Plagues and Judgments—Why God?

It started as a passing thought, one of those big, looming questions you don’t even realize you’re carrying until it bubbles to the surface: Why does God use plagues and judgments?

I was deep in the story of Exodus, marveling at how God delivered His people from Egypt, and then my mind jumped to Revelation—all the bowls, trumpets, and seals of judgment. It hit me: there’s a pattern here, a rhythm to how God works. But why does He choose this way? Why plagues? Why judgments?

The more I studied, the more I saw a story unfold—a story of God’s justice, mercy, and deliverance. Let me share what I’ve discovered.

Two Stories, One Theme: Justice and Deliverance

The plagues in Exodus and the judgments in Revelation aren’t just isolated events. They’re woven together, showing us how God moves against rebellion while protecting His people.

In Exodus, the ten plagues weren’t random acts of wrath. Each one targeted a specific Egyptian god. For example, when the Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:14-24), God was confronting Hapi, the Nile god. The darkness over Egypt (Exodus 10:21-29) challenged Ra, their sun god. Each plague was a direct dismantling of Egypt’s belief system, showing that Yahweh alone is God.

Fast forward to Revelation, and the pattern continues. The judgments—like rivers turning to blood (Revelation 16:4-6) or darkness falling on the beast’s kingdom (Revelation 16:10)—echo the plagues of Exodus. This time, though, the scale is global, and the target isn’t just false gods but the systems of rebellion that humanity clings to.

Thematic Connections: Judgment and Mercy

What struck me most was how both Exodus and Revelation balance judgment and mercy.

God Exposes False Powers

In Exodus, the plagues dismantled Pharaoh’s pride and the gods of Egypt. In Revelation, the judgments confront the beast, Babylon, and everything humanity trusts instead of God. Both stories reveal the futility of idolatry.

God Protects His People

In Exodus, God made a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. By the fourth plague (flies), the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was untouched (Exodus 8:22-23). In Revelation, God seals His people with His name (Revelation 7:3-4), protecting them spiritually while the world endures judgment.

A Call to Repentance

Both stories show God giving people a chance to turn back to Him. In Exodus, Pharaoh hardened his heart repeatedly, refusing to acknowledge God (Exodus 8:15, 32). In Revelation, humanity curses God instead of repenting (Revelation 16:9-11). The judgments are both warnings and invitations.

A God Who Delivers

Here’s what moved me most: the plagues and judgments aren’t about destruction—they’re about deliverance.

In Exodus, the plagues led to the Israelites’ freedom from slavery. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, was a turning point. Only the homes covered by the blood of the lamb were spared (Exodus 12:7). That blood marked them as God’s people, protected and redeemed.

In Revelation, the Lamb’s blood is central again. Those who follow Christ are sealed by His sacrifice (Revelation 7:14), protected from ultimate judgment and delivered into the New Jerusalem, where there’s no more pain, no more tears, and no more death (Revelation 21:4).

The Bigger Picture

What do these stories mean for us today? For me, they’ve been a reminder of three things:

God is Sovereign

Whether it’s the Nile turning to blood or cosmic upheaval in Revelation, these stories show that God is in control. He’s not distant or indifferent—He’s actively working to redeem His creation.

God Protects His People

Just as He shielded the Israelites in Goshen and seals His followers in Revelation, God’s care for His people hasn’t changed. That doesn’t mean we won’t face trials, but it does mean we can trust Him to preserve us through them.

God Calls Us to Trust Him

The blood of the lamb in Exodus foreshadows Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice saves us from sin and death. The question is the same for us as it was for Pharaoh: Will we trust God, or will we harden our hearts?

But Why Plagues and Judgements God?

As I wrestled with this question, I found myself returning to scripture. Time and again, the Word reveals that God’s judgments aren’t arbitrary—they’re purposeful. They expose what we trust in, confront what enslaves us, and invite us back to Him.

God’s Judgments Expose False Idols

The plagues in Exodus revealed the futility of Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12), and the judgments in Revelation do the same for modern idols. Whether it’s wealth, power, or self-reliance, God shows us these things can’t save us. As Psalm 115:4-8 reminds us, idols may have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see—they’re powerless compared to the living God.

God’s Judgments Lead to Repentance

Even in judgment, God is calling us to turn back to Him. In Revelation, He laments that people “did not repent of their sins” (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9-11). His desire is clear: “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). His judgments are a mercy, designed to wake us up to our need for Him.

God’s Judgments Point to His Justice

In both Exodus and Revelation, God’s judgments demonstrate that He sees injustice and acts to set things right. Habakkuk 1:13 reminds us, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” This is the God who hears the cries of the oppressed and steps in to deliver them, as He did for Israel in Egypt (Exodus 3:7-8).

God’s Judgments Lead to Redemption

Through the plagues, God freed the Israelites, and through the judgments in Revelation, He brings ultimate redemption. Romans 8:28 assures us that God works all things—even the harshest trials—for the good of those who love Him. Just as the blood of the lamb marked the Israelites for protection (Exodus 12:7), the Lamb’s blood secures our salvation (Revelation 7:14).

God’s Judgments Redirect Our Trust

Ultimately, God uses these moments to show us where our trust belongs. Proverbs 3:5-6 invites us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” His judgments remind us that He alone is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). Like the Israelites in Exodus, who were called to trust the blood of the lamb, we are called to trust the Lamb of God, Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

What Does This Mean for Us?

These scriptures remind me that God’s judgments aren’t about punishment alone—they’re about love, justice, and redemption. They strip away our false securities and call us to place our trust in the only One who saves.

When life feels overwhelming—when it feels like the waters are turning to blood or darkness is closing in—I’m learning to ask, Where is my trust? Am I clinging to God or to something that can’t save me?

The answer to “Why God?” is this: His judgments are a call to trust. They’re a reminder that He is just, merciful, and ultimately, a God who delivers.