Nyctophobia –that’s the fancy term for fear of the dark.
Like many children, my son occasionally claims nyctophobia when he doesn’t want to fall asleep. Funny how that works.
I imagine, however, that my son’s nyctophobia is nothing compared to the ancient Egyptians experienced during the ninth plague.
In Exodus chapter 10, we find Moses near the end of calling upon Pharaoh to “let my people go.” At this point of the story, God has already unleashed 8 plagues on Egypt: water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, diseased livestock, boils, thunder & hail, and locusts.
In verse 21, God instructs Moses to “stretch out his hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt.” Then he adds, “a darkness to be felt.”
I’m not sure if I completely understand what God meant by “a darkness to be felt,” but I’m fairly certain it is frightening. Whether it was felt by its accompanying fear and intimidation, or whether it had an actual physical presence is uncertain. However, this we do know: it was so dark that verse 23 says nobody rose from his place for three days!
The darkness was not only felt, but it was also debilitating!
Sounds like the darkness of sin, doesn’t it? Perhaps you have experienced the “darkness to be felt” manifested by the darkness of sin. Maybe even today, as you experience temptation, the darkness of sin is felt near. Or perhaps you sense it as you think on the manifestation of evil around the world in various newspaper headlines.
Just like the darkness in Egypt, sin debilitates and blinds us. Sin creates more problems, leads to more sin, breaks up relationships, interrupts our relationship with Christ, and plagues us with guilt and frustration.
The interesting thing about the account of the ninth plague in Exodus 9 is that while the Egyptians were paralyzed in debilitating darkness, “the people of Israel had light where they lived” (v. 23b). I’m not sure exactly what that looked like. Did they have halo-like lights follow them everywhere they went? Was there one general light over their section of town? Did each Israelite house have light?
No matter how it worked, it paints a powerful picture of the light of Christ in a dark world. Jesus said, ““I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The light of Christ illuminates truth, provides direction, and brings freedom. No more need for spiritual nyctophobia!