What is the meaning of Exodus 9:32? But • The verse opens with a contrast that links back to Exodus 9:31, where the flax and barley were ruined by the devastating hail. This little word signals that God’s judgment, though fierce, was also measured (cf. Exodus 9:4; Psalm 103:10). • By inserting “but,” Scripture shows that the LORD’s sovereignty includes both destruction and preservation, underscoring His purposeful control over every detail (cf. Job 37:11-13). the wheat and the spelt • Wheat was Israel’s staple grain for bread (Genesis 30:14; Deuteronomy 8:8). Spelt, a hardy cousin of wheat, served as a backup crop when conditions were harsh (Isaiah 28:25). • Mentioning both highlights God’s ongoing provision: even in judgment, He leaves what is essential for sustenance, echoing His promise never to wipe out His covenant people (Leviticus 26:44; Romans 11:5). were not destroyed • The hailstorm “struck down everything in the field” (Exodus 9:25), yet these two crops “were not destroyed.” This selective damage demonstrates that the LORD can differentiate between what is touched by His wrath and what is shielded (cf. Exodus 8:22; 9:4). • It also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance of Israel from Egypt—divine discipline against the oppressor, mercy toward the oppressed (Psalm 78:48-49, 52). because they are late crops • Wheat and spelt mature later in the season, so their heads were still green and pliable; the hail could beat them down without shattering them. God’s timing in the plague coincided with each plant’s stage of growth (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). • This natural detail reinforces the literal reliability of Scripture and reveals the LORD’s intimate knowledge of creation (Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:7). • Practically, the spared crops offered Egypt a chance to repent and prepare (2 Peter 3:9), while providing Israel with food when the Exodus began (Exodus 12:34-36). summary Exodus 9:32 teaches that God’s judgments are never random: He strikes decisively yet mercifully, preserving what His people will need. The spared wheat and spelt prove His sovereign precision, His care for daily bread, and His faithful commitment to keep a remnant even amid wrath. |
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