Read Exodus 9
The Plague on Livestock
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”
5 The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” 6 And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 7 Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.
The Plague of Boils
8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”
10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals.11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.
The Plague of Hail
13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now. 19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”
20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field.
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; 24 hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. 26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.
27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said to them. “The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.28 Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.”
29 Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God.”
31 (The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom. 32 The wheat and spelt, however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)
33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the Lord; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. 35 So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.
Go Deeper
Exodus 9 is a continuation of the plagues that have come upon Egypt as a result of Pharaoh’s unwillingness to listen to Moses. Despite multiple opportunities at this point, the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart is still unrelenting. There is, however, a noticeable shift towards the end of the chapter.
“‘This time I have sinned,’ he said to them. ‘The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.’” We get this shocking admission from a humiliated Pharaoh in verse 27 of this chapter. The strong and mighty King of Egypt has finally been brought to his knees by the King of the Universe. As we have been watching the stand-off between these two kings, it was clear that one of them would have to give in eventually. It would either be God or it would be Pharaoh. Unfortunately for Pharaoh, he could fight all he wanted, but the Lord had shown that He would not relent until His people were set free.
Finally, as Pharaoh sees the utter destruction that his hard heart has brought onto his kingdom, he repents. He finally realizes that his ego is the one thing putting his people in danger. It’s the only act of humility we have seen from Egypt’s ruler during the first nine chapters of Exodus. Since Pharaoh had finally given in, the Lord also mercifully relented and stopped the hail from falling.
But then we read this in verse 34: “When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.” His return to arrogance is almost unbelievable. It would be unbelievable if it weren’t a story that is so true of our own lives. How many times have we promised God to never do “that sin” again, only to return shortly thereafter? We only want to repent enough so that God would make us feel better, only to pursue our own desires once again. Pharaoh is about to learn an even more difficult lesson as we read on–don’t let your story end the same way.
Questions
How did you feel while reading this passage?
How have you seen your life impacted by your hardened heart?
What keeps you from staying humble before God?
Did You Know?
Rainfall, in and of itself, is a rarity in Egypt to begin with. A hailstorm, combined with thunder and lightning, was likely the most terrifying plague yet for the Egyptians. They would have viewed this as the wrath of God literally being poured out from the heavens.
5 thoughts on “Exodus 9”
20 “Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.”
Had never noticed this part before. Even members of Pharaoh’s inner circle understood what they were up against. Come on, man!
God has a plan and purpose for all of us. We can follow Him or be in/of the world. Romans 12:2-8 tells us how to be in this world and not of it. We as Chirst followers should not follow the values, beliefs, and behaviors of the world, but instead should: Follow Christ’s word, Reflect Christ’s word in their actions and words, Represent Christ’s kingdom to unbelievers, and Represent the Father’s kindness and love to the world. Moses didnt give up on Pharoah. God told Moses what to do and how, then Moses acted in obedience. We have to live in this world BUT GOD gives You His Holy Spirit to act with unbelievers as a witness. Fellowship without expressing judgment or seeking to cause them shame. As you speak with them, be a witness for Christ and the true Gospel. You are Christ’s representative and perhaps He will use you to open their eyes to the truth.
God thank You for these minutes of this day in which to glorify You. God help my mouth. Thank You that no words that do not edify and give exhortation are heard from me. If I do say wrong let it fall from their ears and rememberence. God let Your light shine forth from me, let Your love be efferfeced from me. God help me to not conform but be transformed into Your Holy Spirit filled person. Your Love from me must be sincere. I want to detest what is evil; cling to what is good. God thank You for direction, understnding, claifing thoughts, and most of all LOVE for the people in Your world that You have placed in my path today. God help me put my love goggles on, ears to hear You and to listen. God give me honoring speech out of my mouth, and a heart to be tender in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m convicted as I read this account in scripture of how many times I harden my heart to the will of God. Every time I make excuses, become arrogant or complacent, and selfishly desire my way over his, my heart hardens. I must hearken to his “higher ways and thoughts” or reap the whirlwind of consequences. It’s a sobering thought!
In case anyone was wondering like me, how were any livestock remaining for the hail if “all” were killed with the plague of 9:6, Got Questions does a great job answering the question.
How could there be livestock in Exodus 9:20 when all of Egypt’s livestock had been destroyed by the plague in Exodus 9:6? – an article from Got Questions Ministries https://www.gotquestions.org/Exodus-plagues-Egypt-livestock.html
Gosh! Pharoah! Wake up!! The immature have to stay in crisis to stay committed.
I guess I’m liek Pharoah unfortunately as well. This makes me so mad because I do similar things and waste a lot of moments here on earth battling god.
May I be patient and may the lord help me where I fall short!