Chapter 12: Livestock, Boils, and Hail

Exodus 9

Q1 - How were plague number three (gnats) and plague number six (boils) similar?

A1 - Both the plague of the gnats and the plague of the boils involved small particles being dispersed through the air. With the gnats (number three), Aaron took his staff and struck the ground, causing the dust to become gnats which came upon both people and animals (see Exodus 8:16–19). With the boils (number six), Moses tossed handfuls of soot from a furnace into the air, which became like fine dust that caused boils on people and animals alike (see Exodus 9:8–12).

Also, these two plagues were inflicted without warning to Pharaoh and without him being given the option to avoid them if he chose to let the Israelites go. The upcoming plague of darkness throughout the land (number nine) also occurred without warning, at least not that is recorded in scripture (see Exodus 10:21–23).

Q2 - Before the onset of plague number seven, the hail storm, God reveals to Pharaoh His purpose for Pharaoh’s life with this powerful discourse: “‘By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth’” (Exodus 9:15–16 NLT).

Do you think Pharaoh really believed this statement from God? How do you think being told this affected Pharaoh’s future decisions?

A2 - The Egyptian culture believed in multiple gods which possessed various powers, so it’s possible that Pharaoh could have believed this message which Moses delivered from God. Being the ego driven person that he was, however, he continued to strive against God. He held such power as the ruler of Egypt that he refused to back down from the threats presented by the God of these slaves.

During the plague of the hail storm, Pharaoh did seem to finally have a bit of a change of heart. In Exodus 9:27–30, he stated he had sinned and that he and his people were in the wrong. Moses told him the thunder and hail would cease so that Pharaoh would know the earth is the Lord’s, but Moses remained unconvinced of his sincerity. As he left, he said in Exodus 9:30 (NIV) , “‘But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God.’” Indeed, as soon as the hail storm ceased, he and his officials again hardened their hearts. Pharaoh sinned again by going back on his word and refused to let the Israelites go (see Exodus 9:33–35).

Plague nine, the plague of darkness, was not announced to Pharaoh ahead of time, as most of the others had been (except for three and six as discussed earlier). This time, after all that had happened, Pharaoh knew exactly whom to summon. However, even knowing by this point in time all that he did about God, he still stubbornly refused to allow the Israelites and all their animals to leave. Perhaps he felt he could not afford to lose face and back down, or perhaps he was trying to match wits with God.

Q3 - In the above mentioned scripture, God told Pharaoh He could have already killed Pharaoh and his people but He chose not to. Turn this statement around for a moment and think from Pharaoh’s perspective. Pharaoh was one of the most powerful rulers in the world with great resources at his disposal. Why did he continue to tolerate Moses and Aaron, these Hebrew slaves, standing before him, often ruining his morning routine, and making their outrageous demands? Why did he not order them executed immediately?

A3 - God had a hand in how Pharaoh treated Moses and Aaron. Back in Exodus 6:28–30 when Moses tried to make the excuse that he spoke with faltering lips, he asked God why would Pharaoh listen to him. God replied to Moses in Exodus 7:1 (NIV), “‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.’”

Pharaoh could also have been fearful of an uprising among the slaves. They were so numerous and physically strong that they could have become a threat to his authority if he provoked them by executing their leaders.