Exodus 9:4-7 — It’s interesting to me that even as slaves, Israel still owned their own cattle (cf. Exod. 10:9, 26).
Exodus 11 — I never realized how short Exodus 11 was until now.
A note on the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart — We read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart many times in these chapters, but we also read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. I’ve heard plenty of folks complain about this. The idea is that it was somehow unfair for God to continue punishing the Egyptians when it was him to caused Pharaoh’s disobedience in the first place. But as I understand it, the hardening was more of a strengthening, or of setting Pharaoh in his way. In other words, Pharaoh was how he was. God just saw fit to keep it that way in order to keep making an example out of him. It’s kind of similar to Romans 1:18-32 where the wrath of God is to leave people exactly as they are; to give them up to their own desires.
A note on the plagues — As I’m reading these chapters I’m noticing that the plagues seem to be a play on the creation. God starts with plagues where he uses the elements and animals and he culminates with the death of people. It’s almost an anti-creation.
Random thought on locusts — When I was reading about the locusts I was reminded of Malachi 3:11 when God promised to rebuke the devourer for Israel’s sake so that he would not destroy their crops. Presumably locusts are one of the ways that the devourer does this. But John the Baptist, who was filled with the Spirit from the womb, ate locusts in the wilderness. Perhaps John’s diet is an insignificant detail, perhaps not. But reading about locusts got me thinking that Spirit filled believers are stronger than any devourer. Anyway… just some chain thinking.
B”H
*: )
Nick: I love that thought on locusts! That’s what you’d call “poetic justice” I guess. ;)
On the plagues, I’ve heard over the years that each one corresponded to a false god of Egypt and was thereby the God of the Hebrews’ demonstration of His own power over that of the Egyptian deities in a sort of “my God can beat up your gods” kind of way. I haven’t studied it much so I don’t know how accurate it may be, but I always thought it was pretty nifty if true.
Tom; I’ve heard that too. I never looked into it though. It would make sense of the text.