What is the meaning of Exodus 9:20? Those among Pharaoh’s officials - The narrative zooms in on members of Pharaoh’s own court, the very people who have witnessed every plague so far. - Earlier plagues (Exodus 7:20–24; 8:6; 8:24) have shown them that Moses’ warnings come true, so they are now faced with a choice: persist in national stubbornness or personally respond. - Their position in the palace parallels later court insiders like Nebuchadnezzar’s advisers who eventually acknowledge God’s hand (Daniel 4:34–37). who feared the word of the LORD - “Feared” is not mere anxiety; it is reverent recognition that Yahweh’s spoken word is unfailing. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” and these officials are finally acting on that truth. - Unlike Pharaoh, who repeatedly hardens his heart (Exodus 9:12), these individuals allow conviction to move them. - Their fear echoes the Ninevites’ response to Jonah’s message generations later (Jonah 3:5), proving that even non-Israelites can respond rightly when God speaks. hurried to bring their servants - Genuine fear leads to swift obedience. Noah’s immediate building of the ark (Genesis 6:22) and Lot’s urgent departure from Sodom (Genesis 19:15–16) illustrate the same pattern. - By protecting their servants, the officials acknowledge human life as valuable—a truth grounded in Genesis 1:27 and later codified in the law (Exodus 21:20). - Their action contrasts with Pharaoh’s negligence, underscoring personal responsibility even within an ungodly system. and livestock - Livestock represented economic stability and daily sustenance; safeguarding them shows faith in God’s warning over any perceived loss of face before Pharaoh. - Earlier, the plague on livestock (Exodus 9:6) proved that Yahweh distinguishes between Egypt and His people, so these officials have tangible evidence that obedience protects resources. - Jesus affirms the principle of valuing what God values when He speaks of sparrows and the Father’s care (Matthew 10:29–31). to shelter - The specific command Moses delivered was, “Gather your livestock and all that you have in the field into shelters” (Exodus 9:19). Obedience required practical steps: move, gather, cover. - Physical refuge models the spiritual refuge believers find in God, echoed in Psalm 91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” - The result is preservation; when the hail falls, those who obey are spared (Exodus 9:26), foreshadowing the Passover protection in the next chapter. summary Exodus 9:20 illustrates that even within a rebellious nation, individuals can respond rightly to God’s word. Court officials who take Yahweh’s warning seriously act quickly and practically, protecting people and possessions. Their example confirms that reverent fear produces obedient faith, leading to deliverance, while stubborn pride invites judgment. |
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