{"id":41038,"date":"2018-09-27T09:13:32","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T06:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=41038"},"modified":"2022-04-26T08:53:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T05:53:07","slug":"exodus-9-and-now-will-he-let-the-people-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/exodus-9-and-now-will-he-let-the-people-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Exodus 9: And now? Will he let the people go?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Murrain. Boils. Hail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Murrain<\/b> (9:1-9 \u2013 cattle disease). An epidemic hits all the Egyptians’ sheep and cattle. Despite the contagious nature of this plague, it makes a distinction… “and all of the Egyptians’ cattle died, but not one of the Israelites’ cattle died” (9:6). Pharaoh found this so hard to believe that he sent messengers to check (9:7). And still – “And Pharaoh hardened his heart and he did not let the people go” (9:7).<\/span><\/p>\n

Boils <\/b>(9:8-11). A horrible skin disease that ravages man and beast alike – “<\/span>And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils” (9:11). And still Pharaoh doesn’t give in (9:12).<\/span><\/p>\n

Hail<\/b> (9:13-35). The seventh plague, and the most impressive in this chapter (note the number of verses it takes to describe it!) “And there was hail, and fire igniting within the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation” (9:24). In this plague we meet the silent majority of Egypt for the first time. This time the Egyptians, (innocent or not), were given a choice to suffer or not: “Those who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and cattle flee into the houses; and those who disregarded the word of the Lord left their servants and cattle in the field<\/span>” (9:20-21). Does this plague bring about the desired change? In V. 27 Pharaoh gives a heartfelt speech of contrition: “<\/span>I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones” – which is forgotten the minute the plague has passed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Points to ponder:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Spot the differences<\/b>. We’ve been through seven plagues and if you want to delve deeper you can spot the differences: Who performs each plague and how? When is there a warning before the plague and when isn’t there one? What does Pharaoh do (or not do) to make the plague cease?<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Timing<\/strong>. What’s the difference between a miracle and a natural phenomenon? It’s a question of timing. See in Verse 5 how important the timing is (for those who remember the plague of frogs).<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Discrimination<\/b>. Discrimination is part of the miracle. The fact that the Egyptians are harmed while their neighbors the Israelites go unharmed shows that there’s a guiding hand involved, and in whose favor.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Moses is dubious<\/b>. At the end of the plague of hail, Pharaoh declares his faith – “the Lord is the righteous one” – but Moses doesn’t buy it. “<\/span>But as for you and your servants, I know that you still don’t fear the Lord God” (9:30).<\/span><\/p>\n

5. <\/span>Nature Feature<\/b>. In the middle of the miraculous drama is a testimony (which sounds something like a poem) to the nature of the various crops which determined how each crop was affected: “And the flax and the barley were smitten for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bloom. But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten for they ripen late” (9:31-32).<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":86314,"id":86314,"title":"Points to ponder","filename":"Points-to-ponder.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-psalm-84\/points-to-ponder\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"points-to-ponder","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":86166,"date":"2021-01-09 20:56:58","modified":"2023-12-28 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