What does the preservation of crops in Exodus 9:32 teach about God's sovereignty? Setting the Scene “‘But the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed, because they ripen later.’ ” (Exodus 9:32) Quick Recap of the Seventh Plague • Hail devastated Egypt—people, livestock, flax, and barley (Exodus 9:22-31). • Yet two crops, wheat and spelt, stood untouched. Their later growing season placed them outside hail’s window of destruction. What We Notice Right Away • Timing matters to God; He rules over seasons. • Judgment is precise rather than reckless. • Mercy is interwoven with judgment—there is still food in the field. Lessons on God’s Sovereignty 1. Selective Control – God doesn’t unleash random chaos; He targets exactly what He wills. – Psalm 147:16-18 shows the same pattern: He “sends His word” and weather obeys. 2. Total Authority Over Nature – Job 38:22-30 portrays the Lord stocking snow and hail as tools. – The spared wheat reminds us that every kernel’s fate lies in His hand (Matthew 10:29-30). 3. Purposeful Sequence of Events – The untouched wheat sets the stage for the next plague of locusts (Exodus 10:5)—proof that God choreographs each act to magnify His power incrementally. – Daniel 4:35 underscores that none can stay His hand or ask, “What are You doing?” 4. Blended Judgment and Mercy – Egypt’s food supply is bruised but not yet broken; the Sovereign balances justice with space for repentance (Romans 2:4). – Psalm 104:14 credits Him with “bringing forth food from the earth,” revealing His ongoing generosity even amid discipline. 5. Exposure of False Security – Egyptians trusted agricultural cycles and fertility deities. God’s split-second preservation of wheat unmasks those idols, demonstrating that prosperity rests on His decree alone (Psalm 115:3-8). Why It Matters Today • Seasons, economies, and personal circumstances remain under the same governing hand. • When life feels pelted by hail, the Lord still reserves “wheat and spelt”—tokens of hope He has scheduled beyond current hardship (Joel 2:25). • Obedience thrives when we grasp that every detail—from storm clouds to ripening grain—answers to His sovereign word. |
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