Many attempts have been made to explain the ten plagues, and to make them plausible.

It is quite possible to see many of the plagues as natural phenomena, but what matters is the fact that God’s hand is in them. He determines which plague is coming and for how long. For example, the death of (only) the firstborn children cannot be explained by something such as a childhood illness. What is important is that God fulfills his purpose with the plagues.