2026.02.15.Sermon Notes. THE GOD WHO MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. EXODUS 9-10
William Akehurst, HSWC
“That you may know that I am the LORD.” (Ex. 9:14, 16, 29; 10:2)
SCRIPTURES: Exodus 9:1-35, Exodus 10:1-29, Romans 5:9, Hebrews 3:15, Romans 1:24-28, Isaiah 28:21, Luke 14:33, John 1:5, John 8:12, Matthew 4:16, Psalm 2:1-4
KEY WORD LIST: Divine Judgment, Mercy, Hardened Heart, Repentance, Sovereignty, Separation, Light vs Darkness, False Repentance, Glory of GOD, Deliverance, Wrath, Salvation, CHRIST the Light, Obedience, Lordship
BIG IDEA: GOD’s judgments are not merely acts of wrath; they are divine revelations meant to lead sinners to repentance and display HIS redemptive glory ultimately fulfilled in CHRIST.
GOD reveals HIS supremacy over creation, rulers, and false gods so that all may know HE alone is LORD.
INTRODUCTION
There are moments in Scripture when GOD does not whisper - He thunders.
Exodus 9 and 10 bring us into the escalating conflict between the LORD of heaven and Pharaoh, the supposed god-king of Egypt.
This is no contest between equals.
This is the Creator confronting rebellion.
Up to this point, Pharaoh has resisted every warning. Each plague has dismantled Egypt’s false sense of security.
Now the judgments intensify.
Yet we must understand something clearly:
The plagues are not random acts of destruction, they are sermons.
Each one declares:
“That you may know that I AM the LORD.” (Ex. 9:14, 16, 29; 10:2)
GOD is making HIMSELF known.
And this is still GOD’s purpose today.
Some people only listen when life shakes them.
C.S. Lewis wrote: “GOD whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”
Egypt is hearing the shout of GOD.
But the deeper question for us this morning is this:
Are we listening?
I. GOD’S MERCY EVEN IN JUDGMENT (Exodus 9:1–7)
EXODUS 9:1-7 THE FIFTH PLAGUE: LIVESTOCK DISEASED (DEVER)
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the LORD 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 be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. 4 And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ”
5 Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”
6 So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.
The fifth plague strikes Egypt’s livestock: horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep.
Economic collapse begins.
But notice something remarkable:
“And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt.” (Ex. 9:4)
DIVINE DISTINCTION
GOD separates HIS people from judgment.
This distinction is one of the great themes of redemption.
ILLUSTRATION ACROSS SCRIPTURE:
• Noah preserved in the ark
• Lot rescued from Sodom
• Israel sheltered by Passover blood
• Believers saved from wrath through CHRIST
The question is not:
“Are you good enough?”
The question is:
“Are you covered?”
CHRIST TYPOLOGY
The ark foreshadows CHRIST.
The Passover lamb foreshadows CHRIST.
And this divine separation points forward to the cross.
Romans 5:9 Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Believers are not spared because they are better…
they are spared because JESUS took the judgment.
APPLICATION
If you belong to CHRIST, you are not appointed to wrath.
But if you resist HIM, you stand exposed.
There are only two categories in eternity:
• Under judgment
• Under mercy
Which are you?
II. THE DANGER OF A HARDENED HEART (Exodus 9:8–12)
EXODUS 9:8-12 THE SIXTH PLAGUE: BOILS (SHECHIN) (Deut. 28:27)
8 So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.
The sixth plague brings boils upon man and beast.
Even the magicians, once confident, can’t stand before Moses.
False religion always collapses under real divine power.
Then comes one of the most sobering statements in Exodus:
“But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh.” (9:12)
UNDERSTANDING HARDENING
Earlier, Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
Now GOD confirms him in the path he chose.
This is a terrifying principle:
Persistent rejection leads to spiritual inability.
Sin calcifies the soul.
The same sun that melts wax hardens clay.
Hebrews 3:15 warns: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
WARNING
Many assume they can resist GOD now and respond later.
Scripture never promises that opportunity.
Every “no” to GOD makes the next “no” easier.
The most dangerous prayer GOD can answer is:
“My will be done.”
Romans 1 describes this judgment:
“GOD gave them over…”
When GOD stops restraining rebellion - judgment has already begun.
Romans 1:24-28 24 Therefore GOD also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of GOD for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason GOD gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge, GOD gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
APPLICATION
Do not confuse GOD’s patience with His approval.
If the SPIRIT is convicting you…respond quickly.
A soft heart is a gift.
Guard it.
III. GOD’S GLORY DISPLAYED OVER ALL THE EARTH (Exodus 9:13–35)
EXODUS 9:13-35 THE SEVENTH PLAGUE: HAIL (BARAD)
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD GOD of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. 15 Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. 17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. 18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. 19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ”
20 He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. 21 But he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.
28 Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
29 So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD GOD.”
31 Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops.
33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
The seventh plague arrives, hail mixed with fire falling from heaven.
Unprecedented destruction.
But listen to GOD’s purpose:
“That you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.” (9:14)
And even more striking:
“For this purpose I have raised you up, to show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (9:16)
GOD IS NEVER REACTIONARY
Pharaoh is not derailing GOD’s plan.
He is serving it.
Even rebellion becomes a stage for divine glory.
This truth stabilizes believers today.
No ruler, no government, no cultural tide threatens GOD’s sovereignty.
History is not spiraling…
it is unfolding exactly as GOD decreed.
