Verse: Exodus 9:33
Theme: The Seventh Plague of Hail: Divine Authority Demonstrated Through Immediate Response to Human Intercession
“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.”
— Exodus 9:33, New International Version (NIV)
“So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain was no longer poured upon the earth.”
— Exodus 9:33, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.”
— Exodus 9:33, King James Version (KJV)
“Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. Then he lifted his hands toward the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain quit falling.”
— Exodus 9:33, Contemporary English Version (CEV)
“When Moses had gone out from Pharaoh, out of the city, he stretched out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer fell upon the earth.”
— Exodus 9:33, English Standard Version (ESV)
Meaning of Exodus 9:33
Here’s what divine command and control looks like in action.
Moses walks out of Pharaoh’s presence, leaves the city entirely, and then does something remarkable: he spreads his hands toward heaven like he’s conducting the world’s most powerful orchestra. And instantly; not gradually, not over the course of hours; instantly, the supernatural storm system shuts down completely.
Think about the logistics of this moment. We’re talking about a weather system that’s been pulverizing an entire nation with ice chunks and lightning bolts. Meteorologically, storms this intense don’t just stop on command. They gradually diminish, wind down, peter out over time. Weather systems have momentum, atmospheric pressure differentials, all sorts of complex dynamics that take time to resolve.
But this? This is like someone hitting the off switch on the universe’s fury. Thunder stops mid-rumble. Hail stops mid-fall. Rain stops mid-drop. The entire atmospheric war machine just… stops.
Moses’ positioning is significant. He doesn’t intercede from within the city where Pharaoh can observe the process. He goes outside, creates distance, then lifts his hands in what amounts to a direct hotline conversation with the Almighty. There’s something profound about this geographical separation; like Moses needs to step outside the sphere of Egyptian authority before he can effectively represent divine authority.
The immediate response reveals something crucial about Moses’ relationship with God. This isn’t a religious ritual where Moses hopes for eventual divine response. This is executive authority in spiritual form. Moses intercedes, heaven responds, case closed. The storm system that terrorized an entire nation for who knows how long vanishes at the request of one man who knows how to talk to the right Authority.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 9:33
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
— James the Just, Brother of Jesus and Church Leader
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
— Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior
“In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one.”
— Napoleon Bonaparte, French Military Emperor
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”
— Psalmist, Temple Worship Leader
“The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities.”
— Sun Tzu, Ancient Chinese Military Strategist
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
— Jeremiah the Prophet, Voice of Divine Judgment
Explaining the Context of Exodus 9:33
This verse demonstrates the immediate and complete response of divine power to human intercession when conducted through proper spiritual authority and relationship with God.
Moses’ departure from the city before interceding reveals the importance of separating from human authority structures when appealing to divine authority, showing that effective spiritual leadership requires proper positioning.
The instantaneous cessation of the storm system proves divine control over natural forces that operate beyond meteorological principles, demonstrating supernatural authority that can override atmospheric dynamics immediately.
This complete stoppage of all storm elements: thunder, hail, and rain, reveals the thoroughness of divine response to faithful intercession, showing that God’s power extends to every aspect of natural phenomena.
The effectiveness of Moses’ intercession validates his role as mediator between divine authority and human need, demonstrating the principle of spiritual representation that operates through covenant relationship.
Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 9:33
“Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city”
Moses’ departure from both Pharaoh’s presence and the city itself demonstrates the importance of proper positioning when exercising spiritual authority, separating from human power structures before appealing to divine authority.
The geographical movement shows that effective intercession requires creating appropriate space for direct communication with God, removing human interference and political pressure from spiritual ministry.
“He spread out his hands toward the Lord”
The physical posture of spreading hands heavenward reveals Moses’ recognition of divine authority and proper protocol for spiritual intercession, demonstrating reverent approach to supernatural power.
This gesture indicates complete dependence on divine response rather than personal ability, showing that effective spiritual leadership requires humble acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty over natural forces.
“the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land”
The immediate and complete cessation of all storm elements demonstrates divine control that operates beyond natural law, showing supernatural authority that can instantly override atmospheric dynamics.
The comprehensive nature of this stoppage: affecting thunder, hail, and rain simultaneously, reveals the totality of divine response to faithful intercession, proving God’s complete sovereignty over natural phenomena.
