The people of Egypt were ready to despair. The scourges that had already fallen upon them seemed almost beyond endurance, and they were filled with fear for the future. The nation had worshiped Pharaoh as a representative of their god, but many 272 were now convinced that he was opposing himself to One who made all the powers of nature the ministers of His will. The Hebrew slaves, so miraculously favored, were becoming confident of deliverance. Their taskmasters dared not oppress them as heretofore. Throughout Egypt there was a secret fear that the enslaved race would rise and avenge their wrongs. Everywhere men were asking with bated breath, What will come next?

Ægyptens indbyggere var lige ved at fortvivle. De plager, der allerede var faldet over dem, syntes næsten at være uudholdelige, og de var opfyldt af frygt for fremtiden. Nationen havde tilbedt Farao som repræsentant for deres gud; men mange var nu af den overbevisning, at han stred mod den Gud, der kunne få alle naturkræfterne til at tjene sin vilje. De hebraiske slaver, for hvis skyld miraklerne blev gjort, begyndte at tro på, at de ville blive befriet. Deres fogeder vovede ikke mere at undertrykke dem. I hele Ægypten var der en hemmelig frygt for, at slavefolket skulle rejse sig og hævne den uret der var begået imod dem. Overalt spurgte man med tilbageholdt åndedræt: "Hvad bliver det næste?"