Exodus 9:8 – 12 “Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air. It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on man and beast throughout the land.” So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had told Moses.
The sixth plague, boils, was a judgment against several gods over health and disease (Sekhmet, Sunu, and Isis). This time, the Bible says that the magicians “could not stand before Moses because of the boils.” Clearly, these religious leaders were powerless against the God of Israel.
Boils! Anybody who has suffered with boils knows the torment and the pain. There are no comfortable positions; those afflicted may find themselves unable to sit, stand, lie down, or even to walk. Even bodily functions become incredibly painful. Once the boils break open, they may drain serum or pus. If the drainage is severe enough, those affected may even become dehydrated from the amount of fluid they are losing through the sores. Presumably Pharaoh also suffered from boils; certainly his magicians were totally incapacitated. And yet Pharaoh’s heart is even harder than before.
APPLICATION: One of the constants of all the Pharaonic tombs that have been examined is the portrayal of each Pharaoh as a perfect physical specimen. The paintings on the walls of the tombs, the statues, and even the death masks and coffins all portray the pharaohs as handsome, viral, conquering heroes. Obviously, physical appearance was extremely important to these rulers. With the plague of boils, God is not only demonstrating the lack of power of the Egyptian gods but also striking at Pharaoh’s pride in his physical appearance and his self image. Items retrieved from many tombs have included make up, alabaster perfume jars, and all kinds of other cosmetics and lotions – all intended for the use of Pharaoh in the afterlife.
Pharaoh not only believed that he was an intermediary but also that he himself was divine. God in his infinite mercy is trying to get Pharaoh to realize that he is not a god but only a man with limitations. If Pharaoh were truly divine or if the gods Pharaoh worshiped were real, then those gods should have been able to spare Pharaoh from the boils, but they could not.
In what are you trusting? What is the object of your worship? I read obituaries in my hometown area newspaper online as a means of keeping up with that community. It is always interesting but sometimes sad to see the things people feel are most significant about someone who has died. There is nothing wrong with being a passionate fan of a particular team or a particular hobby, but the day you die, those things cease to be important. The day you die, the one great question you must answer is this: What have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you ignored Jesus? Have you tried to tell yourself that attending church a few times a year was enough? Or have you truly committed your heart to Jesus and are you sincerely following him? Have you taken any thought for your soul?
The tombs of the Pharaohs are still there, although many of them have been raided by grave robbers. The mummified bodies of the pharaohs are also there, as are their grave goods. But what of the souls of these rulers?
Jesus told his disciples a story about a man who was rich but who was really a fool. “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the mercy that you show to us daily. Thank you that it is not your will that anyone should go to hell but that everyone should follow you so that they will be with you in heaven forever. Lord, help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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