Exodus 9

 Exodus 9 continues the saga of Pharaoh and Moses.  It is a showdown of God’s power unleashed through Moses and Pharaoh’s stubbornness to hang on to the people and his sinful lifestyle.  Moses lets go with the 5^th plague which is “severe disease” that kills all the livestock.  Then comes the plague of the boils.  This time the magicians weren’t exempt as “they were covered with boils just like everyone else”.  Number seven is the hail.  God caused it to hail to the point that “everything exposed in the open…..will die”.  That is some serious hail falling from the sky.  Of course there was “no hail in Goshen” where the Israelites lived.  So now we have seen seven different plagues result from Pharaoh’s response to God’s request delivered through Moses. 

 

Scripture tells us “Pharaoh stayed stubborn”…. “God hardened Pharaoh in his stubbornness”….. “Pharaoh’s heart turned rock-hard”.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  I sure am.  Pharaoh gets close to giving in until the pain stops and then he digs in his heals again.  He just won’t let go.  He is intent on hanging on to what he thinks he owns.  That is how sin works.  Scripture tells us that in spite of all the bad things that have happened – and in his case there is no question that the circumstances are directly related to his refusal to obey – “he kept right on sinning, stubborn as ever”.  When I read this section of scripture I ask my self how dumb can one guy be?  Once maybe, even a second time just to make sure the connection between disobedience and pain really exist, but c’mon, we are at plague number seven and he still doesn’t get it.  Sound like anyone else you know?  When I look in the mirror I see myself pretty clearly.  Far too often I don’t make the connection that disobedience brings results that are not what I want.  There is a connection – a very direct one.  When we disobey God – which is called SIN – we will pay a price.  Left as is that price is eternal separation from God.  Thankfully for us, God provided a way for us to pay the price of sin through the death of Jesus on the Cross.  But that only happens if we choose to make Him Savior and Lord of our life.  It isn’t some blanket coverage for anyone who breathes.  It is based on a personal relationship with the Savior upon recognition that our sin has separated us from God.  Pharaoh hasn’t connected the dots yet.  Have you?  If you have, are you helping others make that same discovery?  We all are stubborn and hard hearted.  Jesus is our only solution.  Don’t miss that!