What can we learn about God's judgment from Exodus 9:6? Verse at a Glance “And the next day the LORD did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.” – Exodus 9:6 God’s Judgment Is Certain • The previous verse contained God’s warning; verse 6 shows immediate follow-through. • Scripture often highlights this reliability: “Has He said, and will He not do it?” – Numbers 23:19. • We can trust every promise of justice He makes, whether of blessing or of wrath. God’s Judgment Is Selective • Egypt loses every animal; Israel loses none. • This pattern recurs: “I will set apart the land of Goshen… no swarms of flies will be there” – Exodus 8:22; “the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” – Exodus 11:7. • He never confuses the righteous with the wicked (Genesis 18:25). God’s Judgment Is Measured and Purposeful • Not every living thing is struck—only the livestock that represented Egypt’s wealth and false security. • The plague fits the sin; Egypt revered bull-gods like Apis, so their idols are exposed as powerless (Exodus 12:12). • “Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” – Galatians 6:7. God’s Judgment Vindicates His People • Israel’s untouched herds prove God’s protective covenant (Exodus 6:7). • The same pattern appears later at the Red Sea: judgment for Egypt, deliverance for Israel (Exodus 14:26-29). • Believers today rest in Christ, who “rescues us from the coming wrath” – 1 Thessalonians 1:10. God’s Judgment Invites Repentance Before It Falls • Pharaoh had already received warnings and opportunities (Exodus 9:1-5). • Nahum 1:3 reminds us: “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished”. • Delay is mercy; fulfillment is inevitable if mercy is refused. Takeaways for Today • God keeps His word—every time, in full. • He knows how to separate the faithful from the rebellious. • His judgments target idols we trust instead of Him. • Mercy precedes judgment, but judgment surely comes. • Those in covenant with Him can face the future with peace, not fear. |
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