MERCY WITHIN JUDGMENT
GOD even warns Egypt to bring servants and livestock indoors.
Some Egyptians believe.
Some obey.
And they are spared.
Even while judgment falls, mercy is offered.
This reveals GOD’s heart.
HE takes no pleasure in destruction.
Judgment is His “awesome, unusual, strange work” (Isaiah 28:21).
Isaiah 28:21 21 For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon; That He may do His work, His awesome work,
And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.
PHARAOH’S FALSE REPENTANCE
After the devastation Pharaoh says:
“I have sinned… the LORD is righteous.” (9:27)
But when relief comes, he hardens again.
This is not repentance.
It is regret.
Many want rescue from consequences; not rescue from sin.
True repentance says:
“LORD, change me.”
False repentance says:
“LORD, fix this.”
IV. WHEN GOD TURNS THE LIGHTS OUT (Exodus 10:1–29)
The final two plagues in our passage dismantle Egypt’s remaining pride.
A. THE LOCUSTS - TOTAL DEVASTATION
EXODUS 10:1-20 THE EIGHTH PLAGUE: LOCUSTS (ARBEH) (Joel 1:2–4)
1 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”
3 So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD GOD of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 4 Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. 5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. 6 They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ ” And he turned and went out from Pharaoh.
7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their GOD. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”
8 So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your GOD. Who are the ones that are going?”
9 And Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”
10 Then he said to them, “The LORD had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. 11 Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the LORD, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land—all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. 15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.
16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your GOD and against you. 17 Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your GOD, that He may take away from me this death only.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. 19 And the LORD turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.
Everything the hail spared, the locusts consume.
Pharaoh’s advisors finally plead:
“Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?” (10:7)
Sin blinds leaders.
Entire nations suffer under hardened hearts.
PARTIAL SURRENDER
Pharaoh attempts negotiation:
• “Only the men may go.”
• Later: “Leave your livestock.”
But GOD does not accept partial obedience.
Either HE is LORD of all or not at all.
JESUS said:
Luke 14:33 Whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Salvation is free.
But it demands surrender.
B. THE DARKNESS - A SPIRITUAL PICTURE
EXODUS 10:21-29 THE NINTH PLAGUE: DARKNESS (CHOSHECH)
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”
25 But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our GOD. 26 Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our GOD, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.”
27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!”
29 So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.”
Then comes the ninth plague:
Thick darkness for three days.
A darkness that could be felt.
Yet Scripture says:
“But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” (10:23)
Do you see the symbolism?
Darkness is the natural condition of fallen humanity.
John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
CHRIST TYPOLOGY - JESUS THE GREATER LIGHT
When Jesus came, Matthew writes:
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.”
Egypt experienced physical darkness.
The world lives in spiritual darkness.
But Jesus declared:
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Matthew 4:16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
Without CHRIST:
• Morality grows confused
• Truth becomes relative
• Hope disappears
But where CHRIST dwells, there is light.
PHARAOH’S FINAL REFUSAL
Pharaoh again bargains.
Moses refuses compromise.
Then Pharaoh erupts:
“Get away from me… you shall see my face no more!” (10:28)
Pharaoh thinks he is dismissing Moses.
In reality, he is sealing his fate.
Rejecting GOD always feels like control…
until judgment comes.
MAJOR THEOLOGICAL TRUTHS from Exodus 9–10
1. GOD RULES OVER NATURE
Storms, disease, harvest - all answer to Him.
Creation is not autonomous.
It obeys its Maker.
2. GOD RULES OVER KINGS
Pharaoh was the superpower of his day.
Yet he is reduced to trembling.
Psalm 2 reminds us:
“The kings of the earth set themselves… against the LORD… He who sits in the heavens shall laugh.”
Psalms 2:1-4 1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
3. GOD IS PATIENT - BUT NOT FOREVER
Pharaoh receives warning after warning.
GOD delays judgment.
Why?
So repentance remains possible.
But patience has an expiration.
Do not presume upon it.
REFLECT AND APPLICATION
Let me ask you three searching questions:
1. IS YOUR HEART SOFT TOWARD GOD?
Where is HE convicting you?
Delayed obedience is disobedience.
2. ARE YOU SURRENDERING FULLY - OR NEGOTIATING?
Many want JESUS as Savior…
but resist HIM as LORD.
There is no middle ground.
3. ARE YOU WALKING IN THE LIGHT?
Church attendance is not light.
Religious language is not light.
Only CHRIST is light.
Run to HIM.
Trust HIM.
Follow HIM.
A FINAL WARNING
Pharaoh is one of the Bible’s clearest portraits of a soul that resists GOD too long.
He had:
• Clear revelation
• Repeated warnings
• Miraculous signs
Yet he refused.
And eventually…
GOD stopped striving.
Do not let familiarity with truth replace surrender to it.
The greatest tragedy is not hearing GOD and rejecting HIM.
It is hearing HIM so often…
that you no longer hear HIM at all.
PRAYER
LORD GOD,
YOU are unmatched in power and perfect in holiness.
Soften our hearts where they have grown resistant.
Open our eyes where darkness lingers.
Teach us to surrender fully, not partially.
Thank YOU for the mercy that rescues us from wrath through JESUS CHRIST, the Light of the world.
May we walk in that light, proclaim YOUR Glory, and live as people set apart.
In the name of our greater Deliverer, JESUS, we pray,
Amen.
HYMNS
Holy, Holy, Holy
A Mighty Fortress Is Our GOD
Jesus Paid It All
Be Thou My Vision
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
