The Fifth and Sixth Plagues: Death and Disease

Sermon 20 in Series

Exodus 9: 1-12
The Fifth Plague: Egyptian Livestock Die

[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. [2] For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, [3] behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. [4] But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”’” [5] And the LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.” [6] And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. [7] And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

[8] And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. [9] It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” [10] So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. [11] And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. [12] But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses. (ESV)

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What was the fifth plague, and how does God distinguish between Egypt and his people? How is Pharaoh’s investigation meant to highlight the extent of the hardness of his heart?
2.   How does the timing of the fifth plague show God’s grace? Why does his control of time, space, and matter function as an argument against worry?
3.   How would the death of livestock in the fields have affected Egypt economically? What was the religious impact, and what message is conveyed about Yahweh?
4.   What was the sixth plague? Why are the magicians brought back into the picture?
5.   How do we see God sweeping away all competitors? How is he using the plagues to do that in your life?
6.   How does v. 12 keep our focus on the themes of sovereignty and glory as we read the plague narratives?

References: John 10:29; Psalm 139:9-10; Exodus 8:22; Job 2:7.