The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Plagues

Exodus 9 continues to document the plagues unleashed upon Egypt, showcasing the escalating severity of God’s judgments against Pharaoh’s resistance. This chapter features three plagues: livestock disease, boils, and hail, each intensifying the demonstration of God’s power and the futility of Pharaoh’s defiance.

Plague on Livestock

• The Prediction and Impact: God instructs Moses to warn Pharaoh about a severe pestilence that will affect all Egyptian livestock. Notably, the livestock of the Israelites are spared, further emphasizing God’s protection over His people. This plague destroys horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats belonging to the Egyptians (Exodus 9:1-7).
• Pharaoh’s Reaction: Despite the clear distinction between the fate of the Egyptian and Israelite animals, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened, and he refuses to let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:7).

Plague of Boils

• Sudden Outbreak: Without prior warning, Moses and Aaron throw soot from a furnace into the air, and it causes festering boils to break out on men and animals throughout Egypt. This plague also affects the magicians of Pharaoh, who are unable to stand before Moses because of the boils (Exodus 9:8-11).
• Continued Hardheartedness: Pharaoh’s heart is hardened further, as God had predicted, preventing him from heeding Moses and Aaron (Exodus 9:12).

Plague of Hail

• Warning and Description: God instructs Moses to extend his hand toward the sky to bring hail upon Egypt, a storm so severe that Egypt had never seen anything like it before. The hail strikes down everything in the fields, both people and animals, and shatters every plant and tree (Exodus 9:13-25).
• Pharaoh’s Temporary Repentance: For the first time, Pharaoh admits his sin and the righteousness of the Lord. He promises to let the Israelites go if the hail stops. However, once the storm ceases, he reneges on his promise and his heart hardens once again (Exodus 9:27-35).

Theological Significance and Connection to Jesus Christ

Christological Echoes

• Divine Judgment and Mercy: The selective nature of the plagues, sparing the Israelites while judging the Egyptians, prefigures the Gospel’s message of salvation through Christ, who offers mercy to those who believe while ultimately judging unrepentance and sin.
• Pharaoh’s Confession: Pharaoh’s acknowledgment of his sin and the Lord’s righteousness echoes the confessions that come through Christ, who reveals sin clearly and provides a way for true repentance and redemption.

Divine Love and Its Implications

• God’s Protective Love: The differentiation between the Egyptians and the Israelites in these plagues illustrates God’s protective love for His covenant people, a theme central to understanding God’s character throughout the Bible.
• God’s Purpose in Hardening Hearts: God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, while difficult, serves a greater purpose in displaying His power and sovereignty, leading to the ultimate deliverance of the Israelites. This demonstrates that God’s plans are sometimes beyond human understanding but always aim toward a redemptive end.

Contemporary Relevance

Why Exodus 9 Still Matters Today

• Human Stubbornness and Divine Purposes: The narrative serves as a reminder of the dangers of human stubbornness in the face of clear evidence and divine instruction, urging believers today to remain open to God’s guidance and not harden their hearts.
• Environmental Catastrophes as Moral Wake-up Calls: The plagues can be interpreted as divine interventions that challenge us to consider the moral dimensions of our actions, especially as they relate to our treatment of the environment and each other.
• The Power of Repentance: Pharaoh’s fleeting moments of repentance highlight the importance of sincere, lasting change in one’s life, a principle deeply embedded in Christian teachings about genuine conversion and the transformative power of grace.

Exodus 9 not only underscores the severity of God’s judgments against oppression and injustice but also illustrates His profound commitment to liberating His people, offering deep insights into the nature of divine justice, mercy, and love.