We will begin this lesson in Exodus 9:17 "As yet exaltest thou
thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?" Exodus
9:18 "Behold, tomorrow 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."
We see, here, that Pharaoh thought too highly of himself, and God
was about to bring him down. We see, Pharaoh being told that he thought
he was better than these Hebrews (who are God's chosen). Pharaoh has
made himself ruler over them. There will be no playing around.
Within 24 hours, God was going to rain hail like they had never seen
before; there would be damaging hail to anything, or anyone, out in it.
This was not just ordinary hail, but would be more severe than Egypt had
ever witnessed.
Exodus 9:19 "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."
This was a grave warning from God. It seemed as though by now, many
would be listening and heeding these warnings. Everytime God had
spoken through Moses and Aaron, whatever they had vowed, happened.
God is truth. Pharaoh could not be trusted, because he did not tell
the truth. His word meant nothing. We will see in the next verse,
that some had begun to believe, and heed the warnings from God.
Exodus 9:20 "He that feared the word of the LORD among the
servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the
houses:"
We see from this, that some of Pharaoh's servants had seen the
wonders done with the rod that God had given Moses. They believed and
did just as they were warned to do. They stay in the house and brought
their animals in, too, to keep them from being killed by the hail.
Exodus 9:21 "And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left
his servants and his cattle in the field."
We can surely see, again, our society, today, in this. We who
are reading and heeding, the Word of the Lord are in the ark of safety
waiting to go to our promised land (heaven) with our Deliverer
(Jesus). Those who are not reading and heeding the Word of the Lord
are living worldly lives, much like these Egyptians. The day of
reckoning is here, just as the next 24 hours would bring these
careless Egyptians to death. The similarities are overwhelming.
Exodus 9:22 "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."
We can quickly see, that what God says He will do, He does. Also,
we must note the peculiarity of this hail. Regular hail is not
accompanied by fire. Many times, God is associated with fire; and, I
believe, that is the reason we see fire with this hail. It is to
prove to the Pharaoh, where it came from. Take note, one more time,
this was not Satan doing this. It was God.
Exodus 9:23 "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." Exodus 9:24
"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."
This, we see, was an exact happening of what God had promised. I
have made the statement, many times, that it is bad to be under attack
of the devil, but it is much worse to be under attack by God. There
is no where to go for help, when you have angered God to this terrible
point.
Exodus 9:25 "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."
You reap, what you sow. The Pharaoh had been very cruel to the
children of Israel without cause. God didn't overlook it. This was
partially in payment for his cruelty to them. In Revelation 8:7, we
read of this same hail mingled with fire. Rev. 8:7, "The first angel
sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they
were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up,
and all green grass was burnt up." Both the hail in Exodus and in
Revelation were punishment from God on evil men.
Exodus 9:26 "Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of
Israel [were], was there no hail."
You see, here, that God protected His own.
Exodus 9:27 "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."
The first step toward repentance and getting help from God, is to
admit you have sinned, and that the terrible things that are happening
to you, done by God, are justified, because of that sin. Here, it
appears for the moment, that Pharaoh truly wanted to repent and start
anew.
Exodus 9:28 "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."
Here, we see Pharaoh almost begging Moses to go, and talk with God
for him. You would think that he was sincere, as bad as this hail was.
It was obviously from God, because the Hebrews were not experiencing
this horrible hail. We must remember how evil Pharaoh was. It really
surprises me, that Moses believed him.
Exodus 9:29 "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." Exodus 9:30 "But as
for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD
God."
We see, here, that Moses and Aaron would leave the city, and, probably,
go into Goshen, where the other Hebrews were. The complaining of the
Hebrews had long since stopped. Probably, the one thing that
convinced them more than anything else, was because these last few
judgements had fallen on the Egyptians, and spared the Hebrews, who
lived in the same country. We see in the first part of verse 29, that
Moses prayed with his hands lifted in the sky. God loves for us to
praise Him as we pray. We know that the world, and everything in it,
belongs to God. In Revelation 4:11, we read that God created all
things, and that they were created for His pleasure. Revelation 4:11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were
created." We read another Scripture in Psalms 24:1, that makes us know
for sure that the earth, and everything in it, and on it, are God's.
Psalms 24:1 "{A Psalm of David.} The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the
fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Moses knew
in his heart, that even this hail had not really affected Pharaoh and
these people.
Exodus 9:31 "And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the
barley [was] in the ear, and the flax [was] bolled." Exodus 9:32 "But
the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up."
Verses 31 and 32 were describing the damage done to the fields.
The flax was used in clothing (making linen), and the barley was used
to make beer. So you see, these were not primary food sources. The
wheat and rye were food substances, and they were not really damaged.
Exodus 9:33 "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."
Moses did just as he promised, and God did just as He promised,
also. We see in the next verse, that Pharaoh (a symbol of evil) lied.
He did not do what he promised.
Exodus 9:34 "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." Exodus 9:35 "And the heart of Pharaoh was
hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD
had spoken by Moses."
We see, the actions of a very evil man. The instant the pressure
was removed from him and his people, he and the people went right back
into sin. This is the same thing in our world today. We see sin
everywhere getting worse every day. It is because we have an easy
life. I believe God allows wars, depressions, famines, earthquakes,
and other things that we have no control over, to happen to make us
aware of how badly we need Him. We will quickly see in the next
lesson, that God was not through with Pharaoh. God would do whatever
was necessary to make Pharaoh bow to His commands.
