How does Psalm 105:32 connect to God's judgments in Exodus? Psalm 105:32 – “He Gave Them Hail for Rain” “He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning throughout their land.” Where Psalm 105 Meets Exodus • Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, rehearsing the Lord’s literal acts in Israel’s past. • Verse 32 zooms in on the seventh plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:18-26). • The psalmist links worship to memory: by recalling the hail, he calls God’s people to trust the same God who judged Egypt and rescued Israel. Reading the Original Scene (Exodus 9:22-26) • “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt…’” • “Verse 23: …the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth.” • “Verse 26: Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.” The Psalm’s single verse is a concise echo of this entire episode. What the Hail Showed About God’s Judgments • Supernatural Precision – The storm strikes Egypt everywhere except Goshen, proving the plague is divine, not natural. • Retribution for Defiance – Pharaoh’s hard heart (Exodus 9:17) invites a judgment fitting his stubbornness: heaven itself turns hostile. • Reversal of Blessing – Rain, normally life-giving, becomes destructive hail; God controls every element. • Escalating Severity – Earlier plagues harmed comfort; this one endangers life (Exodus 9:19). Psalm 105 highlights the mounting pressure God applied until liberation was secured. Why the Psalmist Highlights the Seventh Plague • Visibility – Hail mixed with “fiery lightning” (Psalm 105:32) is vivid, unforgettable. • Covenant Demonstration – By sparing Israel, God displays His covenant faithfulness (Genesis 15:13-14). • Foreshadowing Judgment & Salvation – The same storm that punishes Egypt protects Israel—a pattern fulfilled ultimately at the cross (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Broader Pattern in Psalm 105 (vv. 26-36) 1️⃣ Moses & Aaron sent (v.26) 2️⃣ Plagues summarized (vv.27-36) • Darkness (v.28) • Water to blood (v.29) • Frogs (v.30) • Insects (v.31) • Hail & lightning (v.32) ← our verse • Locusts (v.34) • Firstborn death (v.36) The psalm packages the ten plagues as a single, cohesive testimony to God’s power and justice. Key Takeaways for Today • God’s judgments in Exodus were literal, historical, and purposeful; Psalm 105 treats them exactly that way. • Remembering past judgments fuels present faith—what God did, He can do. • The same God who wielded hail to break Pharaoh’s pride now offers mercy through Christ; ignoring that mercy invites judgment just as real (John 3:36; Hebrews 10:31). |
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