Lessons to Learn from Exodus 9:33
1. Effective Spiritual Intercession Requires Proper Positioning That Separates Divine Authority From Human Power Structures
Moses’ departure from the city before interceding demonstrates that spiritual leadership must create appropriate space for direct communication with God, removing human interference from divine ministry.
2. Divine Response to Faithful Intercession Can Be Immediate and Complete Rather Than Gradual or Partial
The instantaneous cessation of the entire storm system shows that God’s power operates beyond natural processes, accomplishing supernatural results that transcend meteorological principles and atmospheric dynamics.
3. Physical Posture in Prayer Can Reflect Spiritual Posture That Acknowledges Divine Authority and Demonstrates Proper Reverence
Moses’ gesture of spreading hands toward heaven reveals the importance of approaching God with appropriate recognition of His sovereignty, showing humble dependence rather than presumptuous demand.
4. Spiritual Authority Operates Through Relationship With God Rather Than Personal Power or Religious Technique
The effectiveness of Moses’ intercession stems from his covenant relationship with divine authority rather than his individual abilities, demonstrating that spiritual leadership requires proper connection to supernatural power.
5. Divine Control Over Natural Forces Exceeds Human Understanding and Operates According to Spiritual Rather Than Physical Principles
The supernatural stoppage of atmospheric warfare shows that God’s authority transcends natural law, creating results that prove divine sovereignty over environmental conditions and meteorological systems.
Related Bible Verses
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14, New Living Translation (NLT)
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
— James 5:16, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”
— Isaiah 65:24, World English Bible (WEB)
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
— Mark 4:39, New International Version (NIV)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
— Matthew 7:7, New King James Version (NKJV)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Exodus 9:33 points to Christ through Moses’ role as mediator who effectively intercedes between divine authority and human need, prefiguring Christ’s perfect mediation between God and humanity.
The immediate response to Moses’ intercession points toward Christ’s direct access to the Father and His ability to accomplish supernatural results through His unique relationship with divine authority.
Moses’ positioning outside human authority structures points toward Christ’s separation from earthly power systems, operating according to heavenly authority rather than political or religious hierarchies.
The complete cessation of divine judgment through intercession points toward Christ’s ability to stop eternal judgment for those who belong to Him through His perfect sacrifice and ongoing intercession.
The physical posture of spreading hands heavenward points toward Christ’s crucifixion where He spread His arms to reconcile heaven and earth, creating permanent access to divine mercy.
The supernatural control over natural forces points toward Christ’s authority over creation demonstrated throughout His ministry, proving His divine nature through power over atmospheric and environmental conditions.
Closing Reflection
Exodus 9:33 challenges us to recognize that effective spiritual intercession requires proper positioning that separates divine authority from human power structures, creating space for direct communication with God.
Moses’ immediate success in stopping the storm encourages confidence in divine response to faithful prayer, showing that God’s power operates beyond natural processes to accomplish supernatural results.
The physical act of spreading hands toward heaven reminds us that our posture in prayer should reflect spiritual posture that acknowledges divine authority and demonstrates proper reverence.
This dramatic cessation of atmospheric warfare reveals divine control over natural forces that exceeds human understanding, operating according to spiritual rather than meteorological principles.
The effectiveness of Moses’ intercession demonstrates that spiritual authority comes through relationship with God rather than personal power, requiring proper connection to supernatural authority.
Ultimately, this passage points us toward Christ, who provides perfect mediation between divine authority and human need, accomplishing complete reconciliation through His unique relationship with the Father.
Say This Prayer
Great Intercessor,
Help us position ourselves properly for effective prayer by separating from human power structures and creating appropriate space for direct communication with Your divine authority.
Give us confidence that Your response to faithful intercession can be immediate and complete, transcending natural processes to accomplish supernatural results beyond human understanding.
Teach us to approach You with physical and spiritual posture that acknowledges Your sovereignty, showing humble dependence rather than presumptuous demand in our prayers.
Thank You that spiritual authority operates through relationship with You rather than personal power, requiring connection to Your supernatural authority rather than religious technique.
Help us recognize Your complete control over natural forces and environmental conditions, trusting Your ability to intervene according to spiritual rather than physical principles.
Thank You for Christ who provides perfect intercession between divine authority and human need, accomplishing complete reconciliation through His unique relationship with You.
Through our Divine Mediator, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.