Verse: Exodus 9:20-22
Theme: The Seventh Plague of Hail: The Great Divide Between Those Who Fear God’s Word and Those Who Ignore Divine Warning
“Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the field throughout Egypt.'”
— Exodus 9:20-22, New International Version (NIV)
“Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses. But whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.'”
— Exodus 9:20-22, English Standard Version (ESV)
“Those among Pharaoh’s courtiers who feared the LORD’s word brought their slaves and livestock to shelter indoors, while those who gave no thought to the LORD’s word left their slaves and livestock in the fields. Then the LORD said to Moses: Hold out your arm toward the sky that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on person and beast and all the grasses of the field throughout the land of Egypt.”
— Exodus 9:20-22, Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (JPS)
Meaning of Exodus 9:20-22
Here’s where things get interesting. Not everyone in Egypt is completely deaf to what’s happening.
Some of Pharaoh’s officials start doing the math. Six plagues down, Moses batting a thousand on his predictions, and now he’s forecasting the weather event of the millennium. These guys weren’t born yesterday. They’ve been watching this supernatural showdown unfold from front row seats, and they’re finally starting to connect some pretty obvious dots.
So what do they do? They hustle. No committee meetings, no risk assessment protocols, no waiting for official government approval. They just move their people and animals inside because when someone with Moses’ track record tells you a killer storm is coming, you don’t mess around with pride or protocol.
But here’s the fascinating part: other officials completely ignore the warning. Same palace, same front-row view of the previous plagues, same advanced notice about tomorrow’s weather disaster. Yet they shrug and leave everything exactly where it is.
It’s like watching two people look at identical evidence and reach completely opposite conclusions about reality. One group sees the pattern and adjusts accordingly. The other group either can’t see it or won’t see it, and their livestock pays the price for their blindness.
This isn’t really about weather prediction anymore. It’s about whether you can recognize divine authority when it’s staring you in the face and adjust your behavior before consequences become unavoidable. Some people can do this. Others, apparently, cannot or will not, even when their economic interests are at stake.
The divide couldn’t be more clear-cut.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 9:20-22
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
— King Solomon, Builder of the Temple
“A wise man learns from the mistakes of others; a fool learns from his own.”
— Otto von Bismarck, Prussian Statesman and Military Leader
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
— Proverbs Writer, Ancient Hebrew Sage
“Audentes fortuna iuvat.” (Fortune helps the bold.)
— Virgil, Roman Poet (also attributed to various military leaders)
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Leader and Baptist Minister
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander
Explaining the Context of Exodus 9:20-22
This passage reveals the first significant crack in Egyptian unity as some officials begin to fear divine authority while others maintain stubborn resistance despite overwhelming evidence of God’s power.
The division among Pharaoh’s courtiers demonstrates that proximity to power doesn’t guarantee wisdom, as people with identical access to information can reach radically different conclusions about spiritual truth.
The protective actions taken by some officials show that recognizing divine authority leads to practical obedience, while ignoring God’s word results in preventable loss and suffering.
Moses’s role in initiating the hail after this division occurs shows divine timing that allows for human response while maintaining the certainty of promised consequences for persistent rebellion.
This moment establishes the principle that divine warnings create moral responsibility, making subsequent suffering a matter of personal choice rather than unavoidable fate.
Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 9:20-22
“Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside”
The phrase “feared the word of the Lord” indicates reverent recognition of divine authority rather than mere anxiety, showing that some Egyptians developed genuine respect for God’s power and reliability.
Their immediate action, “hurried to bring,” demonstrates that authentic fear of God produces prompt obedience rather than hesitation or delay when faced with clear instructions about avoiding danger.
“But those who ignored the word of the Lord left their slaves and livestock in the field”
The contrast “but those who ignored” shows deliberate rejection of available truth rather than ignorance, making their subsequent losses a result of willful disregard for obvious evidence.
Leaving slaves and livestock exposed reveals how spiritual blindness affects practical decision-making, causing people to make choices that harm both themselves and those under their authority.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward the sky'”
The timing “then” indicates that God waited for human responses before initiating judgment, demonstrating divine patience that allows opportunity for protective action before executing promised consequences.
Moses’s role as the instrument of divine judgment shows that God uses human obedience to accomplish His purposes, requiring faithful cooperation rather than working independently of His chosen servants.
“so that hail will fall all over Egypt”
The comprehensive scope “all over Egypt” emphasizes that divine judgment affects entire regions rather than just specific individuals, showing that spiritual rebellion has far-reaching consequences beyond personal decision-makers.
