Exodus 9

Hook

Ever felt like you’re hitting a brick wall? Like you’re trying to do something good, make a change, or just get someone to listen, and they just… won’t budge? Maybe it's a difficult conversation, a stubborn habit, or a situation that feels totally stuck. It can be super frustrating, right? Well, that feeling is pretty ancient! Today, we're diving into a moment from Jewish tradition where a whole nation felt stuck, and a stubborn leader simply refused to let go. We'll see how even the biggest walls can start to crumble, and what that might mean for us today.

Context

Let's set the scene for our snapshot from the Torah!

• Who: We meet Moses, God’s messenger, and Pharaoh, the powerful king of Egypt. Also, a whole lot of Israelites (the Jewish people) who are living as enslaved laborers, and of course, God, who is orchestrating everything.
• When: This story takes place way back in ancient Egypt, many thousands of years ago. It’s a pivotal moment in Jewish history, right before the Israelites are finally freed from slavery and begin their journey to nationhood.
• Where: Mostly in Pharaoh's grand palace, where Moses has to deliver God's message, and across the land of Egypt, where the action (the plagues!) unfolds.
• Key Term: "God of the Hebrews" – This simply means the one true God, protector of the Israelite people.

This week's reading is from the book of Exodus, chapter 9. It’s right in the middle of a dramatic series of events called the "Ten Plagues," where God sends incredible signs to convince Pharaoh to "Let My people go!" Today, we're looking at a few of these powerful events and Pharaoh's stubborn reactions.

Text Snapshot

Here's a peek at what God, Moses, and Pharaoh are up to:

יהוה said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says יהוה, the God of the Hebrews: Let My people go to worship Me… But יהוה will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of the Egyptians, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the Israelites. יהוה has fixed the time: tomorrow יהוה will do this thing in the land.’” And יהוה did so the next day: all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the livestock of the Israelites not a beast died. When Pharaoh inquired, he found that not a head of the livestock of Israel had died; yet Pharaoh remained stubborn, and he would not let the people go.

— Exodus 9:1-7 (excerpt)

Then יהוה said to Moses and Aaron, “Each of you take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become a fine dust all over the land of Egypt, and cause an inflammation breaking out in boils on human and beast throughout the land of Egypt.” So they took soot of the kiln and appeared before Pharaoh; Moses threw it toward the sky, and it caused an inflammation breaking out in boils on human and beast. The magician-priests were unable to confront Moses because of the inflammation, for the inflammation afflicted the magician-priests as well as all the other Egyptians. But יהוה stiffened the heart of Pharaoh, and he would not heed them, just as יהוה had told Moses.

— Exodus 9:8-12 (excerpt)

This time tomorrow I will rain down a very heavy hail, such as has not been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Therefore, order your livestock and everything you have in the open brought under shelter... Only in the region of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail. Thereupon Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I stand guilty this time. יהוה is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Plead with יהוה that there may be an end of God’s thunder and of hail. I will let you go; you need stay no longer.”... But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he became stubborn and reverted to his guilty ways, as did his courtiers. So Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he would not let the Israelites go, just as יהוה had foretold through Moses.

— Exodus 9:18-35 (excerpt)

You can read the full chapter here!

Close Reading

Let's unpack a few simple but powerful ideas from this chapter that can actually be useful in our lives.

Insight 1: God’s Specific Care and Distinction

Notice how the text repeatedly emphasizes that God "will make a distinction" (Exodus 9:4) between the Israelites and the Egyptians. In the plague of the livestock, all Egyptian animals die, but not one Israelite animal. Later, with the devastating hail, it falls everywhere except in the region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived (Exodus 9:26). This isn't just about general chaos; it's precise and purposeful.

