What actions did those who "feared the word of the LORD" take? Setting the Scene Just before the seventh plague, Moses warns Pharaoh’s court that a devastating hailstorm is coming (Exodus 9:18-19). God’s mercy shines through the warning: anyone who believes can act in time to avoid the disaster. The Key Verse “Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter.” (Exodus 9:20) What They Actually Did • Listened attentively to God’s spoken warning through Moses • Believed that the threat was real and imminent • “Hurried” (acted immediately, without delay) • Gathered their household servants indoors • Led all remaining livestock into protective shelters • In short, they put faith into motion—obedient action that saved lives and property Why Their Response Matters • Fear of the LORD is shown by obedience, not mere acknowledgment (Proverbs 9:10; James 2:17) • Acting on God’s word brings protection and blessing, even in the midst of judgment (Psalm 34:7; Isaiah 66:2) • Their swift obedience contrasts sharply with Pharaoh’s continued hardness of heart (Exodus 9:27-28, 34-35) Timeless Takeaways • Genuine reverence for God’s word produces decisive, practical steps • Delayed obedience often equals disobedience; immediate action honors God’s timing • God always pairs warning with a way of escape for those who will trust Him (1 Corinthians 10:13) Related Scriptures That Echo the Pattern • Noah “did all that God commanded him” and entered the ark before the flood (Genesis 6:22; 7:5) • The Israelites who “painted the doorposts with blood” were spared the destroyer (Exodus 12:7, 13) • Rahab hid the spies and tied the scarlet cord, preserving her household (Joshua 2:17-21) • Jesus commends the wise man who “hears My words and acts on them” (Matthew 7:24) Those who feared the word of the LORD showed it by prompt, concrete obedience—and their obedience made all the difference. |
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