Exodus 9:13 – 35 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Still, you lord it over My people and do not allow them to go.
Behold, at this time tomorrow I will rain down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded until now. So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die when the hail comes down upon them.’”
Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.” So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation. Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree. The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”
Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the LORD our God.” (Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; but the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops.) Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.”
Before God sent the last three plagues, Pharaoh was given a special message from God. These plagues would be more severe than the others, and they were designed to convince Pharaoh and all the people “that there is none like me in all the earth.” Pharaoh was even told that he was placed in his position by God, so that God could show His power and declare His name through all the earth. As an example of His grace, God warned Pharaoh to gather whatever cattle and crops remained from the previous plagues and shelter them from the coming storm. Some of Pharaoh’s servants heeded the warning, while others did not. The seventh plague, hail, attacked Nut, the sky goddess; Osiris, the crop fertility god; and Set, the storm god. This hail was unlike any that had been seen before. It was accompanied by a fire which ran along the ground, and everything left out in the open was devastated by the hail and fire. Again, the children of Israel were miraculously protected, and no hail damaged anything in their lands. (https://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html)
This time Pharaoh really seems impressed and makes a promise….. right up to the moment that the thunder and lightning and hail and rain cease. At that point, it’s business as usual. As a divine being, Pharaoh likely believes that he has the prerogative to change his mind at any point without fear of contradiction. But many of Pharaoh’s followers aren’t nearly so convinced of his power and they swiftly bring their animals and servants into shelter so that they will not be killed.
APPLICATION: This story demonstrates God’s amazing mercy:
1. God promises to send ALL His plagues against Pharaoh and his officials and his people so that they would know that there was nobody like God in all the earth. God is still giving Pharaoh every opportunity to soften his heart, heed the warnings, and protect his workers and his livestock.
2. God informs Pharaoh that by this time He (God) could have wiped both Pharaoh and his people off the earth.
3. God tells Pharaoh that God has raised Pharaoh up so that God could display His power to Pharaoh and that God’s name might be proclaimed throughout the earth.
God is STILL giving Pharaoh the opportunity to change his heart and to acknowledge God as the One True Living God and to turn from worshiping all these idols.
Why doesn’t Pharaoh wake up and realize that his country is on the road to destruction? Pharaoh is so enthralled with his own power that he has completely lost touch with reality. The officials who are continuing to go along with Pharaoh’s decisions are likely those who have been feeding Pharaoh misinformation and telling him what he wanted to hear all along. Perhaps these officials have encouraged Pharaoh to remain in the palace where he would be far less likely to appreciate the devastation that has engulfed the land of Egypt. It’s likely that these officials are also the same ones who choose to ignore God’s warnings and who leave their workers and livestock in the fields to be killed by hail and heavenly fire. These decisions result in total disaster.
Amazingly enough, Pharaoh actually confesses that he has sinned and that he and his people are wicked! This is likely the only recorded instance when any Pharaoh made such a statement. Too bad that Pharaoh changes his mind as soon as the fire and hail stop. Again, those officials might have played a crucial role in this decision. The officials can manipulate a proud unyielding Pharaoh; they’ve been doing it for years. But a repentant Pharaoh with a soft heart? Who knows what this man might choose to do? Such a change of heart would represent total disaster for those men who have viewed themselves as the power behind the throne. No! Far better to encourage Pharaoh to go back on his promise once more.
If you are a leader, who is feeding you information? Who is pushing your buttons? Are you getting everything from a single source or are you trying to get a variety of opinions? Do you view anybody who argues with you as a trouble maker, never stopping to examine the validity of their opinions? For years I worked with one of the most talented theater nurses I have ever known. We argued several times a day; but inevitably at some point, my friend and I would look at each other and one of us would say, “You know, you are right and I am wrong.” We respected each other enough to listen to arguments.
God is a God of Truth and Light. The Bible says that in Him there is no darkness at all. If we are to follow the One True Living God, we must be willing to hear the truth, no matter how unpalatable it might be. And we should treasure those brave enough to tell us the truth when it’s difficult.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are a God of truth and that you also are a God of second chances. Had Pharaoh repented, the Exodus would have happened sooner but you would have cared for both the Egyptians and the Israelites. Help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives and never to shrink from your truth. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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