The God Who Makes Himself Known. Exodus 9-10 Series

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.