After two significant earthquakes rocked eastern Cuba this Sunday, Cuban social media buzzed with religious messages recalling the Exodus story from the Bible. This narrative tells of the Israelites' escape from Egyptian slavery, spurred by ten divine plagues that forced Pharaoh to release them. They eventually journeyed with the prophet Moses to Mount Sinai, where Yahweh promised them the land of Canaan, known as the Promised Land.
Many now draw parallels between Cuba's current hardships and the biblical plagues, viewing the extreme conditions as symbolic echoes of that ancient tale. Let's explore these plagues and how they mirror Cuba's present-day struggles.
Water Turns to Blood: A Modern Water Crisis
In the Bible, the Nile's waters turned to blood, causing chaos. Today, Cuba faces a severe potable water crisis, with prolonged shortages and contaminated sources. This shortage severely impacts daily life, exacerbating health and sanitation issues.
Frogs: Obstacles and Everyday Chaos
In Egypt, frogs were untouchable, linked to fertility and rebirth. Their plague represented the collapse of entrenched beliefs, forcing people to act against norms for survival. In Cuba, daily obstacles and systemic challenges suffocate citizens, especially those who struggle within the system's constraints. Those speaking out face exile or imprisonment.
Lice and Mosquitoes: Vector-Borne Diseases
The biblical lice and mosquitoes caused illness and despair. Cuba today battles epidemics like dengue and chikungunya, spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Outbreaks of lice and other pests further strain a healthcare system already crippled by medicine shortages and resource limitations.
Flies: Urban Sanitation Woes
Flies symbolized Egypt's hygiene issues. In Cuba, inadequate waste collection and stagnant water create severe public health concerns, particularly in Havana, where garbage clogs streets.
Livestock Pestilence: Agricultural Crisis
Egypt's livestock plague devastated its economy. Similarly, Cuba's livestock sector is in chronic crisis, with shortages of cattle, pigs, and poultry. Rising theft and slaughter of livestock worsen the situation, making meat products scarce and unaffordable.
Boils: Health System Deterioration
The plague of boils in Egypt highlighted physical suffering and vulnerability. Cuba's healthcare infrastructure is deteriorating, compounded by medicine shortages and medical professional exodus, leaving many without treatment for common ailments.
Fire and Hail: Natural Disasters
Egypt faced a destructive storm, while Cuba has recently been hit by two devastating hurricanes, impacting agriculture, housing, and livelihoods. Additionally, recent earthquakes have left many homeless.
Locusts: Agricultural Devastation and Hunger
In the Bible, locusts ravaged fields, causing famine. Cuba's agricultural sector suffers from outdated technology and lack of resources, leading to food shortages. The regime's reliance on imports exacerbates scarcity amid financial constraints.
Darkness: Energy Shortages and Blackouts
Darkness in Egypt symbolized despair. In Cuba, frequent blackouts reflect a persistent energy crisis, leaving regions without power for days, affecting basic services and daily life.
Death of the Firstborn: Migration and Loss
The final, devastating plague led to Pharaoh's submission. Cuban families endure profound loss, with countless young people perishing in the sea or in perilous migrations. This exodus has aged the population, echoing the biblical flight for freedom and better life conditions.
Some skeptics argue these parallels are merely coincidental, attributing them to natural phenomena and economic challenges. However, for many religious Cubans, these signs hint at an impending change, urging attentiveness to wisdom from a book that predates modern governments and is integral to human history.