Topical Encyclopedia The Plague of Hail is one of the ten plagues that God inflicted upon Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus. This particular plague is the seventh in the series and serves as a demonstration of God's power and judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian deities. The narrative is found in Exodus 9:13-35.Context and Purpose The plagues were a divine response to Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites from bondage. Each plague targeted specific aspects of Egyptian life and their pantheon of gods, demonstrating the superiority of Yahweh, the God of Israel. The Plague of Hail specifically challenged the Egyptian sky deities, such as Nut, the sky goddess, and Set, the storm god. Description of the Plague In Exodus 9:13-14, the Lord instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh early in the morning with a message: "Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth." The plague is described as unprecedented in its severity, with God warning Pharaoh of the impending disaster. Moses, following God's command, stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashing down to the earth. The hail struck throughout the land of Egypt, devastating crops and livestock, as recorded in Exodus 9:23-25: "So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. The hail fell and lightning continued flashing through it. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation." Impact on Egypt The plague had catastrophic effects on the Egyptian economy and agriculture. The hail destroyed flax and barley crops, which were significant to the Egyptian economy, as noted in Exodus 9:31-32: "Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops." This selective destruction further demonstrated God's control over nature and His ability to protect His people, as the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was spared from the devastation (Exodus 9:26). Pharaoh's Response Pharaoh's reaction to the plague is one of temporary contrition. He summoned Moses and Aaron, admitting his sin and asking them to pray to the Lord to stop the hail, as seen in Exodus 9:27-28: "Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. 'This time I have sinned,' he said to them. 'The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.'" However, once the storm ceased, Pharaoh's heart was hardened again, and he reneged on his promise to release the Israelites, as stated in Exodus 9:34-35: "When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his officials. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses." Theological Significance The Plague of Hail serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to protect and deliver His people. It underscores the futility of resisting God's will and the consequences of hardening one's heart against Him. The narrative also highlights the theme of divine judgment and mercy, as God provides opportunities for repentance and deliverance, even amidst judgment. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 9:18-29Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. Nave's Topical Index Psalm 78:48 Psalm 105:32 Library On his Father'S Silence, Because of the Plague of Hail. The Rod that Troubled Egypt. The Plagues of Egypt Concerning the Ten Plagues which came Upon the Egyptians. On Psalm Lxxvii. Or Lxxviii. On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles The Cost of Being Cruel and Stubborn Moses, the Mighty Intercessor the Legendary History of Egypt Questions on the Explanations Resources What are prayer beads? Is it okay to use beads while praying? | GotQuestions.orgAre apparitions of Mary, such as Lady Fatima, true messages from God? | GotQuestions.org What does diadem mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Hail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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