What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Exodus 9:26? Verse at a Glance “Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.” (Exodus 9:26) God’s Undisputed Control Over Nature • The plague of hail obeys His voice (Exodus 9:23). • He turns judgment on and off at will (vv. 29, 33). • Psalm 135:6—“The LORD does whatever pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.” • Job 38–41 records His direct questions proving nature’s absolute submission to Him. His Sovereignty Includes Precision • Divine control is not random; it distinguishes Goshen from Egypt to the very boundary line. • Luke 12:7 reminds us that “even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” • Matthew 8:26–27 shows Jesus calming a specific storm at a precise moment. Selective Judgment and Mercy • Judgment falls on hardened Pharaoh, while mercy shelters Israel (Exodus 9:14–16, 26). • Romans 9:17 cites this episode to display God’s right to raise up nations for His purposes. • 2 Peter 2:9—“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the Day of Judgment.” The Covenant Faithfulness Behind His Sovereignty • Exodus 2:24—God “remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” guiding every plague. • Psalm 105:8–15 retells these events as proof that He keeps covenant “for a thousand generations.” • Revelation 7:3–4 reflects the same principle: His sealed servants are protected while wrath falls elsewhere. Implications for Us Today • No corner of creation lies outside His jurisdiction. • He can shield His people in the middle of catastrophe—physically, spiritually, or both. • Trust blossoms when we see His precision: if He can spare Goshen from hail, He can handle the details of our lives (Philippians 4:19). • His sovereign acts are purposeful: to reveal His name (Exodus 9:16) and invite repentance (Romans 2:4). |
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