Heeding God’s word (Exod 9:1-35)

When NZ first moved into lockdown, there were a lot of questions over what this meant in individual cases, what was allowed and what wasn’t. It took days of repeated communication, patient repetition of the principles before clarity was achieved and the details sank in for most. Admittedly, there were those who wilfully ignored the rules, but after a week or two no one could claim that they did not know what was required. For most of us, information needs to be heard and repeated more than once before it sinks in and this is true in the case of the plagues in Exodus.

I must admit that I find the repetition in the message the plagues communicate tedious after a while – there is little that we have not heard before. As plague gives way to more plague, the pattern we have seen in the cluster of the first three (see my post here) is repeated again. This is a device to help people in an oral culture discern and remember a story and its structure. Thus, the warning about the flies comes ‘in the morning’ (Exod 8:20), while no time indication is given for the next warning about disease (Exod 9:1-2) and the third plague of boils and sores comes without warning (Exod 9:8). Once again, the decision is Pharaoh’s: if he lets Israel go, he can avert disaster, but he chooses not to. So far, after every sign we read that Pharaoh’s determination was firm or strong,[1] and it is at this point that God takes an active hand in strengthening Pharaoh’s resolve (for a detailed reflection on Pharaoh’s hardening see my post here). Plague after plague, Pharaoh showed a callous disregard for his people’s suffering (Exod 7:23-24), he did not recognise his own wrongdoing but tried to escape the consequences (Exod 8:15) and bargain his way out of disaster (Exod 8:25). Moses discerns his deceit even as he prays to God for relief (Exod 8:29).

As we move into the final cluster of three plagues (plus one) starting in Exod 9:13, the story gets increasingly darker, the strikes on Egypt more severe. God has allowed Pharaoh and the Egyptians to survive because He wanted them to experience His power (Exod 9:15-16), but there is an indication that now the gloves are off. The Lord will break the arrogant and evil power of Pharaoh who has kept God’s people enslaved. Yet, even now, the option for change is there, if Pharaoh would only respond and let Israel go. Further, although hail is coming, God advises of action to save people and livestock (Exod 9:19) – an odd note in the midst of disciplinary action which is increasingly turning into judgement.

This is where we may note two distinct attitudes (Exod 9:20-21): those who fear (i.e. respect) God’s word and those who do not heed it (literally the Hebrew says ‘who did not set his heart [i.e. will, mind] to the word of the LORD’). In other words, God is still looking for faith and trust even among the Egyptians. Here is the gospel in a nutshell. Those who trust the truth of God’s word about the coming judgement and act on it will be saved, those who don’t will be destroyed. Pharaoh, once again, is in the latter camp. Despite his admission of sin after the hail (Exod 9:27), Moses recognises his true attitude (‘you do not yet fear the LORD God’ – v.30) even as he (Moses) is still willing to intercede for him.

For us too, the challenge remains. Do we trust the truth of God’s word? So often, Scripture teaches us about attitudes and ways of living that lead to death, but when the consequences are not seen immediately, we may not fully believe that things are as serious as God’s word makes them out to be. May His kindness lead us to repentance.

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[1] Exod 7:13, 22; Exod 8:15, 19, 32; Exod 9:7.