exodus 8 and 9

Read Exodus 8 and 9 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Exo 8:1-15 {s} The plague of frogs + magicians did also
Exo 8:16-19 {s} The plague of lice + magicians could not do also
Exo 8:20-32 {p} The plague of flies + no flies in Goshen
Exo 9:1-7 {p} The plague of pestilence on the cattle
Exo 9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils
Exo 9:13-21 {p} Warning re: the plague of hail
Exo 9:22-35 {p} The plague of hail

We have been seeing how the Hebrew paragraph divisions shed light on the plagues which came upon Egypt, and how God used them to teach Pharaoh and the Egyptians what “I am YHVH” means.

The opening of chapter 8 opens a new set of weak paragraphs, indicating a new strong theme:

Exo 8:1-15 {s} the second plague of frogs + magicians did also
Exo 8:16-19 {s} the third plague of lice + magicians could not do also
Exo 8:20-32 {p} the fourth plague of flies + no flies in Goshen

These three plagues have two things in common:

1) The inconvenience to Egypt increases, while no life is harmed, and
2) The glory to YHVH’s name increases incrementally.

God’s wonders are multiplying!

Notice that the first plague in this set, of frogs, Egypt’s magicians are able to duplicate. The next plague in this set, of lice, Egypt’s magicians are not able to duplicate. Glory increases to YHVH’s name as Egypt’s magicians add their witness that this sign was accomplished by the finger of God and is not possible by occult arts. For the third plague in this set, of flies, God sets Goshen apart and makes a distinction between His people and Pharaoh’s people.

It causes glory to increase to YHVH that He is able to strike a people. It causes even more glory to increase to YHVH that He is able to not strike a people. He did not strike His people, when the Egyptians were being struck. Even the devil can exercise power to harm. But only the LORD exercises power to prevent harm. Only the LORD exercises mercy! It is the exercise of His mercy that causes greater glory to increase to His name!

Next, a strong paragraph indicating a completed theme:

Exo 9:1-7 {p} The plague of pestilence on the cattle

This is the first plague where death occurs (other than the deaths of non- soul bearing animals such as fish, frogs, lice, or flies). But because of YHVH’s compassion and regard for life, no humans die.

Next:

Exo 9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils
Exo 9:13-21 {p} Warning re: the plague of hail

The next paragraph just makes no sense to human logic whatsoever. This is because God does not think like us humans, and He is trying to teach us HIS ways! Follow along to see the wonder of our glorious God displayed:

Exo 9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils – ends in a weak paragraph division indicating this topic will continue with the next paragraph.

Exo 9:13-21 {p} Warning concerning the plague of hail – ends in a strong paragraph division indicating the completion of the topic begun with the plague of boils. Huh? But the plague hasn’t even occurred yet, it has just been warned of!

That is precisely the point. Notice what YHVH says:

“For at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Exo 9:14-16

The plague of boils was a pestilence plague, just like the plague on the livestock – but it didn’t kill anyone (unlike the plague on the livestock which did kill livestock). By the plague of boils, God was showing that He was able to bring a pestilence on the people also. The plague of boils was a warning, just as Exo 9:13-21 was a warning. That is the commonality, that is why they are both together teaching the same strong theme.

Because with the next plague, the plague of hail, the potential for loss of life begins, so God is being very careful and very fair with those who do not know Him, to teach them incrementally that He accomplishes His word, and He is able to bring death if He chooses, but He chooses to warn everyone of what is coming so that no one dies needlessly or unfairly.

Next:

Exo 9:22-35 {p} The plague of hail

So then the paragraph containing the description of the plague of hail ends in a strong paragraph division as we would expect to find at the completion of a plague.

We find in the description of the plague of hail, something that we do not find in any of the description in any of the other plagues so far:

“He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.” Exo 9:20-21

God is teaching all who have ears to hear, to fear the word of the LORD, because He is gracious and compassionate, and exercises mercy even when He is judging the pride of Pharaoh and the idols of the Egyptians! ♥