Exodus 9:6 states, “So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.” This verse indicates that the fifth plague on Egypt destroyed all of the livestock in that country.
Yet Exodus 9:20–25 has livestock in Egypt being protected in houses from the seventh plague. How could Egyptian livestock be protected if it had all been killed earlier in the chapter?
There are two possible explanations for the apparent contradiction.
First, Exodus 9:3 states, “Behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.”
A careful examination of the above verse reveals that God actually clarified which of the Egyptian livestock would perish.
“Behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field.
God limited the pestilence to those “in the field”. Undoubtedly, many horses, oxen, etc., would have been in the stalls and thus escaped death, including Pharaoh’s warhorses (Ref: Exodus 14:6-7).
Secondly, the Bible does not reveal how much time passed between the fifth plague and the seventh plague. Following the fifth plague, which wiped out the livestock of Egypt, the Egyptians may have taken some of the livestock belonging to Israel. After all, the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians.
Another possibility is that they bought (or took) livestock from surrounding areas (Libya, Ethiopia, Canaan, etc.). The first option would require very little time to complete, while the second would probably require at least a few weeks. But since the Bible does not specify how much time passed, either is possible.
Confession: In the name of Jesus, no magician, no witch or wizard will be able to stand before me and my ministry all the days of my life. (Exodus 9:11)
God’s Judgement
Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die. He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:18-21)
Even in God’s judgement, there is mercy, for He is indeed The God of Mercy.
The Lord told everyone that indeed the judgement was coming. However, he also instructed how the servants of Pharaoh and the cattle could escape the judgement. Those who recognized and obeyed the Word of the Lord were spared - others suffered. They had only themselves to blame for their loss.
From this, we learn one principle - the Lord always announces his judgement. Secondly, he also tells us the way out of the judgement. Only then does judgement come.
Fear of the LORD
Then he who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses and shelters.
And he who ignored the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:20-21)
The Fear of the LORD is seen by your response to the Word of God.
If you really walk in fear of the LORD, the response to the Word of God will be immediate and passionate.
Ignoring the Word of God or even a delayed response declares one does not really fear the LORD.
False Repentance
And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” (Exodus 9:27-28)
Pharaoh acknowledges his and his peoples sin and asks Moses to intercede for God’s mercy. However, even though he and his people know their sinful state, he does not repent.
Merely saying or acknowledging your sin does not please the Lord, there must be a genuine repentance a turning away from those things to the Lord. The Pharaoh said that he would let the Israelites go, but he did not do so.
First, repentance is not penance. Penance is the voluntary suffering of punishment for sin and does not necessarily involve a change of character or conduct.
Second, repentance is not remorse. Judas was remorseful over his sin of betrayal of the Son of God, but his shallow regret led to suicide instead of to God because remorse is not true repentance.
Repentance carries with it the idea of changing–changing your mind, changing your attitude, changing your ways.
The Bible says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
A Hardened Heart
All sin begins in the heart. Lord Jesus taught, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). We tend to look at the outward man, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
Exodus 9:34 says, “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.”
Pharaoh and his servants sinned against the Lord by exalting self, refusing to fear and regard God’s word spoken through His servants Moses and Aaron. Thus they hardened their hearts.
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40