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Pharaoh had already received more than enough signs that he needed to listen to God’s command. But God now gave Pharaoh an even clearer message about the meaning of judgment. In one day, all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but animals among the Israelites were not touched (4). This caused great economic damage to Egypt, and they were beginning to see that the wages of sin is death. But Pharaoh still hardened his heart.
The sixth plague afflicted the people of Egypt most personally, as festering boils broke out on them. The works of judgment through Moses and Aaron had now so far surpassed the works of the Egyptian magicians that they could no longer even stand before Moses (11).
The increasing severity of the plagues actually shows God’s patience. God’s judgment often does not come all at once, but with multiple smaller and then bigger warnings. Pharaoh was aware of everything that was happening, but still he hardened his heart (7). May God grant us an open heart and open spiritual eyes to see when God wants us to make a change. Then judgment will turn into blessing.
Jan 16, 2026
PLAGUES OF DEATH AND DISEASE
Passage: Exodus 9:1-12
Key verse: 7
NIV
chapter 9
1. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ’This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me."
2. If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back,
3. the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field - on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.
4. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’"
5. The LORD set a time and said, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land."
6. And the next day the LORD did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.
7. Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.
8. Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.
9. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."
10. So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals.
11. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.
12. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, thank you for how you lead me to repentance, warning me about the effects of my sin. Help me to open my heart and eyes and see your way of repentance.
One Word: God is patiently leading to repentance