SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 9
BIBLE VERSES:
“The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. 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.” (Exodus 9:5-6)
“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. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Mose” (Exodus 9:10-12)
“ You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 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.” (Exodus 9:17-18)
THE PLAGUE ON LIVESTOCK (vs. 1-7)
The Lord set a time to bring a terrible plague on the livestock of the Egyptians. But no animal belonging to the Israelites will die. Yet Pharaoh’s heart was unyielding. He would not let the people go.
THE PLAGUE OF BOILS (vs.. 8-12)
The Lord told Moses to take handfuls of soot from a furnace and toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It became fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and festering boils broke out on men and animals throughout the land. But Pharaoh still hardened his heart and refused to let the people go.
THE PLAGUE OF HAIL (vs. 13-26)
Then the Lord sent Moses to tell Pharaoh that he will send the worst hailstorm on Egypt if he would not let the people go to worship Him. God told Moses to give an order to bring their livestock in the field and keep it in a shelter so that they won’t die when the hailstorm striked. Some Egyptians listened and brought their slaves and livestock inside. But others left them in the field. When Moses stretched out his staff towards to sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail and lightning flashed down to the ground. It was the worst storm in Egypt since it became a nation. The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and confessed that he had sinned and was willing to let the people go. Moses spreaded out his hand and prayed to the Lord. The thunder stopped. There was no hail and the rain no longer poured out. After the rain, hail and thunder had stopped, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he still would not let the Israelites go.
THOUGHTS:
God gave Pharaoh many opportunities to heed Moses warnings. But Pharaoh’s heart continued to be hardened. He chose to resist God. If you continually ignore God’s voice, eventually, you will be unable to hear Him at all.
Pharaoh admitted that he had sinned and promised to let the people go but his repentance was not real. Do not pretend to change when you do not mean it.