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

When God says He raised up Pharaoh, it means He allowed Pharaoh to come to power and remain in power so that His own power and name would be seen clearly through what happened to Egypt. God could have wiped Pharaoh out much earlier, but instead He used Pharaoh’s stubborn pride as a backdrop to show His control over kings, over nature, and over whole nations. This does not excuse Pharaoh’s sin. Pharaoh is still responsible for his hard heart, but God’s purpose moves forward even through that rebellion.

Why did God send a hailstorm instead of some other judgment in this passage?

The hailstorm showed God’s rule over the weather in a very direct way. It came at a set time, was unlike anything Egypt had seen, and struck only those left in the open fields while sparing Goshen. God even warned Pharaoh ahead of time to bring people and animals inside. So this plague was both judgment and mercy. It destroyed crops, trees, and unprotected life, but it also gave a chance to listen, obey, and be spared by taking His warning seriously.

Why did some of Pharaoh’s servants fear the word of the LORD and others ignore it?

When Moses warned about the coming hail, some of Pharaoh’s servants believed the warning enough to act. They brought their servants and cattle inside and were kept safe. Others ignored the word and left their people and animals in the field, and they died. This shows how people can hear the same message and respond in very different ways. It also shows that even in a time of judgment, God’s word gives a real way of escape to those who respond with humble fear and simple obedience.

What does Pharaoh mean when he says, “I have sinned this time”?

When Pharaoh says, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked,” he is admitting that God is right to send the hail and that he has been wrong. But his words come from fear of the storm, not from a truly changed heart. As soon as the thunder, hail, and rain stop, he goes back to his old ways and hardens his heart again. This shows that a person can say the right things and still not truly turn to God in repentance.

How does Moses act as an intercessor in this passage?

Moses acts as an intercessor when he agrees to pray for Pharaoh even after Pharaoh has been stubborn. Moses leaves the city, lifts up his hands to the LORD, and the thunder, hail, and rain stop. He is not just asking for himself but for the very king who keeps refusing to obey God. This shows a heart that cares about others, even enemies, and it also shows that God listens when His servant prays, bringing relief in response to that prayer.

What does this passage teach about God’s judgment and mercy together?

In this passage, judgment and mercy are side by side. God sends a severe plague of hail that kills and destroys, showing that He takes sin and pride seriously. At the same time, He gives a clear warning, a set time, and a simple command to bring people and animals inside. Those who listen are spared. He also stops the storm when Moses prays. So God is not harsh for its own sake. He judges, but He also gives chances to turn, be protected, and see that He alone is God.

Why did Pharaoh’s heart harden again after the hail stopped?

When the storm is raging, Pharaoh feels the weight of God’s power and begs for it to end. But once the danger is past and the rain, hail, and thunder cease, he quickly forgets his fear. He sins even more and hardens his heart, and his servants follow him. This shows how a heart that only fears punishment, without truly loving or fearing God, will often go right back to its old ways. Trouble alone cannot change the heart. Real change comes when a person truly bows to God.

What is the significance of Goshen having no hail while the rest of Egypt was struck?

The land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was spared from the hail. While Egypt’s fields, trees, people, and animals were crushed, Goshen was untouched. This clear difference highlights God’s power to judge and protect at the same time. It shows that He can single out His people for mercy even while others are facing disaster. This protection points to God’s care for His people and makes it even more clear that the plague was from Him and not just a natural storm.

Exod.9.13

Exodus 9:13

King James Version (KJV)

¶ 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.

Chapter:

Context:

The Seventh Plague: Hail

¶ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

¶ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

¶ 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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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