15. The seventh: Hail (Ex 9:13-35)

This plague takes the lives of animals and men. At this, the Lord provided how to live for Egyptians.

πŸ‘‰ Read Exodus 9:13-35

Why did not the Lord destroy all Egyptian at once? (14-16, 29)

The Lord chose Pharaoh to display His power because he (             ) himself against God’s people. However, God warned them of hail and provided a way to save the livestock of those who (            ) Him. (17-20)

Pharaoh said to Moses, “I have (            ) this time! The Lord is (            ), and I am (            ). Pray to the Lord. I will release you.” However, Moses said to Pharaoh, “I know that you do not (      ) the Lord God.”

When hail ceased, both (     ) and (             ) hardened their hearts.

Answers and Meditation

His name be declared in all the earth

This purpose has been said repeatedly in the exodus narrative. Finally, after the exodus and the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites will praise who the Lord is in chapter 15.

 

Was exalting, feared

Exalting oneself will make oneself an object God displays His power.

The purpose of the plagues is not to destroy Egypt. He wants to reveal His power, and thus, they would come to the Lord and get salvation.

Amid the same plague of hail, some experience judgment, and some experience salvation. The difference depends on whether you fear the word of God and apply it to your life. 

However, Pharaoh insisted on rebelling against the Lord.

 

Sinned, righteous, guilty, fear

'This time,' he has sinned. Pharaoh pretended to humble himself. But it was to escape the difficulty of the hail. If he had feared the Lord, he should have listened to the Lord before the hail.

 

He (Pharaoh), his servants

 

Who is responsible for Pharaoh’s hardened heart?

8:15: Pharaoh hardened his heart.

8:19: Pharaoh’s heart remained hard.

8:32: Pharaoh hardened

9:7: His heart remained hard.

9:12: God hardened his heart.

9:35: His heart remained hard.

One’s hardened heart cannot be changed without God’s grace. Pharaoh hardened his heart at the beginning (7:13), and God left his heart hardened.

We like to debate who is responsible for the hardening. However, it is a matter between God and Pharaoh, not ours. We should focus on the repeated expression, ‘as the Lord had said.’

We are not to judge the word of God but listen to it. We should not follow Pharaoh’s example by hardening our hearts (1 Sam 6:6, Heb 3:15)

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