained so far. But deep down, he knew that Ramses was nearing the edge. There would be no relenting until Ramses reached his ultimate breaking point.

[Miriam]

It feels like the Lord is playing with Pharaoh. Why doesn't he just strike him down and be done with it? Why prolong this suffering? What am I missing?

[Moses]

The Lord isn't just at war with Pharaoh, Miriam. He's going to battle against the gods of Egypt.

[Miriam]

What do you mean?

[Moses]

Hapi, the God of the Nile, bled out before our eyes. Heket, the frog goddess, left a rot in the streets. Geb, the God of the earth, turned to dust and swarmed us with gnats. Khepri, the God of life, swarmed against his own people as flies. And now Hathor, the goddess of livestock, watches as her herds lie dead in the fields. The Lord is striking down the gods of Egypt one by one.

[Aaron]

Then what will the Lord do when only one God is left standing?

[Miriam]

Which God are you talking about?

[Narrator]

Moses looked at his sister through the flickering flames, his eyes intense, filled with a terrible understanding.

[Moses]

Pharaoh.

[Narrator]

Pharaoh. The next day, Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh once more, this time in the palace courtyard. Flames from the kiln flickered in the dimming light, casting shadows on the faces of the dancers and courtiers gathered for an evening of entertainment. But when they saw Moses, the music faltered and all eyes turned to him in silence. He had become a harbinger of death in their eyes, a symbol of the wrath that had plagued them. Pharaoh, reclining near the fire, sneered at the sight of him.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Leave here, Moses. Give me a moment of peace before I have to endure More whining from you and your people.

[Narrator]

Moses did not reply. In silence, he stepped toward the kiln. The guards moved to stop him, but hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. Even they dared not touch him now. Moses reached into the kiln, his hands closing around a handful of soot. He turned to Pharaoh, his face expressionless, and opened his fist.

[Moses]

Behold the power of the Lord.

[Narrator]

The soot drifted into the air, swirling and twisting in the wind like a living thing. The air thickened, the heat rising as the ash spread throughout the courtyard. At first there was silence, then the sound of groans, low and pained. The air was scorching, and the ash that had seemed so harmless now burned like fire against the skin. Boils erupted on the bodies of those gathered, oozing and festering, as cries of terror filled the courtyard. The priests writhed in agony, their skin blistering and peeling. Pharaoh's servants screamed, clutching at their sores, while Pharaoh himself stood rigid and troubled, trembling, refusing to show his pain.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Never mind. Do something about this sorcery. Pray to Isis. Make an offering to her so that we may be healed.

[Narrator]

The priest flailed and writhed alongside the others. He fell to his knees, screaming in pain.

[Moses]

This is beyond our power, Lord Pharaoh.

[Narrator]

Pharaoh stood with trembling legs and pointed to Moses.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Get out of here.

[Narrator]

They departed, leaving Ramses and his entire household in agony. When Moses and Aaron entered Pharaoh's halls again, the air was thick with the sound of whimpering servants and groaning nobles. The palace, once a symbol of power, now reeked of sickness and misery. They found Pharaoh slumped over his throne, his face pale and slick with sweat, boils covering his once proud body. Behind him, the statues of Egypt's gods loomed. They too seem to have lost their power, mere stone relics of a kingdom that was crumbling. Moses heart ached with sorrow. He had never wanted this. Pharaoh's suffering brought him no joy, only a bitter sense of loss. The man before him, once a brother in all but blood, had become something twisted and broken.

[Moses]

Ramses. Let them go.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

My answer remains the same.

[Moses]

I thought you'd say that. Hear from the Lord. Let my people go so that they might worship me. This time I will send all my plagues on you and your servants and all the people within your borders. You will know that there is no one like me in all the Earth.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

And there is no one like me in all of the Earth.

[Moses]

Hear these words from the Lord Pharaoh. I could have struck you and your people down by now. I could have wiped you off the earth. But I have kept you up for this purpose. So that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people. But behold, this time tomorrow, hail shall fall. A thrashing shall descend upon Egypt like never before. Flee to shelter. Tell your people to flee if you hold them dear.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

How very noble of your God to give me a warning before he attacks my people.

[Moses]

He is not without mercy, Pharaoh. Turn from your stubbornness and you shall see.

[Narrator]

Pharaoh waved him away. But as Moses and Aaron left the palace, the servants whispered. The words spread quickly. Hail was coming. And though some scoffed at the warning, others took it to heart, rushing to hide their families and animals from the storm. But Pharaoh, defiant to the end, stood on his balcony as the sky darkened. He raised his arms to the heavens, his voice trembling with rage.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Come at me. Come and strike me down if you dare. Nut, goddess of the sky, hear the words of Pharaoh and stave off this attack.

