Introduction

Exodus 9 brings three more plagues upon Egypt, each more severe than the last. The livestock die, painful boils afflict everyone, and destructive hail destroys crops and kills the unprotected. The plagues now threaten Egypt's survival, yet Pharaoh persists in his rebellion.

The Fifth Plague: Livestock Disease

[1-7] Egypt's animals struck.

• God's message [1-3]: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse, the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock—horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats."
• Distinction maintained [4]: "The Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die."
• Set time [5]: "Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land."
• The plague [6]: The next day, all the livestock of the Egyptians die, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites dies
• Pharaoh investigates [7]: He sends men to investigate and finds that not even one of the Israelite animals has died. Yet his heart is unyielding; he will not let the people go

The Sixth Plague: Boils

[8-12] The first plague on human bodies.

• God's command [8-9]: "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over all Egypt and festering boils will break out on people and animals."
• The plague [10]: They take soot from a furnace and stand before Pharaoh. Moses tosses it into the air, and festering boils break out on people and animals
• Magicians unable to stand [11]: The magicians cannot stand before Moses because of the boils that are on them and all the Egyptians
• The Lord hardens Pharaoh [12]: But the Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart and he will not listen—just as the Lord told Moses

The Seventh Plague: Hail

[13-35] The most devastating plague yet.

• Extended warning [13-19]: God gives an unusually long message: "This time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." God warns that anyone who fears the Lord should bring their livestock inside
• Some Egyptians respond [20-21]: Those officials who feared the word of the Lord hurry to bring their slaves and livestock inside. Those who ignore it leave theirs in the field
• The plague [22-26]: Moses stretches out his staff, and the Lord sends thunder, hail, and lightning. It is the worst storm in Egypt's history. The hail strikes everything in the fields—people, animals, and plants; it beats down every plant and strips every tree. Only in Goshen, where the Israelites are, is there no hail
• Pharaoh confesses [27-28]: "This time I have sinned. The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go."
• Moses' warning [29-30]: "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail... But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God."
• Crop damage [31-32]: The flax and barley are destroyed, but the wheat and spelt are not (they ripen later)
• Hail stops; heart hardens [33-35]: Moses prays, the storm stops, and when Pharaoh sees this, he sins again and hardens his heart

Key Takeaways

• God could destroy completely [15-16]: He restrains Himself for a purpose—that His name be proclaimed
• Some Egyptians fear the Lord [20]: Not all Egyptians reject the evidence
• Confession without change isn't repentance [27, 34]: Pharaoh says the right words but doesn't follow through
• God's patience has limits [14]: "The full force of my plagues" is coming

Reflection Questions

• Have you ever confessed sin in crisis but returned to old patterns when the pressure lifted?
• How does knowing that God could judge fully but shows restraint affect your view of His patience?
• What would it mean to truly "fear the word of the Lord" like some Egyptians did?