The Plagues of Dead Animals & Boils
June 10, 2022
Commentary
Again Moses was Godâs spokesman to Pharaoh and he said, âThus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me (v. 1).â He warns the King that if he keeps refusing He will bring a terrible disease to his horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats (vv. 2-3). At the same time He will protect the people of Israel and none of theirs will die (v. 4). He says this will happen tomorrow (v. 5).
The next day it happened just as the Lord said it would (v. 6). This fifth plague of disease meant death to the cattle which was sacred to the Egyptians; Also death came to their other domesticated animals: horses, donkeys, camels, and goats. What an economic disaster this was for the Egyptians and what a horrible odor through the land. Pharaoh sent his servants to the land of Goshen to see what was happening there. Not one of their cattle died. Even though Pharaoh could see God taking care of the Israelites his heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go (v. 7).
One day the Lord told Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of ashes from a furnace and threw the ashes in the air before Pharaoh (v. 8). From these particles the sixth plague of boils will break out in sores on the people and animals (v. 9). Moses threw ashes into the air and immediately sores broke out on the Egyptians and their animals (v. 10). Even the magicians couldnât stand up to try their magic, because they were so sick with the boils (v. 11). Still Pharaohâs heart was hardened (v. 12).
Application
When I see how God protected His people during these plagues, Iâm reminded that He still knows how to make a difference between those who trust Him and those who ignore Him. Do I notice Godâs protection in my life, even during difficult times? When my plans fail or my resources weaken, will I still choose to trust Him?
Exodus 9:1–12 (NET)
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, âGo to Pharaoh and tell him, âThis is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has said, âRelease my people that they may serve me! 2 For if you refuse to release them and continue holding them, 3 then the hand of the Lord will surely bring a very terrible plague on your livestock in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. 4 But the Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and nothing will die of all that the Israelites have.âââ
5 The Lord set an appointed time, saying, âTomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.â 6 And the Lord did this on the next day; all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the Israelitesâ livestock not one died. 7 Pharaoh sent representatives to investigate, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of Israel had died. But Pharaohâs heart remained hard, and he did not release the people.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, âTake handfuls of soot from a furnace, and have Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh is watching. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and will cause boils to break out and fester on both people and animals in all the land of Egypt.â 10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh, Moses threw it into the air, and it caused festering boils to break out on both people and animals.
11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaohâs heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted to Moses.
The Way to The Crown is by The Cross
Every one that gets to the throne must put their foot upon the thorn. The way to the crown is by the cross. We must taste the fall, if we are to taste the glory. When justified by faith, God brought Israel through the Red Sea, He led them into the … Continue