EXODUS CHAPTER NINE ------------------- Verses 1-7, The fifth plague is described. This plague was directed at the possessions of the Egyptians. Again God put a difference between the Egyptians and His people, so that the Israelites possessions were not touched. In verse 7 Pharaoh sent someone to see if the Israelites' cattle were touched and they were not. But again this only hardened Pharaoh's heart. The fourth and fifth plague were preceded by warnings to Pharaoh (see verse 1 and verse 21 of the previous chapter). Pink says that these beasts were beasts of burden, their servants, that which they did work with, which represented their works which will be burned up and not accepted. Compare: Pr 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin. However the works that come forth from the new man will be accepted. This may also point to the fact that the lost will have nothing for all eternity, and the redeemed will possess all that their Father owns, and the scripture tells us that He owns the cattle upon a thousand hills and yea all the beasts of the forest are His (Ps 50:10). Verses 8-12, The sixth plague is described. There is no warning given to Pharaoh before this plague, marking the last of the second group of three. Not "a furnace" but "the furnace." Pink says that the companion Bible says that this furnace was one of the altars where human sacrifices were offered unto their god Typhon. Perhaps they had offered sacrifice to turn the plaques. If this is true then this shows that the religious efforts of men only bring about further torment. They are but works of iniquity. Compare: Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Israel was delivered from the "iron furnace" (see Deut 4:20). Verses 13-17, Moses is to give Pharaoh another warning before the seventh plague comes. The plaques would cause Pharaoh to know that there was none like the Jehovah God of the Hebrews. Pharaoh thought that he was king and had things under his control and that he would determine whether the Hebrews would do this or that. But he is informed in verse 16 that the Jehovah God of the Hebrews had raised him up to come to this very end; that the LORD might get glory out of his revolt and his destruction. If Pharaoh would have never resisted then God would not have had to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage with a mighty hand as He did. Verse 16 is quoted by Paul in the book of Romans when he was dealing with God's divine election. Ro 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore... What Paul was getting at by quoting this scripture was God's Sovereign hand in showing mercy to the ones He had elected beforehand. Again Paul says in verse 22 these words: "[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:" This particular Pharaoh was obviously a vessel of wrath raised up to resist God that God might get glory out of him in delivering the Hebrews from his oppressive hand. In the Star Wars films a lot was said about destiny from the evil characters, but this evil character had his destiny in the Red Sea. It was Pharaoh's destiny (an end which God had set) to perish in the Red Sea along with his army and his chariots. If this is hard to believe listen to: Ex 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. What happened next? God closed the Red Sea upon them and they all perished. He even caused the wheels to come off their chariots that they would be caught in the midst of the sea and then commanded Moses in verse 26 of chapter 14, "Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." Paul raised the question in verse 14 of chapter 9 that he knew would enter the minds of his readers upon his dealing with the doctrine of predestination and election, "What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God?" He answers immediately, "God forbid!" He then uses the example of Pharaoh as proof of the very thing. Listen: Pr 16:4 The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Most people would read this backwards, that God made the day of evil for the wicked, but it says that He made the wicked for the day of evil. It is not that God made man wicked; for He made man upright and it was man that sought out evil devices. The verse does not say that God made them wicked but that he made the wicked. The wicked are getting what they deserve and God will get glory out of them by judging them in righteous judgement, just as He did Pharaoh. He uses the wicked just as He used Pharaoh and raised his evil heart up to do what he did. Not that He made Pharaoh's heart evil but rather raised his evil heart up. These men God had determined before the world began, to not have mercy on them and let them perish in THEIR sin. God always has His hand in the action where the sin is, but never in the sin where the action is! Verses 18-35, The seventh plague is described. It is the beginning of the third series of three. Pink points out that the three plagues which follow all point to heaven as their place of origin. The rod is also back in the scene in these last plagues. The last three plagues point more to natural state: that is the impurities within, etc.; as Isaiah said, "From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." (Isa 1:6). They are caused more by man himself, as a result of man's sin, though God's hand may be seen in governing them. But these last plagues are the direct hand of God against a rebellious people. They are akin to the great tribulation period which shall come upon all the world. Notice the severity of this plague in verse 18, "very grievous hail". We also see the words, "such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now." We see similar words in describing the great tribulation period, Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Da 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Mt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Mr 13:19 For [in] those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. Notice the elements of this plague. Hail and fire (or perhaps electricity as in an intense electrical storm) running along the ground. We see a similarity in the great tribulation period: Re 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Re 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. 1a) a talent of silver weighed about 100 pounds 1b) a talent of gold, 200 pounds Notice the scope of this plague. It was throughout the land of Egypt (vs 22) except for the land of Goshen (vs 26). The great tribulation period shall be throughout the world, but Israel will be saved out of it. The book of Revelation says that this tribulation period is "The hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev 3:10). Pharaoh had "fox-hole religion." See vs (27-28, 34-35), When things are going bad he wants to repent, but when they are going good again, he is back to his same old ways. The change must come upon the inside as the result of a divine force from without.