This Sunday, following two significant earthquakes in eastern Cuba, social media among Cubans was flooded with religious messages recalling passages from the second book of the Bible: Exodus.
This book recounts the journey of the Israelites as they left slavery in Egypt. God sent ten plagues to punish the Pharaoh and compel him to free the captives, who ultimately travel with the prophet Moses to Mount Sinai, where Yahweh promises them the land of Canaan (the Promised Land).
In popular imagination, the belief is widespread that "Cuba is suffering the ten plagues of Egypt," as people are dealing with extreme situations imbued with religious symbolism akin to that of the biblical story.
Next, we discuss the ten plagues of the Bible and their similarities with the current reality in Cuba.
1. Water turns into blood (scarcity of drinking water)
In the Bible, the waters of the Nile turn to blood. This vital resource becomes unusable, resulting in chaos.
In Cuba, the drinking water crisis is increasingly affecting more communities, with prolonged shortages and contaminated sources making access to this essential resource difficult.
The lack of water directly impacts the quality of life for the population and exacerbates other health and sanitation issues in the country.
2. The Invasion of Frogs (disorder, obstacles, chaos)
In Egypt, frogs were regarded as sacred due to their association with fertility and rebirth. The plague symbolized the collapse of a belief system, forcing people to act against the established norms to survive. However, the inhabitants felt fear and were unable to kill the frogs.
God exterminated the plague, and the Egyptians understood that beyond their false beliefs and fears, there was another world of possibilities.
Symbolically, the frogs in the Cuban context represent the obstacles and daily struggles. Problems suffocate citizens, especially those who try to survive without breaking the rules, as they know that those who have raised their voices to change the system have paid the price with exile or imprisonment.
3. Lice or mosquitoes (vector-borne diseases)
The emergence of lice and mosquitoes in Egypt led to diseases and such desperation that people scratched themselves until they lost their skin.
This situation brings to mind the epidemics in Cuba of Oropouche fever, as well as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, which are spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The island is also experiencing outbreaks of lice, scabies, bedbugs, pubic lice, and others. The situation is worsened by a lack of medications and medical supplies, as well as the deterioration of healthcare services, which face significant challenges in controlling these epidemics.
4. Flies (sanitation issues in urban areas)
The flies that invaded Egypt symbolize issues of hygiene and pollution.
In Cuba, the poor waste collection system, stagnant water, and deficiencies in urban infrastructure lead to these issues in cities, impacting public health and quality of life.
The accumulation of tons of garbage is a problem reported throughout the country, but it reaches a critical point in Havana, where there are neighborhoods whose streets are obstructed by it.
5. Pest in livestock (livestock crisis)
The fifth plague exterminates the Egyptian livestock, which was a vital resource for the economy and survival of the people.
In Cuba, the crisis in the livestock sector is chronic. It affects not only cattle and horses, but there is also insufficient production of pigs, poultry, and eggs.
The cases of theft and slaughter of cattle have surged to unprecedented levels. Farmers are seeking government support, but the authorities are not addressing the situation.
The consumption of meat is almost impossible for most people due to the scarcity and high cost of livestock-derived food products.
6. Ulcers and sores (deterioration of the healthcare system)
The ulcers affecting Egyptians represent a widespread physical ailment. They symbolize vulnerability to infectious diseases.
In Cuba, the deterioration of public health infrastructure, the lack of medications, and the exodus of medical professionals hinder the care of the sick.
Problems that would be minor in other places become chronic conditions, and many people cannot access treatment for common skin diseases, infections, or mental health issues. The "ulcer epidemic" symbolizes the lack of medical resources in the country.
7. The Rain of Fire and Hail (Meteorological Phenomena)
The seventh plague of Egypt was a destructive storm that devastated the crops in the fields, along with the animals and the homes of the Egyptians.
In less than a month, Cuba has experienced two powerful hurricanes that have severely impacted people's lives, agricultural production, access to food, and especially housing.
Additionally, two earthquakes were reported this Sunday that impacted numerous homes. Many families have lost everything.
8. Locust plague (destruction of agriculture, hunger)
In the Bible, when locusts are mentioned, they refer to insects capable of forming dense swarms that devastate large areas of crops. The plague consumed the fields and caused famine.
In Cuba, the lack of fertilizers, outdated machinery, and other agricultural problems act as an invisible plague that undermines the country's productive capacity.
Low productivity forces the Cuban regime to import a significant portion of food, which exacerbates shortages when there is insufficient currency for these purchases. The people suffer from hunger, while the government denies it. They claim to be working on a supposed quest for food sovereignty, but it is not materializing.
9. The Darkness (lack of light, fuel shortages, blackouts in Cuba)
The plague of darkness symbolizes despair and uncertainty in the case of Egypt.
In Cuba, power outages have been recurrent for decades, but the energy crisis has persisted for over four years. The situation worsened in October with numerous widespread blackouts. Currently, there are areas in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, and Havana that have been without electricity for more than four days.
Literal and emotional darkness impacts the daily lives of Cubans. The blackout is the "modern plague" that restricts access to basic services and generates discouragement in the population, along with stress and suffering.
10. The death of the firstborns (suicide, murders, migration)
The last plague in Egypt was devastating, symbolizing a profound loss, the death of the firstborn. This was what convinced the Pharaoh to free the Israelites and is known as the ultimate divine punishment.
Cuban families deeply understand the pain of losing loved ones. In their quest to escape scarcity and repression, thousands of young people have perished at sea, in the Darién Jungle, and even frozen in Siberia.
The exodus of young people has resulted in an aging population, radically altering the social structure. The migration phenomenon reflects the "Cuban Exodus," drawing parallels to the Hebrew people in the Bible who fled in search of freedom and better living conditions.
Agnostic individuals will argue that the similarities noted between the biblical narrative and the situation in Cuba do not exist. They will contend that these are merely natural phenomena and issues stemming from the national and international economic crisis.
However, for many religious Cubans, the mystical signs are clear. The time for change is near, and it is essential to be attentive to the wisdom of a book that predates current governments and is an indispensable part of human history.
What do you think?
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