Exodus 9:17-10:29

December 10, 2014

Before we move on to the next plague in our study in the Exodus I want to remember, first
of all, the context of the promise as a whole. If you'll remember, Adam and Eve fell in the
garden and it was then that God promised to send a seed through the woman that would
redeem them and crush the head of the serpent. That promise resurfaces all throughout the
book of Genesis, and we see a great deal more of it in the story of Abraham who was called
out of an idolatrous land and promised a land of his own and descendants as numerous as
the stars of the sky.
Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob, and Jacob had twelve
sons who would be the fathers of the nation of Israel. During the course of time this family
came to reside in the land of Egypt, and there they stayed until they grew powerful, and the
Egyptians feared them and subjected them to slavery. 400 years passed, and the people
cried out to God until he finally sent a man named Moses to deliver them out and lead them
into the Promised Land.
Moses commanded freedom from Pharaoh, but God had supernaturally hardened his heart
so that he wouldnt listen: Who is Yahweh? he demanded to know, and why should I
obey him? (5:2) The answer comes from Yahweh himself in the form of ten plagues that

ye may know, says Yahweh, that there is none like me in all the earth (9:14). The Exodus
is a showdown between the God of the Hebrews and the gods of Egypt, and its a fulfillment
of the promise made to Abraham and his descendants.
Theres a second thing we need to remember before we get into this next plague, and that is
the spiritual significance behind the story. This is more than just a lesson in ancient
Israelite and Egyptian history; well read in the New Testament that these things are all
examples and shadows (Heb. 8:5) representing bigger and/or better truths. The
tabernacle, the sacrifices, and the priests all represent something in the New Covenant.
Even the nation of Israel itself foreshadows Gods people who are called out and brought
into a Promised Land.
These are those who are circumcised in their hearts and share in Abrahams faith. They are
the heirs of the promise, and when we read of the Exodus we have to see it from that New
Covenant perspective; its a model or a shadow of what God has done for us spiritually. He
sent a Savior better than Moses, freed us from spiritual bondage to a spiritual Pharaoh, and
promised us a spiritual city where he will dwell with us and wipe out all the effects of the
curse. The Exodus for us is a revelation of Christ and the gospel and is a source of hope and
comfort!
So far the water has turned to blood, frogs have invaded the land, lice and swarms of
insects have bitten and devoured the people, disease has killed the cattle, and the people
have broken out with boils. Despite all this, and despite the fact that Israel has suffered
none of it, Pharaoh refuses to comply, so the Lord promises hail for the next plague. This is
where we left off last time, and its where we pick back up again today:
17

As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as
hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 19Send therefore
now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and
beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall
come down upon them, and they shall die. 20He that feared the word of the LORD among
the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: 21And he
that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.
18

Pharaoh still refused to let the people go, so the Lord promises to send hail like Egypt has
never seen. Its interesting that he gives fair warning so that those who believe wont suffer
consequences, but its astounding that some still did not regard the word of the Lord! This
attitude persists today in those who see Gods glory in the heavens and yet deny his
existence; they would rather believe a lie than the truth, and this is the case with the
Egyptians.
22

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there
may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of
the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 23And Moses stretched forth his rod toward

heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground;
and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24So there was hail, and fire mingled
with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since
it became a nation. 25And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was
in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake
every tree of the field. 26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were,
was there no hail. 27And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto
them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28
Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail;
and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29And Moses said unto him, As soon as
I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder
shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the
earth is the LORDs. 30But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear
the LORD God. 31And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear,
and the flax was bolled. 32But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not
grown up. 33And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his
hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured
upon the earth. 34And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders
were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35And the
heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the
LORD had spoken by Moses.
During this plague there was hail, rain, and lightning that killed every man, beast, crop, and
tree in the Egyptian fields. Only the wheat and rye survived because they hadnt yet grown,
but theyre only reserved for the upcoming plague of locusts. When Pharaoh realizes his
error, he calls Moses back again, and Moses promises to pray, but he also indicates that this
wont be the end. He knows that Pharaoh and his servants are deceptive and unrepentant,
and he knows God isnt finished bringing Egypt to its knees. As predicted, Pharaoh fails to
make good on his promise, and that necessitates the next plague:
10:1

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart,
and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: 2And that
thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy sons son, what things I have wrought
in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I
am the LORD.
Once again Moses reveals the purpose of the Exodus and shows that its not an accident or
some failed attempt at evangelism. The task is not to change Pharaohs mind, but rather to
harden his heart and prove Yahwehs superiority over every Egyptian god and his ability to
save his people. This truth will be passed down throughout the generations so that Israel,
Egypt, and the whole world will know the answer to Pharaoh's original question: Who is
Yahweh that I should obey him?

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD
God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my
people go, that they may serve me. 4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to
morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: 5And they shall cover the face of the
earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that
which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree
which groweth for you out of the field: 6And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of
all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy
fathers fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day.
And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7And Pharaohs servants said unto
him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve
the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? 8And Moses and
Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD
your God: but who are they that shall go? 9And Moses said, We will go with our young
and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our
herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD. 10And he said unto them, Let
the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is
before you. 11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire.
And they were driven out from Pharaohs presence.

The next plague will be locusts which will eat and destroy everything that remains.
Pharaohs servants seem to finally show a little wisdom, but then they suggest that only the
men should be allowed to leave; in effect theyll hold the women and children hostage to
ensure that the men return. Pharaoh likes the idea and brings it up to Moses: Whos
going? Moses replies that everyone and everything will have to go, and then Pharaoh says,
The Lord really will have to be with you if youre going to pull that off. He claims theyre
up to no good and trying to change the deal. They originally (he says) asked for the men to
leave, and thats all theyre going to get; Moses and and Aaron are then shoved out the door.
12

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the
locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land,
even all that the hail hath left. 13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of
Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night;
and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14And the locust went up
over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were
they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
15
For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they
did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and
there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all
the land of Egypt. 16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I
have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17Now therefore forgive, I pray
thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from
me this death only. 18And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. 19And the
LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them
into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20But the LORD
hardened Pharaohs heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
When the locusts come everything is destroyed and Pharaoh is in such agony that he calls
for Moses and promises that this is the last time hell need to be forgiven (v. 17).
Nevertheless, we read in verse 20 that the Lord hardened his heart so that he was unable to
keep his promise, and after Moses prayed Pharaoh reverted to his previous position.
21

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may
be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22And Moses
stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land
of Egypt three days: 23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for
three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24And Pharaoh
called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds
be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25And Moses said, Thou must give us
also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26Our
cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we
take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD,
until we come thither. 27But the LORD hardened Pharaohs heart, and he would not let
them go. 28And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my

face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29And Moses said, Thou
hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.
The last plague before the Passover is continual darkness that can be felt. Its so dark that
no one can move about or conduct any business, and Pharaoh finally calls for Moses to
compromise: he and all the people can leave, but they must leave their animals. Moses,
however, rejects the bargain saying that theyll need animals for sacrifice, and they wont
know how many they need until they get there. Not even one can be left, and the Lord once
again hardens Pharaohs heart so that he angrily kicks Moses out of the court and promises
to kill him if he returns. Moses simply accepts the decree and leaves without curing the
darkness.
In one sentence we could say that these last plagues show us that God rules without
compromise and will redeem his people from slavery without leaving anything behind.
What a comfort for us in the New Covenant as we wait for his return!
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