What happens in the plague of boils in this passage?

In this passage, God tells Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of ashes from a furnace. Moses stands before Pharaoh and throws the ashes toward heaven. God makes the ashes spread like fine dust over Egypt and it turns into painful boils on people and animals. The sores are so bad that even Pharaoh’s magicians cannot stand before Moses because they are covered in boils. This plague shows God’s power, the shame of Egypt’s magic, and that God can turn the pain Egypt caused Israel back on their own heads.

Why did God use ashes from the furnace to start this plague?

God chose ashes from the furnace to make a clear point. The Israelites had been forced to hard labor, including work with furnaces and kilns, which pictured their suffering under Egypt. Now God takes that same image and turns it into judgment. The ashes thrown toward heaven become dust and then boils across the land. It is like God saying, "You burned and oppressed my people, now that very picture will return on you." It shows that God sees the wrong done and can answer it in His own way and time.

What does it mean that the magicians could not stand before Moses?

Earlier, the magicians tried to copy some of the signs, but here they are completely broken. They are covered in boils themselves and cannot even stand in Moses’ presence. This shows their power is empty compared to God. Their arts cannot remove the boils, stop the plague, or protect them. People who once looked impressive are now helpless in front of God’s servant. It is a picture of how all false spiritual power falls flat when God chooses to act, and how those who serve lies end up shamed by the very things they trusted in.

What does it mean that the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart here?

The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is both God’s judgment and Pharaoh’s own choice. Pharaoh has already refused many clear warnings and signs. Here we read that the Lord hardens his heart, which shows that when a person keeps pushing back against God’s light, God may give them over to that stubbornness. This is called a kind of judicial hardening. It is not God turning a soft, willing man into a rebel, but God confirming a rebel in his path so that His justice and power are shown. It is a sober warning not to play with stubborn unbelief.

What does God mean by sending all His plagues upon Pharaoh’s heart?

When God says He will send all His plagues upon Pharaoh’s heart, He is saying the blows will not only touch his land, animals, and people, but will press on his inner life and conscience. The point is that Pharaoh will know, deep inside, that he is wrong and that God is right. God’s purpose is that Pharaoh and his servants see there is none like the Lord in all the earth. These judgments are meant to uncover the pride, ingratitude, and malice in Pharaoh’s heart, so that he cannot escape the knowledge that he has fought against the true God.

What does “for this cause have I raised thee up” mean in this passage?

The phrase “for this cause have I raised thee up” means that God allowed Pharaoh to stand in power at this moment in history so that God’s own power and name would be shown through what happens to him. Pharaoh’s strength, his throne, and even his stubbornness become the backdrop on which God displays His might. God is not saying Pharaoh is a puppet without responsibility, but that Pharaoh’s rule fits into God’s larger plan. Through Pharaoh’s fall, God’s name and power are talked about far beyond Egypt, so people everywhere hear that the Lord alone is God.

What does this passage teach about God’s character and power?

This passage shows that God is patient but also holy and firm. He has sent repeated warnings and still tells Pharaoh again to let His people go so they may serve Him. At the same time, He makes clear there is none like Him in all the earth. He controls nature, people, rulers, and even the downfall of proud powers. He remembers the suffering of His people and answers it. He exposes empty spiritual claims, like those of the magicians. Above all, He shows that His purpose to save His people will stand, no matter how strong human resistance looks.

Why does God keep sending messages to Pharaoh even as his heart is hard?

God’s repeated messages show both mercy and justice. On one side, He could have cut Pharaoh off at once, but instead He speaks again and again, giving chances to humble himself and obey. The words “let my people go, that they may serve me” come more than once, showing God still calls for a change of heart. On the other side, each new warning, if refused, adds to Pharaoh’s guilt and shows the fairness of God’s final judgment. It reminds us that God is patient and slow to anger, but that ongoing pride will not stop His plan.

How does Pharaoh exalt himself against God’s people in this section?

God says, “As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?” Pharaoh lifts himself up by acting as if he owns Israel and can ignore God’s clear command. He treats God’s people as his slaves, not God’s servants. His pride is not only against people; it is really pride against God. He sets his will against God’s word and clings to control instead of bowing. This shows that how someone treats God’s people and God’s commands reveals what is in the heart, whether humble obedience or stubborn self-exaltation.

How can this passage about boils and hardening speak to us today?

This passage warns us not to take lightly the times when God shows us our sin or calls us to turn. Pharaoh saw clear signs and still refused. The more he pushed back, the harder his heart became. Today, when God uses His word, our conscience, or hard events to wake us up, we should not brush it off. It also reminds us that no other power, whether spiritual tricks, status, or human wisdom, can stand against God. The safe place is not in resisting Him, but in humbling ourselves, admitting our wrong, and trusting His mercy.

Exod.9.8

Exodus 9:8

KJV GOD

¶ 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.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

¶ 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.

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.

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.

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

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

¶ 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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