Chapter 9

Fifth plague.  Livestock belonging to the Egyptians all die while the Israelites lose none at all.  God makes a distinction.  This is not a universal plague.  This did not impress Pharoah at all.  Note that there was nothing to be removed.  The animals were all dead.  The plague was completely fulfilled.  It was over.  So Pharoah never even considered yielding to this plague.  This plague also was brought by God.  No staffs, no hands involved.  God is doing it all now.

Boils.  First the water, then the land, then the livestock, and now the air.  The soot is thrown into the air by Moses.  See the progression? The soot becomes a dust that causes boils on everyone.  People cannot stand up because of the boils on their feet.  What a horrid mess.  And yet Pharoah does not break on this one either.

Next comes hail, but not without some introduction.  The hail burns during the plague.  Ice doesn't burn.  God is also in control of fire.  Water, earth, wind, fire.  God has covered them all.  We get some explanation here of why God is doing things this way.  God says he could have just killed them off, and wiped Egypt from the earth.  But that only gets rid of Egypt.  Here was God's reason for doing things this way:

16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. [Exo 9:16 ESV]

God is glorifying Himself by demonstrating his power over the mightiest nation on earth at that time.  He is showing His power over all that is.  Then God follows with this:

17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. [Exo 9:17 ESV]

To defy God, to ignore God, to try and keep doing things your way in the face of God's clear direction otherwise, is to exalt yourself, to "promote" yourself, to a position at least equal to God.  You are making yourself A god, equal with THE God.  This never works out well.

19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them."'" [Exo 9:19 ESV]

Who is this message for?  Weren't all the Egyptian animals dead already?  So does this mean the hail will fall on Goshen too and this part of the message is for Israel?  MSB has no comment here.  vs. 26 says Goshen was unaffected.  So either some time had passed since the previous plague, such that the Egyptians were at least starting up their flocks and herds again, or they had stolen some of the Israelites livestock.  Hard to know for sure on this one. 

2021 - This instruction is given to Pharoah himself.  Perhaps to show the extent of his stubbornness.  Even in this he refuses to obey God.  Obstinate, arrogant, and defiant in the face of overwhelming evidence.  Vs 20 tells us that some of the Egyptians heeded this warning and brought in their livestock and their servants.  Others did not.  The point here is that the tide is turning.  Pharoah is losing control of his people.  It is interesting that such huge burning hailstones could be stopped by houses and barns, yet that is what is implied.  The hail only fell on the open places apparently.  Again, Moses is told to stretch out his hand toward heaven to begin the hail.  But vs 29 says he stretched out that staff of his.  Thunder and hail and fire.  I don't recall ever hearing about this thunder before.  And I thought it was the hail that burned.  The wording in vs 23 makes them three separate things.  God sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth.  This verse explains further: 

24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. [Exo 9:24 ESV]  This was unprecedented, so we are given a little more information about it.  The way they did this fire in "The Ten Commandments" may have been pretty close...but they left out the thunder.  This hail was so big it broke down even the trees of Egypt.  Nothing was left standing.  Yet no hail fell in Goshen. 

Pharoah has now reached this point:

27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." [Exo 9:27-28 ESV]

Pharoah - for a moment at least - understands his place in relation to God.  He is wrong, God is right. 

Moses agrees to stop the hail, and says this is the reason:

29 Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD's. [Exo 9:29 ESV]

The earth is the Lord's.  Water, earth, air, and fire have all been used by God to accomplish His purposes.  All these belong to Him.  Only He has power over them.

Moses is not fooled this time though.  He knows Pharoah is dealing falsely. 

30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God." [Exo 9:30 ESV]

Pharoah is not the only one refusing to yield.  It is not Pharoah in defiance of all his people.  Some who serve Pharoah agree with his handling of things.  He is not the only one exalting himself. 

Pharoah recants again when the hail stops, and makes himself a liar for the third time.