The Plague Of Boils And Blains – The Sixth Plague
EXODUS 9:8-12
8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."
10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.
INTRODUCTION
God's judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt in Exodus Chapter 9 was boils. He told Aaron and Moses to grab handfuls of ashes from the furnace and throw the ashes into the air in front of Pharaoh's eyes. When ash touched someone in Egypt, they would break out in boils and sores. Again, even though his magicians could not stop this, Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to let the people go. Take handfuls of the ashes of the furnace — Sometimes, God shows men their sin in punishment. They had oppressed Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made as much a terror to them as ever their taskmasters had been to the Israelites. "The matter of this plague," says Ainsworth, "is from the fire, which also being one of the elements they deified, is here made the instrument of evil to them, and reclaimed by Jehovah to his service, in punishment of its deluded votaries1, who worshipped the creature more than the Creator." A former miracle was from water, and the next from the air, to show that God rules in all. It became a boil — A sore, angry swelling, or inflammation; breaking forth with blains — Or blisters, quickly raised; upon man and beast
Moses Forecasts The Future
The forecast Moses offered to Pharaoh was anything but good. This region rarely sees a rain shower, let alone a forecast like this. Devastating hail, a storm of such fierceness it had never been seen in the land. It was going to hail so severely that everything outside was going to be destroyed, including livestock not moved to shelter. It is worth mentioning that this was the second time livestock was threatened, as the fifth plague killed all of Egypt's livestock. This is undoubtedly a headline-grabbing forecast. One that would lead the evening news.
"Pay attention. The storm is coming." Some heeded the warning, but others ignored it. Some listened to God's Word and acted upon it, but others chose merely to listen or to listen and quickly forget.
COMMENTARY
The plague of boils comes without previous announcement. Moreover, it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt and cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. As God had said, they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. The signal by which this plague was summoned was the sprinkling of warm ashes from the furnace towards heaven (v. 8, 10), which was to signify the heating of the air with such an infection as should produce in the bodies of the Egyptians sore boils, which would be both repugnant and painful. Immediately upon the scattering of the ashes, a scalding dew came out of the air, and caused blisters wherever it fell.
Moreover, the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron - This was probably the day following, on the third day of the month Abib, about the eighteenth of March, that orders were given to bring on the next plague.
Take handfuls of ashes from the furnace; either in which the bricks were burnt, or food was boiled since it can scarcely be thought there would be brick kiln furnaces so near Pharaoh's court; though perhaps some reference may have been made to them, and the work of the children of Israel who labored at them, and as a just retaliation for their oppression of the children of Israel who labored in that way. These ashes were blown off the coals; though fresh, they are not too hot to hold in their hands.
Let Moses sprinkle the ashes towards heaven in the sight of Pharaoh; this was to be done before Pharaoh so that he might be an eyewitness to the miracle. He can see with his own eyes that nothing else was thrown up into the air, but a few light ashes, and this was to be done towards heaven, to show that the plague or judgment came down from heaven, from the God of heaven, whose wrath was now revealed. Moses was to do this alone, as Philothinks, or rather both he and Aaron since they were both spoken to, and both filled their hands with ashes; it is most likely that both cast them up into the air, though Moses, being the principal person, is only mentioned.
Note, Sometimes God shows men their sin in their punishment; they had oppressed Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made as much a terror to them as ever their taskmasters had been to the Israelites. This marks a distinct change in the character of the abuses. Thus far, the Egyptians had not been attacked directly in their bodies. This is the second plague that was not preceded by demand and warning, probably because of the particular hardness shown by Pharaoh about the murrain.
The signal by which this plague was summoned was the sprinkling of warm ashes from the furnace towards heaven (v. 8, 10), which was to signify the heating of the air with such an infection as should produce in the bodies of the Egyptians sore boils, which would be both repugnant and painful. Immediately upon the scattering of the ashes, a scalding dew came out of the air, blistered wherever it fell. Note, Sometimes God shows men their sin in their punishment; they had oppressed Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made as much a terror to them as ever their taskmasters had been to the Israelites.
When the death of their cattle did not plummet upon them, God sent a plague that seized their bodies and touched them to the quick. If fewer judgments do not do their work, God will send greater. Therefore, let us humble ourselves under God's mighty hand and go forth to meet him in the way of his judgments, that his anger may be turned away from us. Moreover, the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. Thus they were punished (1.) For helping to harden Pharaoh's heart, God will severely reckon with those that strengthen the hands of the wicked in their wickedness. (2.) For pretending to imitate the former plagues and make themselves and Pharaoh sport with them. Pharaoh continued obstinate, for now, thus, the Lord hardened his heart, v. 12. Before, he had hardened his own heart and resisted the grace of God. God gave him up to his own heart's lusts, a reprobate mind, and strong delusions, permitting Satan to blind and harden him, and ordering everything, henceforward, to make him more and more obstinate. Note that Wilful hardness is commonly punished with judicial hardness. If men shut their eyes against the light, it is appropriate for God to close their eyes. Let us dread this as the bitterest judgment a man can be under on this side of hell. Those that would produce lice shall, against their wills, produce boils. 1. It is dangerous jesting with God's judgments and riskier than playing with fire. Do not be mockers, lest your bonds are made strong. 2. Thus, they were shamed in the presence of their admirers. How weak were their enchantments, which could not so much as secure themselves! The devil can give no protection to those in confederacy with him. 3. Therefore, they were driven from the field. Their power was checked (ch. 8 18), but they continued to confront Moses and confirm Pharaoh in his unbelief; till now, at length, they were forced to retreat, and could not stand before Moses, to which the apostle refers (2 Tim 3 9) when he says that their folly was made manifest unto all men.
General Notes:
1. Votary - one who follows the opinions or teachings of another, such as a votary of the religious leader.
2. Blains - an inflamed swelling or sore on the skin.
