exodus 9-10

The repeating phrase that continues to stand out is, that it shall be known “that I am YHVH.”

Last time we saw God begin revealing His nature of YHVH, not only in the exercising of power, but in the exercising of restraint in order to save life. The first sign of the rod becoming a serpent, had no negative impact on Egypt at all. The next sign, of the river becoming blood, increased inconvenience to Egypt, but did not threaten life.

The three plagues which God put together in a single strong paragraph in Exo chapter 8, 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 had said He will multiply His wonders in Egypt.

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 not 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. Do you see what Scripture is teaching us? Even the devil can exercise power to harm. But only YHVH exercises mercy. It is the exercise of His mercy that causes greater glory to increase to His name!

Now the sixth plague of pestilence on cattle, 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. This paragraph in God’s paragraph divisions, ends as we would expect, with a {p} indicating the completion of a topic.

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 in the same strong paragraph.

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.

So we find in the description of this plague, 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!

For further study: There are multiple overlapping chiastic structures in these chapters describing the plagues. Can you find any of them? What are the central axis’ that the Scripture is putting neon flashing lights around? How is God’s name and nature of YHVH revealed by these?

Finding Messiah:

“So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days.” Exo 10:22-23

Three is a sign of Messiah in Scripture, and this is the clue that Scripture gives us that this passage contains a prophecy, teaching, or instruction concerning Messiah. It is in fact a prophecy of the burial of Messiah, who would not rise from His place for three days.

For further reading:
Did Anthrax plague the Egyptians? (Assoc. for Biblical Research)

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