Exo 9:13 | KingComments | STEP | The seventh plague is announced as the first of the last series of three plagues. Judgments increase in severity and intensity. Three times Moses has to stretch out his staff and thus let judgments come directly from heaven ( ; ). Moses has to go back to Pharaoh early in the morning to call him to let God’s people go. If Pharaoh does not listen, God will, He says, “send all My plagues on you”. He will do this by bringing down a very heavy hail. God reserves the hail for the day of wrath ( ). Instead of an invigorating, mild, blessing rain from heaven, as the land of Canaan knows it ( ), there is a falling down of hard, all-destroying hailstones. The same plague will strike the world in the end time ( ). God could have already wiped out Pharaoh because of his stubborn opposition. He does not do that, but let Pharaoh serve as a means by which the power of God becomes visible and His Name is proclaimed throughout the earth. Paul refers to what the LORD says here of Pharaoh to establish the sovereignty of God: “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth” ( ). He even says there that God “raised … up” Pharaoh for that purpose. Does that mean that God made him to be born for that purpose? No at all. ‘Raising up’ means that God has governed the history of Pharaoh’s life in such a way that Pharaoh shows what is in his heart toward God. It clearly is the history of rebellion against Him. It also appears that there is no inclination whatsoever to listen to the warnings He sends in the various plagues that affect the land.

‏ Exodus 9:13

Announcement of the Seventh Plague

The seventh plague is announced as the first of the last series of three plagues. Judgments increase in severity and intensity. Three times Moses has to stretch out his staff and thus let judgments come directly from heaven (Exo 9:22; Exo 10:12 ; 21).

Moses has to go back to Pharaoh early in the morning to call him to let God’s people go. If Pharaoh does not listen, God will, He says, “send all My plagues on you”. He will do this by bringing down a very heavy hail. God reserves the hail for the day of wrath (Job 38:22-23). Instead of an invigorating, mild, blessing rain from heaven, as the land of Canaan knows it (Deu 11:10-12), there is a falling down of hard, all-destroying hailstones. The same plague will strike the world in the end time (Rev 16:21).

God could have already wiped out Pharaoh because of his stubborn opposition. He does not do that, but let Pharaoh serve as a means by which the power of God becomes visible and His Name is proclaimed throughout the earth.

Paul refers to what the LORD says here of Pharaoh to establish the sovereignty of God: “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth” (Rom 9:17). He even says there that God “raised … up” Pharaoh for that purpose. Does that mean that God made him to be born for that purpose? No at all. ‘Raising up’ means that God has governed the history of Pharaoh’s life in such a way that Pharaoh shows what is in his heart toward God. It clearly is the history of rebellion against Him. It also appears that there is no inclination whatsoever to listen to the warnings He sends in the various plagues that affect the land.