One God, Two peoples, Grace and Judgment

Introduction and Background

Beginning with the fifth plague we see a dramatic escalation in the striking of Egypt. The signs up to now have caused great headache and inconvenience. The death of fish would have been particularly troubling. One thing that has gone mostly untouched was life, excluding the fish and frogs. The LORD has held back from hitting Egyptian livestock and people. This starts to change with these next set of plagues. Such escalation should not surprise us. While the LORD has stretched out His hand, I argue that He has been merciful. He has not poured the fulness of His wrath upon. The LORD Himself says as much in . Yet Pharaoh has continued to resist the command of the LORD. He has been stubborn and twice, according to prior passages, strengthened has resolve to keep Israel enslaved. A greater pouring out of the wrath of God is a just response to this.

Exposition

Verses 1 - 4: The LORD is still gracious to Pharaoh despite his rebellion. Moses is sent to demand Israel’s release and describe the consequence for refusal. It is the same message. The purpose of my people is not to worship you. It is to worship and enjoy me. I am their God, not you, release them to me. What changes each time is the consequence. In this case it is a comprehensive strike the livestock of Egypt. Given the importance and value of cattle in ANE societies this would be a significant blow. As one commentator put it: "Such a plague would have had grave economic consequences in the land of Egypt. Oxen were depended upon for heavy labor in agriculture. Camels, asses and horses were used largely for transportation. Cattle not only provided milk but were very much an integral part of worship in the land of Egypt. The economic losses on this occasion must have affected Pharaoh greatly because he kept large numbers of cattle under his control." [1] Another commentator notes: “This suggests that the plagues gradually increased in their severity. Not only was the fifth plague the first to bring death, but it was also the first to destroy Pharaoh's personal property.”[2] This is a true plague in the sense of sickness and death and its impact is sweeping. We must note the description of the plague as very severe. The Hebrew used for severe is the same word use to describe Pharaoh’s heavy heart.[3] Pharaoh’s extreme stubbornness was to receive an extreme response. Again a distinction is going to be made between Israel and Egypt. The people of God will suffer no loss even as His enemies will lose greatly.

Mackay, J. L. (2001). Exodus (p. 165). Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor.Again a distinction is going to be made between Israel and Egypt. Even if the cattle were mixed somehow only Egypt’s cattle would pay the price.

It is here that I want to spread the most of our remaining time, on this distinction between the two nations. The LORD is making a distinction between two types of people, Those who belong to Him and those who don’t. This is important. It bears direct relevance to the heart of the gospel. From a biblical perspective there are two types of people: those who belong to God and those who don’t. In our text here it is made plain that the Hebrews are God’s people and the Egyptians are not. From a NT perspective there are also two types of people, indeed only two: Those who are in Adam and those who are in Christ. This is not to ignore the delineation made between various ethnicities. It is to say that only these two categories have eternal circumstances. What is this difference and why are these distinction made? The answer is grace.

Let me back up a minute a clarify one thing. There is a sense in which all people belong to God and are subject to Him. Paul tells all things are by and for Him () The apostle John makes this more direct in . God is the creator of all the universe and is owed the allegiance of all creation. The Westminister Larger Catechism begins by asking what is the chief and highest aim of man? The answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. speaks of Cyrus as God’s vessel to do His will concerning Israel. In short, God is sovereign over all men and can use them for His purposes (,). As we have and will see, God sovereignty extends to the human heart. Even our sin, for which we will be rightly judged without Christ, brings about his plan. The most we can safely and biblically say all men enjoy a Creator and creature relationship. This was not the extent of the relationship between and Israel and God, nor is it the relationship between God and His Church.

Returning to Israel and God’s grace, Israel is God’s people because God choose them before he existed. His choice goes back to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The LORD chose Abram back in and this choice was based solely on God’s prerogative. It had nothing to do with Abram. God’s choice of Isaac over Ishmael was not based on Isaac or Ishmael. It was based on God’s promise of what He was going to do for Abraham. God’s choice of Jacob over Esau was again God’s prerogative. Their actions, good or bad, had nothing to do with it. Indeed as we reviewed the great failure of these men, even as they are honored in the hall of faith. The same is true of Israel. The last reference we have to Israel is in where we are told they refused to listen to the comforting words of Moses from the Lord because of their circumstances. Based on , we can conclude that some of the Israelites had practiced the Egyptian religion. In short, the Israelites were not deserving of being God’s people. Yet he decreed that they would be set aside and not suffer the same fate of the Egyptians. This was based on who He was, His nature and promises to their fathers concerning His plan for this world. This was grace in the Old Testament. It was the same grace in the New Testament.

In Paul lays out the case for the universal sinfulness of man, Jew and Gentile. In Paul makes the point that men by default suppress the truth they know thru nature, that God exists and He is worthy of obedience and worship. It is not sufficient to know the way of salvation but to make us guilty. The point is we don’t give God his due and are worthy of judgment. Indeed, we are dead in our trespasses and sin () and children on wrath. Yet in the fulness of time, Christ dead for the ungodly (). It was solely and completely grace, undeserved grace ().

There is a distinction made because God choose Israel, back in Abram, to be His people and a light for Him to the gentiles. It was his right and prerogative and scripture tells us that no one could question or had the right we can many demand upon Him. This is most explicit in again in . This is a distinction today because God choose before the foundation of the world (). Rather than questioning, we must always be grateful because he didn’t have to choose any of us.

