Good morning and welcome to another Biblit! Last week we saw 3 plagues in one chapter, including the beginning of the second act of plagues. Today we pick back up in the middle of that act. Will Pharaoh relent and finally let Israel go? I mean, we all know the answer, but adding in a suspenseful line like that is kind of fun. Anyways, let’s jump into this commentary on Exodus chapter 9!
Context
In Exodus 9, we pick right back up in the middle of the second act of plagues. Plague 5 to be exact. In this plague, we see God tell Moses to go warn Pharaoh that if he doesn’t let Israel go, a plague will come upon the livestock of Egypt. However, according to the theme, God made a distinction and declared He would spare all the livestock of Israel.
Once again, God sent the plague as He said He would. The Bible says specifically that,
“All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died.” (Exodus 9:6 ESV).
There can be some confusion with the word “all” and we don’t have a super-clear answer in the text. What we do know is that there is another plague coming that will affect Egyptian livestock too. We also know that way later, Pharaoh and his men chase Israel on horses and chariots. So clearly not ALL the livestock died. Most commentaries suggest the term “all” here means that either “all kinds of livestock” died or that it means all the livestock in the fields at that time died.
Either way, the plague was devastating, Pharaoh hardened his heart, and he still didn’t let Israel go. Thus we move into the 6th plague.
The 6th plague is the 3rd in this act, which means it is the one that comes without warning. The Lord tells Moses and Aaron to pick up some soot from a kiln and throw it in the air in a way that Pharaoh will see it. This enacted the 6th plague. All the people and beasts in Egypt started breaking out in boils and sores. This is perhaps my least favorite so far...it just sounds icky. Even the magicians re-enter the scene and are terrified to stand before Moses.
This plague is also the first time we see this phrase:
“But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.” (Exodus 9:12 ESV).
This is the first time the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Before it was all Pharaoh. I mentioned this before, but I’ll mention it again. There is a lot of debate and confusion over what it means for the Lord to harden Pharaoh’s heart. We can all agree that God did not put evil in Pharaoh’s heart. There are numerous references in the Bible that would say otherwise. However, as Paul would allude to in Romans 9, this might mean that God did not give Pharaoh mercy in this moment. God allowed Pharaoh to fall deeper into his own evil desires.
“What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” (Romans 9:14-18 CSB).
I’ll leave it at that for you to mull over. Anyways, let’s jump back into Exodus where we get to start the final act of plagues! Beginning with plague 7. As the pattern dictates, Moses rises early in the morning to meet Pharaoh and tell him to let Israel go. He also reveals the theme of this act:
“For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:14-16 ESV).
Thus the new theme presents itself. This theme is harder for me to follow, but if I look closely at the plagues to follow, I see a big theme of repentance. God is telling Pharaoh that He could have just wiped out Egypt and freed His people, but He is doing all these plagues to show His power so that the Lord’s name may be proclaimed and honored all over the earth, including Egypt.
We see this already coming to fruition in the first plague of this act. God warns Egypt that at that time the next day a hail storm like never before would come upon Egypt. He warns them that any livestock or people not under shelter will die.
The following day, Moses stretched his staff towards heaven, and thunder, hail, and fire came upon the earth. *Side note, the staff is present again in the bringing of these plagues. However, all these plagues come from the staff being pointed towards Heaven. Fun little detail.
This plague is also different because, for the first time, we see the Egyptians have a choice to repent and listen to God. Many Egyptians heed the warning and seek cover with their livestock, and they all survive the devastating storm. However, many others perish in the field. The land of Goshen was also spared from the storm.
Then, again with a theme of repentance, Pharaoh actually calls Moses and Aaron in and confesses that he has sinned. He tells them the Lord was right! He begs for them to take away the storm. At first sight, this seems like huge progress for Pharaoh. However, there is one little phrase Pharaoh says that really gives away his heart:
“This time I have sinned” (Exodus 9:27 ESV).
This time? Like, the other 6 times he didn’t sin? This shows that Pharaoh doesn’t really mean it in his heart. He is still hard to the truth and is not truly repenting. Moses sees straight through Pharaoh and calls him out on it, but he also keeps his word and shows Pharaoh grace and mercy by stopping the storm.
And as Moses predicted, Pharaoh did not mean it, and as soon as the storm was over his heart was still hardened, and he didn’t let Israel go.
Interpretation
Ok! So what did I take away from these 3 plagues this week? There are certainly some confusing things, but there is mainly one amazing thing I have never picked up on before that I wanted to share. I have honestly never noticed or at least taken the time to appreciate that the Egyptians are offered redemption.
The plagues show God’s power and plan for redemption. We see that God tells Pharaoh in this passage the whole purpose for the plagues. Paul in Romans 9 even says that perhaps this was the whole reason God brought Pharaoh into existence.
Why? To showcase God’s power so that the whole world may know His name. And in this final act of plagues, we see the second part of God’s powerful display: Redemption. He offers mercy and grace to the Egyptians! God freely offers these outsiders safety if they only heed His warnings.
Application
I think the application here is the classic Sunday school answer: Jesus. Right? I mean how cool is it that the plagues are showing God’s power and plan for redemption. His plan which is ultimately fulfilled through Jesus!
Jesus offers the fullness of redemption. All we have to do is take heed and have faith, holding onto Christ with confidence.
Hebrews gives us a couple of warnings and encouragement in relation to this:
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1 CSB).
“Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.” (Hebrews 3:12-14 CSB).
Paul talks in almost all of his letters about the importance of holding fast to Christ. Considering Him in every single decision, praying without ceasing, and asking God relentlessly for His will to be done. Our need for Christ is not over once we accept Him, it only becomes greater the more we recognize how sinful we are.
So, I leave you with this: Consider Christ in all you do, and encourage one another daily. That is the power of redemption at work.