How does the plague of boils connect to God's covenant with Israel? The scene: plague of boils (Exodus 9:10–11) “ So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it toward heaven, and it became festering boils on man and beast. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.” A covenant promise of judgment fulfilled • Genesis 15:13-14—God promised Abram, “I will judge the nation they serve.” Boils are part of that judgment. • Genesis 12:3—“I will curse those who curse you.” Egypt’s abuse of Israel is met with a curse that reaches even the palace magicians. • Each plague escalates the pressure on Pharaoh, proving the LORD keeps His word to liberate His covenant people. Distinction between covenant people and oppressors • Earlier plagues already made a separation (Exodus 8:22; 9:4). Scripture never mentions boils touching Israel in Goshen. • The plague therefore serves as a visible marker of God’s favor toward His chosen nation and His wrath upon their enemy. Echoes of covenant blessings and curses • Deuteronomy 28:27—“The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt…” Boils later become a warning to Israel: obey and be spared, rebel and suffer. • What Egypt experiences in Exodus becomes the yardstick for covenant curses pronounced at Sinai. • The episode teaches that the same LORD who wounds Egypt can also wound His own people if they break covenant. Foreshadowing Sinai’s health promises • Exodus 15:26—“I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians.” • Deuteronomy 7:15—“The LORD will remove from you all sickness.” • The plague of boils previews the health protection wrapped into Israel’s covenant life when they walk in obedience. Confronting Egypt’s healing gods • Egyptian deities like Sekhmet (goddess of healing) and Imhotep (patron of medicine) are exposed as powerless. • The living God alone controls disease, underscoring His exclusive claim on Israel’s worship and loyalty. Covenant lessons drawn from the boils • God keeps covenant promises with perfect accuracy—both mercy and judgment arrive right on schedule. • Physical affliction becomes a pedagogical tool: Egyptians learn who the LORD is; Israel learns whom to fear and trust. • The boils anticipate future covenant structure—blessings for obedience, plagues for rebellion—later spelled out at Sinai. Summary connection The plague of boils is not a random disaster; it is a targeted covenant statement. By striking Egypt and shielding Israel, God fulfills His ancient oath to Abraham, marks Israel as His own, exposes false gods, and previews the health-related blessings and curses that will dominate the Sinai covenant. In short, the boils plague turns covenant theory into covenant reality on the Egyptian stage. |
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