Let’s turn to the issue of judgment. The fact that God makes a distinction between peoples, choosing some and not others doesn’t absolve any man of responsibility. All men are commanded to repent (). We have seen this over and over in our text. God repeatedly commanded Pharaoh to repent. He has extended and will continue to extend grace and mercy to Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s refusal is his choice and so are the consequences. The judgments that have and will continue to come upon Egypt are due to his disobedience and willful rebellion. Let the hearer understand. The judgment we receive, we rightly deserve. To quote the late R.C. Sproul: some receive grace, others justice, but no one injustice. Amen.

One last point needs to be made and that is this: Herein is a source of confidence and encouragement for evangelism. Those who trust in the LORD will see His salvation and rejoice. Those who belong to the LORD are kept by Him and suffer no ultimate loss. They have an eternal receive reward coming. Those who oppose the LORD will see His judgment and dread. Those who are not His are lost and will lose what matters most, their soul. They will ultimately be damned. Whose side are you on?

Verses 5 - 7: Pharaoh again ignores the warning and the hand of the LORD will devastate the livestock of Egypt. So there can be no mistake concerning this being the hand of God, The LORD gives the exact time this will begin. No natural phenomena currently taking place could be offered as a counter explanation. Again we can’t forget the symbolism. Several gods are shown to be impotent:

the bull-gods: Apis, Mnevis, Ptah, and Bakis

Apis, Mnevis, Ptah, and Bakis

the cow-god: Hathor

the ram-god: Khnum

the calf-god: Ra

the jackal-headed god: Anubis[4]

One caveat we must make is not to read this as all the livestock being destroyed. The reason is there is livestock mentioned both in the next and the final plague. How do Christians who believe in the inerrancy of scripture address this seeming contradiction. There are two possible explanations. The first is that the livestock in the field died but the livestock in the barns did not. The second option is more semantic. The Hebrew translated all can mean, of every kind or functioning to describe an extremely large #. In this case the quantity of cattle destroyed is so large that the few which remain seem like nothing. Israel on the other hand suffers no loss. Unlike the last time, Pharaoh sent someone to investigate the livestock of Israel. One could ask why he didn’t do so the last time. My response would be Pharaoh probably couldn’t think that clearly given the swarms that he is dealing with. The more important question is how should Pharaoh have responded? He should have fallen on his face. He should have been silenced at the word of the LORD through Moses coming true exactly as described. He should have marvelled at this God whom could make such distinction. He should have humbled himself. He didn’t give any of these responses. He saw the reality of the God of the Hebrews but it didn’t penetrate his heart. He acted as if it didn’t matter. On what a fool is man is.

Verse 12: As a result of Pharaoh’s repeated refusal, the LORD gives Pharaoh over to his hardness of heart. The LORD strengthens Pharaoh in his obstinacy. Since Pharoah won’t obey, he will continue to disobey, ensuring God’s judgment. One might accuse God of unfairness at this point. Such complaints are not valid. Until now it has been Pharaoh who has steadfastly resisted God and lied to His servants. Pharaoh has refused to humble himself. He spurned and trampled upon the mercy of God. He has seen God’s power yet refused to acknowledge the only rational conclusion. He can no longer claim ignorance of Yahweh or His power. He simply refuses to respond correctly. The prosper reward for this is God’s judgment. This was Paul’s message in . He tells the Romans that continued suppression of the truth leads to the giving over to sin (,,). This is exactly what has happened here. It is what the LORD told Moses He would do. He would later tell the Thessalonians that those who hate the truth will be caused to love a lie ().

Practical Applications

There are some important truths that to be gleaned from this passage and the ones prior concerning the plagues. First, the reality of God can’t be ignored. God is, whether we want Him to be or not. Second, He has made demands upon humanity: repent, submit, obey, and worship. As we have seen these demands are unchanging, just as the ‘I AM’ who gives them. Third, from the beginning mankind as and continues to disobey. The scriptures has shown that we fail to give God is due glory and honor. We put idols in His place and, sometimes passionately, bristle and rebel at His instruction. Fourth, at a point the warnings will stop and grace will be pulled back. We will be given over to our sin and deserved judgment. Fifth and final, those whom belong to the LORD shall be saved. They may suffer now but prosper at the consumption of thing to come.

Gospel Application

With that I must ask the question: Which path are you on? Who do you belong to? Are you a Pharaoh who continues to resist the word of the LORD as found in the Bible. Do you insist on you own right to be God and in control of you life? Did you throw away that track or put out of mind the gospel you heard from whoever. If you answered yes, and you realize that has and is the wrong answer, then I you to repent and believe the Gospel. Acknowledge and confess your sin. Cry out to the LORD for forgiveness. Ask to be received into His kingdom. Place your trust in Christ alone and you will be saved. Don’t delay. Now is the acceptable hour and day of salvation. You have heard the word of God. Don’t delay and harden your heart. Repent and believe on today. Amen.

1. John J. Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt: Studies in the Book of Exodus (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1971), p. 113. cited in Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 260.

2. ibid.

3. Mackay, J. L. (2001). Exodus (p. 165). Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor.

4. , (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "F. The Fifth Plague--A Severe Disease Struck and Killed All Livestock in the Field: Proof That the Hand of God Controls the Animal Life of the World, 9:1-7".

, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "F. The Fifth Plague--A Severe Disease Struck and Killed All Livestock in the Field: Proof That the Hand of God Controls the Animal Life of the World, 9:1-7".