God Judges Pharaoh with Stronger Plagues

9:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Release my people that they may serve me! 9:2 For if you refuse to release them and continue holding them, 9:3 then the hand of the Lord will surely bring a very terrible plague on your livestock in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. 9:4 But the Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and nothing will die of all that the Israelites have.”’” 9:5 The Lord set an appointed time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” 9:6 And the Lord did this on the next day; all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the Israelites’ livestock not one died. 9:7 Pharaoh sent representatives to investigate, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of Israel had died. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the people. The Sixth Blow: Boils 9:8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace, and have Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh is watching. 9:9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and will cause boils to break out and fester on both people and animals in all the land of Egypt.” 9:10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh, Moses threw it into the air, and it caused festering boils to break out on both people and animals. 9:11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 9:12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted to Moses. The Seventh Blow: Hail 9:13 The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Release my people so that they may serve me! 9:14 For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 9:15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. 9:16 But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth. 9:17 You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them. 9:18 I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 9:19 So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place. Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die!”’” 9:20 Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, 9:21 but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field. 9:22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward the sky that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people and on animals, and on everything that grows in the field in the land of Egypt.” 9:23 When Moses extended his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire fell to the earth; so the Lord caused hail to rain down on the land of Egypt. 9:24 Hail fell and fire mingled with the hail; the hail was so severe that there had not been any like it in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 9:25 The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt. The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces. 9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail. 9:27 So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time! The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are guilty. 9:28 Pray to the Lord, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much! I will release you and you will stay no longer.” 9:29 Moses said to him, “When I leave the city I will spread my hands to the Lord, the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord. 9:30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” 9:31 (Now the flax and the barley were struck by the hail, for the barley had ripened and the flax was in bud. 9:32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are later crops.) 9:33 So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain stopped pouring on the earth. 9:34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts. 9:35 So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses. The Eighth Blow: Locusts

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The Lord sends plagues on Egypt to force Pharaoh to let Israel go. He sets Israel apart from Egypt, shows his power, and proves that his word must be obeyed. Pharaoh admits guilt at one point, but his repentance does not last.

In this passage, the Lord tells Moses to warn Pharaoh again: release my people so they may serve me. If Pharaoh refuses, the Lord will strike Egypt. The first blow kills Egypt’s livestock, but none of Israel’s animals die. This shows that the Lord makes a clear distinction between his people and Egypt.

Next comes the plague of boils. Moses throws soot into the air, and painful sores break out on people and animals. Even the magicians cannot stand before Moses. The text says Pharaoh’s heart stays hard, just as the Lord had said.

Then the Lord warns of severe hail. He says he could have already destroyed Pharaoh, but he has raised Pharaoh up to show his power and make his name known in all the earth. The warning is mercy. Some of Pharaoh’s servants fear the word of the Lord and bring their workers and animals inside. Others ignore the warning and leave them in the field.

The hail is devastating. It strikes people, animals, crops, and trees, but Goshen is spared. Pharaoh then says, “I have sinned this time.” He calls the Lord righteous and asks for prayer. But when the storm stops, Pharaoh sins again and hardens his heart. His words sound good, but his repentance is not lasting.

• The Lord commands Pharaoh to release Israel so they may serve him.
• God judges Egypt with plagues because Pharaoh keeps refusing.
• The Lord distinguishes Israel from Egypt and protects his people.
• The boils plague humiliates Pharaoh’s court and his magicians.
• God says he has kept Pharaoh alive to show his strength and make his name known.
• The hail warning gives real opportunity to obey and be spared.
• Some of Pharaoh’s servants feared the Lord’s word and acted on it.
• Pharaoh’s confession was temporary, and he hardened his heart again.

• Warning: refusing the Lord brings judgment.
• Promise: the Lord will distinguish Israel from Egypt.
• Command: release my people so they may serve me.
• Command: bring livestock and servants inside before the hail.
• Warning: those left in the field will die.
• Warning: temporary confession is not the same as true repentance.

This passage is part of the Lord’s saving work in Exodus. He is redeeming Israel from bondage and showing that he alone is Lord over Egypt, Pharaoh, and the land. The judgments prepare for Israel’s deliverance and display God’s name among the nations.

Take God’s warnings seriously. Do not wait for pain or loss before obeying. Pharaoh’s example warns against hard hearts and empty words. Fear the Lord enough to listen and act when he speaks.

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