Lord over all the earth

Exodus 9

The Lord still sent Moses to Pharaoh to diplomatically ask him to let Israel go but he refused and faced the wrath of Almighty God. He showed them that He is God over Egypt, Pharaoh and all the earth. No man can stand Him when He fights against them. He fully unleashed the power of His wrath in three successive plagues against the wicked Pharaoh and his people. They refused to let the people of God go and they faced His wrath.

What can we learn?

#1. Lord over properties. (Exodus 9:1-7)

The fifth plague the Lord unleashed on Pharaoh and the Egyptians that lead to death of animals was livestock diseases – a severe pestilence. He told Pharaoh to let the people go or face the plague. He refused and God brought loss of widespread livestock in the land but exempted that of Israel. God can punish the wicked and leave the righteous. He can inflict punishment on children of disobedience. Pharaoh wanted to challenge God and He showed him that He is more powerful than him and his gods. He is God over everything we claim as our properties that maintain our lives and systems.

#2. Lord over human lives. (Exodus 9:8-12)

The sixth plague God released on Pharaoh and Egypt was to turn ashes to fine dust and then make them boil on human beings and beast. The boils became sores and obviously caused the death of people in the land. The magicians of Pharaoh could not stand Moses because they were affected by the boils and sores. Pharaoh still hardened his heart after this catastrophic plague. The wicked do not repent, they merely go back to their deeds after a little remorse. The point here is that God Almighty has power over dust to turn it to become boils and sores on people’s lives. He can take animal lives and people’s lives as well. He can selectively punish people who are wicked towards Him.

#3. Lord over hails and fire. (Exodus 9:13-35)

The seventh plague that God visited on Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their disobedience was to rain hail and fire on the land. It attacked the beasts and herbs in the field. It was so serious that the Bible says it had never been seen in the land of Egypt from its founding. Pharaoh saw the unusual level of the plague and concluded that he and his servants have been wicked towards God. He deceptively asked Moses to plead for the end of the calamity but didn’t repent. God is able to rain hail and fire to destroy the wicked like He did in Sodom and Gomorrah without touching His own people. It was selective judgment towards the wicked of Egypt. God has control over life and death, health and illness and so on. Those who rise against Him are punished for their deeds.

In Exodus 9:14, God declared that He did what He did to show them that there is no God like Him. He wanted them to know who He was. But even in His justice, He showed mercy by always giving them grace periods to repent. No one can take His place and glory. He is indeed God of all the earth.

Take Action: Praise Him that He is God alone and no one is like Him in all the earth.