The third cycle of judgement ends in darkness. Having completed the uncreation process, God prepares Egypt for his last act in the great drama.

As the Lord drives Pharaoh to drive the Egyptian nation to the brink of starvation, gradually a new hope for the Egyptian people begins to emerge.

As God and Pharaoh go head-to-head over ownership of Israel, Pharaoh begins to discover that the worst thing God can do to a person is let them have exactly what they think they want.