How does Psalm 78:47 connect with God's sovereignty in Exodus 9:25? The scene in Exodus 9:25 • “Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field—both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.” (Exodus 9:25) • This is the seventh plague. • God expressly tells Pharaoh beforehand that He alone will unleash the hail (Exodus 9:14). • The judgment is total: people, animals, crops, and trees—all are affected exactly as Yahweh said. The echo in Psalm 78:47 • “He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-fig trees with sleet.” (Psalm 78:47) • Psalm 78 is a historical psalm recounting Israel’s past so that future generations “set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:7). • Verse 47 recalls the hail of the seventh plague, emphasizing the same agricultural ruin. Key connections • Same agent: “He” in both passages—God Himself, not nature, chance, or Egypt’s idols. • Same instrument: hail. The psalmist even adds “sleet,” underscoring the piercing, icy judgment. • Same targets: vines, sycamore-figs, trees, and other vegetation—vital sources of food and commerce. • Same purpose: to display the LORD’s unmatched power so that His name is made known (Exodus 9:14,16; Psalm 78:6-7). God’s sovereignty highlighted • Absolute control over the weather – Job 38:22-23 shows God storing hail “for the day of battle.” – In Exodus 9, He commands hail at a precise hour (v. 18). • Sovereign timing – Each plague escalates on God’s timetable (Exodus 7–11). – Psalm 78 weaves those timed acts into a single narrative of faithfulness. • Sovereign purpose – Judgment on Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). – Preservation of His covenant people; Israel’s land of Goshen is spared (Exodus 9:26). – Instruction for later generations (Psalm 78:5-8). What it means for us • The same God who shattered Egypt’s trees can shelter His people’s crops (Malachi 3:11). • Weather, economies, and empires remain under His hand (Isaiah 40:23-24). • Remembering His past acts fuels present trust and obedience (Psalm 78:7-8; 1 Corinthians 10:11). |
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