The inclusion of “people and animals and everything growing” demonstrates that divine judgment impacts all aspects of life when leaders persistently reject clear warnings about spiritual authority.
Lessons to Learn from Exodus 9:20-22
1. Recognizing Divine Authority Leads to Practical Protective Action, While Ignoring It Results in Preventable Loss
The division between officials who protected their property and those who left it exposed shows that spiritual wisdom has immediate practical benefits for those willing to act on divine warnings.
2. Access to the Same Information Can Produce Radically Different Responses Based on Spiritual Attitudes
Egyptian officials with identical evidence reached opposite conclusions about Moses’ warnings, demonstrating that intellectual knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee an appropriate response to divine truth.
3. Authentic Fear of God Produces Immediate Obedience Rather Than Delayed Consideration
Those who “hurried” to protect their assets show that genuine reverence for divine authority creates urgency in responding to clear spiritual guidance rather than procrastination or debate.
4. Spiritual Blindness Affects Practical Decision-Making and Harms Those Under Our Authority
Officials who ignored the warning caused suffering not just for themselves but for their slaves and livestock, showing how spiritual rebellion has consequences beyond the immediate decision-maker.
5. Divine Timing Allows for Human Response Before Executing Judgment
God’s instruction to Moses came after people had an opportunity to respond, demonstrating divine fairness in providing adequate time for protective action before bringing promised consequences.
Related Bible Verses
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
— Proverbs 27:12, New International Version (NIV)
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
— Joshua 24:15, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
— Matthew 11:15, Modern English Version (MEV)
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
— Psalm 95:7-8, New King James Version (NKJV)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
— James 1:22, Revised Standard Version (RSV)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Exodus 9:20-22 points to Christ through the theme of division based on response to divine warning, as Christ’s gospel message similarly divides people between those who fear God’s word and those who ignore spiritual truth.
The officials who “feared the word of the Lord” point toward those who respond to Christ’s warnings about eternal judgment by seeking shelter in His salvation rather than remaining exposed to divine wrath.
The immediate protective action taken by wise officials parallels the urgency required in responding to Christ’s call for repentance, showing that spiritual wisdom produces prompt obedience rather than delayed consideration.
The division between those who protected their households and those who left them exposed points toward Christ’s role as the divider of humanity, separating people based on their response to His message of salvation.
Moses’s role in executing judgment after providing opportunity for protection points toward Christ’s dual role as both Savior and Judge, offering salvation while warning of consequences for rejecting divine mercy.
The comprehensive scope of the coming judgment points toward Christ’s teachings about final judgment that will affect all aspects of creation, making personal response to His message a matter of eternal consequence.
Closing Reflection
Exodus 9:20-22 challenges us to examine whether we’re among those who “fear the word of the Lord” enough to take immediate protective action or among those who ignore clear spiritual warnings despite obvious evidence.
The division among Egyptian officials warns us that having access to spiritual truth doesn’t guarantee an appropriate response, requiring a personal decision to act on divine guidance rather than just acknowledging its accuracy.
This passage reminds us that authentic fear of God produces practical obedience rather than theoretical agreement, showing our spiritual condition through our willingness to adjust behavior based on divine warnings.
The harm caused to slaves and livestock by officials who ignored the warning challenges us to consider how our spiritual choices affect those under our influence and authority.
God’s timing in waiting for human response before executing judgment encourages us that divine patience provides adequate opportunity for protective action, making spiritual consequences a matter of personal choice.
Ultimately, this story points us toward Christ, who provides the ultimate warning and complete protection from divine judgment, dividing humanity between those who seek shelter in Him and those who remain exposed to eternal consequences.
Say This Prayer
Lord of Storm and Shelter,
Help us be among those who fear Your word enough to take immediate action when You provide warnings about spiritual danger and guidance for protection.
Save us from the spiritual blindness that ignores obvious evidence of Your power and reliability, keeping us sensitive to Your voice even when others around us dismiss the clear truth.
Give us wisdom to recognize that access to spiritual information means nothing without practical obedience, motivating us to act promptly on divine guidance rather than just acknowledging its accuracy.
Protect those under our influence from suffering the consequences of our spiritual choices, helping us make decisions that provide safety for our families rather than exposing them to preventable harm.
When You provide clear warnings about spiritual dangers, create in us the holy urgency that produces immediate response rather than delayed consideration or intellectual debate about Your requirements.
Thank You for Christ, who provides perfect shelter from Your judgment, making us safe through His sacrifice while warning us about the consequences of remaining exposed to divine wrath.
In His sheltering name, Amen.