[Narrator]

On the other side of the city, Moses stood, staff in hand. He turned his head up, ear attentive to the voice of the Lord saying, speaking through the thunder, Pharaoh shall know my name. Stretch out your hand towards heaven. Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven. The charcoal storm clouds above began to radiate with blue and orange hues. With each clap of thunder, the clouds lit up with terrifying lights. Pharaoh's eyes widened as he saw the heavens open. It wasn't just hail that fell from the sky. Lightning pierced the darkness and withered flaming balls of fire and ice the size of cattle. Fire and ice cascaded from the sky in an onslaught of destruction. Immense power and unbridled destruction came upon Egypt. Trees splintered into thousands of pieces. Forests were set ablaze. Buildings and monuments to Pharaoh's greatness crumbled. Those who hadn't heed warning ran in horror. Yet in the land of Goshen, the Hebrew people stood under a cloudless sky, safe, set apart, waiting for deliverance as their God went to war for their freedom. Moses and Aaron were called into the courts of Pharaoh. They were escorted by guards passing pillars and statues that had been shattered by judgment. The palace was a relic of its former glory. Pharaoh leaned against one of the walls, sitting with his knees close to his chest. Moses felt his heart tighten with compassion. Aaron leaned over to him and whispered.

[Aaron]

Don'T fall for his tricks again, Moses. He won't let our people walk free. He's proven that time and time again.

[Moses]

I know, I know.

[Aaron]

He will say the words, but he will not do it. Don't fall for his tricks.

[Narrator]

The men approached the trembling and broken king. He looked up at them, black tears streaking down his painted eyes.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

I have sinned against your God. I and my people were wrong. Plead with him on my behalf. Ask him to cease the thunder. Inhale. I will let you all go.

[Narrator]

Moses was silent for a long while, discerning Pharaoh's gaze.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Do you hear me? I will let them go. Just make this stop.

[Moses]

I heard you, Ramses. I will stretch out my hand and ask. Ask the Lord to stop. It will cease. But this is only so. You know who is in charge of heaven and earth. The skies and the land do not belong to you. They belong to Him. He knows you won't cease. You beg now, but when the skies close, you will go right back to your ways.

[Narrator]

Ramses dipped his head low. Aaron looked at Moses, then at Ramses. He saw the war both of them had within their hearts. Ramses was losing his sense of control and divinity. Moses was grappling with the loss of the kingdom he was raised in. Aaron took his brother by the arm and led him out of Pharaoh's palace. Ramses remained on the floor, alone in the darkness. Moses was right. He didn't relent. He wouldn't the next time. Moses and Aaron stood in Pharaoh's court, the air was heavy with tension. Servants and officials trembled. Their eyes filled with fear as they watched the broken king, still defiant despite the suffering that had befallen his kingdom. Aaron's voice cut through the silence, sharp and unwavering.

[Aaron]

How long will you refuse to humble yourself? Even your servants are trembling and begging for you to relent. Cease this madness and let our people go.

[Moses]

A plague is coming unlike anything your fathers or grandfathers have ever seen.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Ramses, who will you take with you? Surely I can't part with all my slaves.

[Moses]

This is not a negotiation. All of them are to be freed. Young and old.

[Pharaoh (Ramses)]

Here I stand, ready to reason with you. You Hebrew dogs are insolent to think you can reject my offer. Go. Leave and see what happens. I will strike you down like the pack of animals you are.

[Narrator]

As Moses and Aaron left the court, Pharaoh's fury boiled over. He stormed outside, the air around him hot and oppressive. A strange wind blew from the east, howling through the streets like a wounded beast. He looked to the sky, expecting to see storm clouds. But what he saw was far worse. A dark mass, swirling and shifting, filled the heavens. Locusts. Millions upon millions of them, descending upon Egypt like a plague from the very pits of they swarmed over the land, devouring everything in their path. The crops that had begun to recover from the hail were consumed in minutes. The trees were stripped bare and even the fabric of tents and clothing disappeared under the relentless onslaught of the locusts. Pharaoh screamed at his servants, ordering them to gather what food they could, but it was too late. Egypt had been laid bare. There was nothing left. In mere hours, Egypt was reduced to a wasteland. The people wept in the streets, their children hugging in fear, their stomachs empty. Pharaoh, their once mighty God King, fell to his knees, begging for mercy. But the Lord would not be swayed. He knew Pharaoh's heart, and he knew that the time was drawing near for the final blow. Three days of darkness fell upon Egypt, thick and suff, as if the very light of the world had been extinguished. Ra, the God of the sun, was defeated. The people of Egypt were left in darkness, lost and terrified, and Pharaoh sat alone in the pitch black, simmering in his hatred, his pride refusing to bend. He wanted vengeance, wanted blood. But he would not have the chance. The Lord would strike him down soon enough, for Pharaoh was the last God left to fall.

[Producer/Narrator]

This prey.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Cattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Caltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Steven Ringwald, Sylvia zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr. Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Leschinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosely and Chris Baig. You can hear more prey.com productions on the prey.com app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.

[Moses]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.