Think about it: God isn't just a vague force in the universe; the Torah shows a God who is intimately involved and protective of specific people. The ancient rabbis even teach that Moses walked directly into Pharaoh's guarded palace, past bodyguards and even trained lions, without being challenged (Or HaChaim on Exodus 9:1:1)! This wasn't just Moses being brave; it was a miracle, a clear sign of God's hand protecting him. It's a reminder that even when things feel universally difficult, there can be moments of specific care, protection, or a different path for you. It's like having a divine advocate, someone who stands up for you and makes sure you're seen and protected, especially when you feel vulnerable or "owned" by others, as the Israelites were by Pharaoh (Rav Hirsch on Exodus 9:1:1).

Insight 2: The Cycle of Stubbornness and the Opportunity for Choice

Pharaoh is the poster child for stubbornness in this story! He sees unbelievable signs – his nation’s animals dying, his people covered in boils, devastating hail – and yet, he "remained stubborn" (Exodus 9:7) or "reverted to his guilty ways" (Exodus 9:34). Even when he admits "I stand guilty this time" (Exodus 9:27), the moment the pressure is off, he goes right back to his old ways.

What's fascinating is how God interacts with this. Sometimes it says Pharaoh "hardened his heart" (a choice), and sometimes it says God "stiffened the heart of Pharaoh" (Exodus 9:12). This isn't meant to be a deep philosophical puzzle for us today, but rather an observation: sometimes we choose to be stubborn, and sometimes, when we keep making those choices, it becomes harder and harder to change. The text shows that Moses (on God's behalf) tried to argue and reason with Pharaoh before some of the immediate plagues struck (Malbim on Exodus 9:1:2). There was an opportunity to change course. Pharaoh kept missing these opportunities, showing how a pattern of stubbornness can make it incredibly difficult to break free, even when the consequences are staring you in the face. It’s a powerful lesson about the importance of being open to change, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Insight 3: Power Revealed, Purpose Understood

God explicitly tells Pharaoh, "I have spared you for this purpose: in order to show you My power, and in order that My fame may resound throughout the world" (Exodus 9:16). This is a really big idea! The plagues aren't just random acts of punishment; they have a grander purpose. They are a dramatic display, designed to make God's power and presence known, not just to the Egyptians and Israelites, but "throughout the world."

This insight offers a different way to look at challenges. When we face stubborn obstacles or difficult situations, it can feel overwhelming. But this text suggests that sometimes, within those very struggles, there's a larger purpose being revealed. It's not always about our immediate desired outcome, but about a bigger picture, a revelation of truth or strength that might impact more than just us. Pharaoh's stubbornness, ironically, becomes the very stage upon which God's universal power is dramatically demonstrated. It’s a reminder that even seemingly negative events can serve a grander, more profound purpose, often revealing a strength or truth that impacts more than just the immediate players.

Apply It

Here's a small, doable practice you can try this week:

The 10-Second Pause

This week, try to notice a moment when you feel yourself digging in your heels, resisting something, or just being a little stubborn – whether it’s about a task, an idea, or even a conversation. Instead of just pushing through with that stubborn feeling, pause for just 10 seconds. During those 10 seconds, simply ask yourself (no judgment, just curiosity): "What am I holding onto here? Is there another way to look at this?" You don't have to change your mind, just create a tiny space for awareness. It’s about practicing that openness that Pharaoh lacked, even if just for a brief moment.

Chevruta Mini

A "chevruta" (pronounced hev-RUT-tah) is a traditional Jewish learning partnership, where friends discuss texts together. Here are two friendly questions to ponder with a friend, family member, or even just with yourself:

1. The text describes God making a clear "distinction" between the Israelites and the Egyptians (like whose livestock survived, or where the hail fell). Can you think of a time in your own life where you felt a clear sense of being protected or uniquely cared for, even when others around you might have been going through difficulties?
2. Pharaoh was incredibly stubborn, despite all the evidence. When have you experienced either your own stubbornness, or someone else's, preventing a positive change or resolution? What did you learn from that experience?

Takeaway

Remember this: Even against the toughest walls of stubbornness, God’s precise care and grand purpose are at work, often revealing deeper truths and offering chances for change.