What does Exodus 9:7 teach about God's power over creation? Setting the Scene “Pharaoh sent men to investigate, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel had died. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go.” (Exodus 9:7) Key Facts in the Verse • The plague has just struck every Egyptian herd (Exodus 9:6). • Pharaoh verifies the report personally. • Israel’s livestock is entirely untouched. • Pharaoh’s refusal to yield continues. God’s Sovereignty on Display • Total control: Life and death in the animal world respond instantly to His spoken word (cf. Genesis 1:24-25). • Selective precision: The distinction between Israelite and Egyptian herds shows God’s ability to govern creation with pinpoint accuracy (Exodus 8:22-23; 9:4). • Immediate compliance: Livestock—the most economically valuable portion of Egypt’s agrarian society—falls in a single day, underscoring that all creatures “are in His hand” (Job 12:10). Creation as God’s Servant • Psalm 50:10-11 reminds us that “every beast of the forest is Mine… the cattle on a thousand hills.” The plague proves that ownership. • Even natural processes (disease, death) become divine tools. God is not bound by the limits of biology; biology is bound by Him. • Luke 8:25 shows Christ commanding wind and waves; Exodus 9 shows the Father commanding livestock and disease—consistent, unified authority over every realm of creation. Purpose Behind the Plague • To confront Egypt’s gods: Egyptians worshiped deities linked to cattle (e.g., Hathor, Apis). By striking their herds, the LORD exposes idols as powerless (Exodus 12:12). • To confirm the covenant: God shields Israel’s animals, reaffirming His promise to make a clear distinction between His people and their oppressors (Exodus 6:7). • To call for repentance: Each plague escalates in intensity, giving Pharaoh repeated evidence of God’s unmatched power. His hardened heart, not inadequate proof, keeps him from submission. What Exodus 9:7 Teaches About God’s Power • God’s power is supreme: No aspect of creation—animate or inanimate—lies outside His immediate command. • God’s power is precise: He can protect and punish simultaneously, tailoring outcomes for different groups in the same environment. • God’s power is purposeful: Every act in creation serves His redemptive plan, whether in judgment or mercy. Living in Light of This Truth • Confidence: If the Creator commands the cattle, He certainly governs the details of our lives (Matthew 10:29-31). • Humility: Hardened hearts, not a lack of evidence, resist God. Pharaoh’s example warns against dismissing His clear works in creation (Romans 1:20-21). • Worship: Observing such mastery moves us to join the psalmist—“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6). |
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