What is the main message of this passage about the plagues on Egypt?

This passage shows that God rules over kings, nature, and nations. He tells Pharaoh to let His people go so they can serve Him, and when Pharaoh refuses, God sends plagues on Egypt’s cattle, bodies, and crops. At the same time, God protects Israel and often warns before He judges, giving space to listen and turn. Pharaoh’s repeated hardening of heart, even after seeing clear signs and admitting he has sinned, warns us about stubborn pride. God’s power is shown so His name will be known in all the earth.

Why did God strike the cattle and then send boils and hail on Egypt?

The plagues come in a growing order. First, God hits the Egyptians’ wealth and food by sending disease on their cattle in the field, while Israel’s cattle are kept safe. When Pharaoh still refuses, God moves closer and brings boils on people and animals, touching their own bodies. Later, He sends a fierce hailstorm that kills those left in the fields and destroys crops and trees. This steady increase shows that when lighter warnings are ignored, heavier blows can follow. It also shows God rules every part of creation, from animals to weather.

What does it mean that God raised up Pharaoh to show His power and name?

When God says He raised Pharaoh up, it means He allowed Pharaoh to stand in power and keep his throne so that, through him, God’s strength would be clearly seen. Pharaoh’s stubborn pride becomes the dark backdrop against which God’s acts shine more clearly. By the plagues and by Israel’s rescue, people in many lands would hear what God had done and know there is no one like Him on all the earth. This does not excuse Pharaoh, because he still chooses to resist, but it shows that even human rebellion cannot stop God’s purposes.

How does this passage show a difference between Israel and Egypt?

Again and again, God makes a clear line between His people and their oppressors. The disease on the cattle hits Egypt’s herds while the animals of Israel are spared. Later, the hail ruins the fields of Egypt but does not fall in the land where Israel lives. Even within Egypt, those who fear God’s word bring their animals inside and are kept safe, while those who ignore the warning lose them. This distinction shows both God’s care for His people and that listening to His word brings real protection, even in times of judgment.

Why does God harden Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh also harden his own heart?

This story shows both God’s rule and Pharaoh’s real choice. At times it says Pharaoh hardened his heart, meaning he stubbornly refused to bow to what he clearly saw. At other times it says God hardened his heart, meaning God gave him over to the path he had chosen and used it to fulfill His plan. God is not unfair, since Pharaoh is never eager to obey; he only wants the plagues to stop. This passage has been read in more than one way, but it clearly warns that continued refusal to listen to God can lead to deeper hardness.

What is the meaning of Pharaoh saying, “I have sinned, the LORD is righteous”?

When the hail becomes too much, Pharaoh calls Moses and Aaron and admits, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.” His words sound right, but they are only for the moment. He wants the thunder and hail to stop, not a changed heart. Once the storm ends, he goes back to his old ways and hardens his heart again. This shows that saying the right words is not the same as real repentance. True turning to God shows itself in lasting obedience, not just in speeches during a crisis.

Why were the magicians unable to stand before Moses during the plague of boils?

In earlier plagues, Egypt’s magicians tried to copy God’s signs or explain them away. With the boils, they are struck like everyone else and cannot even stand before Moses because the sores are on their own bodies. This shows how limited their power really is. Their secret arts can’t protect them from the true God. It is a picture of how human wisdom and spiritual tricks fall short when God acts. The one who seemed weak, Moses, stands firm because he is sent by God, while the people who trusted in magic are left helpless and ashamed.

How did God show both judgment and mercy in the hail plague?

Before the hail falls, God clearly warns Pharaoh and tells him to send and gather his cattle and servants from the fields. Anyone, even among Pharaoh’s servants, who fears God’s word and brings them inside is spared. Those who ignore the warning lose people, animals, and crops. So the hail is sharp judgment on pride and stubbornness, but there is mercy built in through the warning and the simple way of escape. God is not harsh for its own sake; He makes His power known, yet still calls people to listen and be spared.

What does this passage teach about how we should respond to God’s warnings today?

This passage shows that hearing God’s warnings is not enough; the response matters. Some of Pharaoh’s servants fear the word of the LORD and act on it, and they are kept safe. Others shrug it off and suffer loss. Pharaoh himself often promises to obey when he is under pressure but goes back to rebellion when things calm down. For us, this is a call not to delay or offer empty words, but to listen humbly and change course when God speaks through Scripture or circumstances. Real faith shows in trust and obedience, not in temporary feelings.

Exod.9.1

Exodus 9:1

KJV GOD

Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

The Fifth Plague: Livestock

1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

4 And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.

5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.

6 And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

8 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

18 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.

19 Send 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.

20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:

21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.

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.

23 And 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.

24 So 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.

25 And 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.

26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

27 ¶ And 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.

29 And 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 Lord’S.

30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.

31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

33 And 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.

34 And 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.

35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Cross References

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