Verses (NIV):
33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the LORD; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.
34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.
35 So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.
📖 Context
These verses come at the end of the seventh plague — the plague of hail — one of the devastating judgments that God sent upon Egypt. Each plague was not just a natural disaster but a divine message. They revealed God’s power, justice, and sovereignty over the false gods of Egypt, while at the same time calling Pharaoh and his nation to repentance.
Pharaoh had already seen God’s power in multiple plagues — water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, and now, a hailstorm that destroyed crops, trees, and animals left unprotected in the fields.
Before this plague, Pharaoh had even admitted, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked” (Exodus 9:27). He seemed ready to repent — but his change of heart was short-lived.
In verses 33–35, we see what happens immediately after Moses prays for the storm to stop — and how Pharaoh once again returns to stubbornness and rebellion.
🌤️ Verse 33 — Moses Intercedes and the Storm Ceases
“Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the LORD; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.”
This verse demonstrates the power of prayer and the mercy of God. Even though Pharaoh had hardened his heart repeatedly, Moses still prayed for him and for Egypt. Moses’ intercession shows the heart of a true servant — compassionate, obedient, and persistent in doing what God asks, even when people don’t deserve it.
When Moses “spread out his hands toward the LORD,” it was a posture of surrender and appeal. God immediately responded — the thunder, hail, and rain stopped at once. This miraculous calm revealed God’s control not just over nature but over judgment itself.
It also exposed the difference between Moses and Pharaoh:
-
Moses humbled himself before God.
-
Pharaoh hardened himself against God.
Each plague was an invitation — not just a punishment — for Pharaoh to see God’s greatness and turn from pride. Yet even mercy couldn’t melt his hardened heart.
💡 Lesson:
When we experience relief after a storm — whether literal or spiritual — we must not forget the One who brought us peace. Gratitude and obedience should follow deliverance, not forgetfulness or rebellion.
⚡ Verse 34 — Pharaoh’s Return to Sin
“When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.”
This is one of the most tragic sentences in the story. As soon as the danger passes, Pharaoh’s temporary repentance disappears. The same man who had confessed his sin moments earlier now returns to rebellion.
This pattern shows the deceitfulness of the human heart. When we are in crisis, we often make promises to God — we pray, repent, and plead for mercy. But once the crisis passes and comfort returns, many go back to their old ways.
Pharaoh’s repentance was situational, not transformational. It came from fear of consequences, not from a true desire to change.
Notice also that the verse mentions “he and his officials.” Pharaoh’s example of pride influenced his leaders. Hard hearts are contagious — when a leader resists God, others often follow.
💡 Lesson:
Real repentance is not about words or temporary feelings — it’s about changed behavior. God looks for sincerity, not emotion. True faith endures beyond the storm.
🪨 Verse 35 — The Fulfillment of God’s Word
“So Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.”
Here we see the pattern come full circle. Pharaoh’s heart remains hard, and God’s prophecy is fulfilled exactly as spoken. Despite all the warnings, Pharaoh refuses to change.
This verse teaches us that God’s word never fails. From the very beginning, the Lord had told Moses that Pharaoh would resist (Exodus 4:21). Even in his rebellion, Pharaoh was fulfilling God’s sovereign plan.
Pharaoh’s hardened heart becomes a lesson in divine justice and human responsibility. God allowed Pharaoh’s choices to reveal both His power and His patience. Pharaoh’s stubbornness was his own doing — yet it also served God’s purpose of displaying His glory to all nations.
💡 Lesson:
God’s plans always prevail. Human pride cannot overturn divine purpose. The choice before each of us is simple: will we humble ourselves willingly, or will we be humbled through circumstances?
🌿 Reflection
Exodus 9:33–35 is more than a story about an ancient ruler — it’s a mirror of the human heart. Like Pharaoh, we can experience God’s power, mercy, and deliverance yet still fall back into pride, fear, or forgetfulness.
Pharaoh’s repeated pattern is one many still live today:
-
Crisis comes — we cry out to God.
-
Relief comes — we breathe easier.
-
Rebellion returns — we forget or disobey.
God’s goal is not to punish but to purify — to turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Every storm He allows is an opportunity to soften us, not harden us.
Moses’ example also shines brightly here. Even after repeated rejection, he continues to intercede. He doesn’t stop praying, even for a hardened man like Pharaoh. This teaches us about grace in leadership — to keep praying for those who resist truth, to keep doing right even when others mock or ignore us.
When storms stop in our own lives — when the “hail” and “thunder” of trouble cease — we must pause and ask: Has my heart changed, or just my situation?
✨ Key Insights
-
God’s mercy often comes even when people don’t deserve it.
-
Temporary repentance without transformation leads to repeated failure.
-
Leaders’ choices influence entire communities.
-
God’s Word is always fulfilled — both His promises and His warnings.
-
Real deliverance begins in the heart, not in the circumstances.
🙏 Prayer
“Lord, help me not to harden my heart when You correct me.
Teach me to respond with humility, not pride — with faith, not fear.
May I remember Your mercy long after the storm has passed.
Give me the strength to walk in obedience, and the compassion to pray for others, even when they resist Your will.
Let my life reflect a soft heart — one that listens, learns, and loves according to Your truth. Amen.”
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally use, trust, or believe will add value to my readers. Your support helps keep this site running and allows me to continue sharing helpful content.
Comments
Post a Comment