Exodus 9 Explained: The Plagues of Livestock, Boils, and Hail — and Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart
In Exodus chapter 9, three more plagues from God affect Egypt. Three more times, the Pharaoh hardens his heart and does not free the Jewish people.
We are right in the middle of the ten plagues that God put on Egypt through Moses, and sometimes his brother Aaron. This group of plagues is killing the livestock of the Egyptians, causing all human beings and living things in Egypt to break out in boils, and a great hailstorm (with fire). Do you think Pharaoh will ever relent?
Exodus Chapter 9 Summary
In Exodus chapter 9 there are three more plagues that affect Egypt. Three more times, the intransigent Pharaoh refuses to let the Jewish people go.
The first of these plagues is the death of the Egyptian livestock that were in the field. Egypt was heavily reliant on livestock, and this was devastating. Of note, the livestock of the Jewish people was unaffected.
The second plague is a gross one. All living things in Egypt, including all humans, break out in boils. God advances this plague by instructing Moses and Aaron to take soot from the Pharaoh’s kiln. Moses throws it into the air in front of Pharaoh, and the Egyptians break out in boils. Nevertheless, the Pharaoh hardens his heart and refuses to let the Jewish slaves go.
The third and final plague in Chapter 9 of the book of Exodus is a great hailstorm in Egypt. God instructs Moses to go out the next morning and raise his walking stick toward Heaven. Moses did this, and there was a hailstorm the likes of which had never been seen in Egypt since it became a nation. The hail was accompanied by fire and was so bad that many things in Egypt were destroyed. Still, the Pharaoh did not let the Jewish slaves go. He hardened his heart again.
Devotionals and Expression of Faith
Moses shows great faith by being an instrument for God to perform these miracles. The Pharaoh, in continuing to refuse to let the so-called sons of Israel go, does no faith at all. The fact that we are told he hardens his heart or that God hardens his heart has meaning for us.
Contemporary Meaning
Sometimes we are told Pharaoh hardens his heart, and sometimes we are told God hardens his heart. What does this mean to us? This question comes up often when reading the book of Exodus. It does not mean God took away the Pharaoh’s free will.
An analogy is wax and clay in the sun. Wax melts in the sun, and clay hardens. The Pharaoh’s heart is like clay; it is hardened in the presence of the Lord. God is demonstrating his power and that he is on the side of Israel. Yet, the Pharaoh remains obstinate. We need to be careful to never let our hearts harden to the Lord. This is very difficult, and we need to continually pray.
Frequently Asked Questions
This reading is from Exodus chapter 9. Exodus is the second book of the Bible. In this passage, God puts, through Moses, more plagues on Egypt, and Pharaoh hardens his heart three times and refuses to let the Jewish slaves go. The fact that the Pharaoh hardens his heart has contemporary meaning for us.
Parting Shots
Another chapter of Exodus, this one chapter 9, and three more plagues befall Egypt. This time, God kills all the livestock in Egypt, then he affects all living things in Egypt with boils. Finally. He rains down a great hailstorm on Egypt. Each time the Pharaoh hardens his heart and refuses to free the Jewish slaves. We need to guard against hardening our hearts to the word of God. That is the contemporary meaning of this chapter in the book of Exodus.
Disclaimer: This article contains a summary of Exodus as well as interpretive insights from the author. Interpretations of biblical texts can differ, and this piece represents one approach to understanding the passage.
