Exodus 9: The Plagues Intensify

Key Verse: Exodus 9:16"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."

The plagues are not just punishments; they are revelations. With each judgment, God is showing both Pharaoh and the world who He is. Egypt’s false gods are powerless, Pharaoh’s authority is crumbling, and the Lord alone reigns.

The next wave of plagues strikes at the heart of Egypt’s strength—its livestock, its health, and its land.

First, a deadly plague sweeps through the livestock. Cattle, donkeys, camels, sheep—all fall to disease. Yet once again, Goshen is untouched. The Israelites’ animals remain healthy, proving that this is not a natural disaster but a direct act of God.

Still, Pharaoh hardens his heart.

Next, boils break out on the Egyptians and their animals. This time, even Pharaoh’s magicians are affected. The same men who once mimicked God’s miracles can now do nothing but suffer. They cannot stand before Moses. But Pharaoh refuses to yield.

Then, the heavens unleash something Egypt has never seen before—a storm of fire and hail. Egypt, a land of sun and desert, is now being torn apart by violent weather. Crops are destroyed. Trees are shattered. Yet, once again, Goshen is spared.

Pharaoh, desperate, calls for Moses: “I have sinned. The Lord is right, and I am wrong. Please, pray for the hail to stop.”

For a moment, it seems like Pharaoh is changing. He acknowledges his sin. He asks for help. But once the hail stops, his heart hardens again.

This is not true repentance—it’s regret. Regret seeks relief; repentance seeks transformation. Pharaoh wants the plagues to stop, but he doesn’t want to surrender to God.

How often do we do the same? When life is hard, we cry out to God. But when things get better, we go back to our old ways.

God is patient, but He will not be ignored. Pharaoh thinks he is in control, but God’s purpose is clear: His name will be proclaimed in all the earth. Nothing can stop what God has planned.

The question is, will we recognize His power and submit to Him now? Or will we, like Pharaoh, wait until it’s too late?