Chapter 9
When I was a police officer, I will admit something: I never enjoyed arresting people. It was part of the job, but when I told them to “turn around and place your hands behind your back,” it wasn’t something that made me leap for joy. Without exception, as I put the cuffs on and restricted their liberty, it was a sobering moment for me—a reminder of the seriousness of the event taking place.
But then, there were exceptions. Every now and then, there was a “bad guy” that I did take a little pleasure in “hooking up”—the guy who beat his girlfriend, or the person who caused willful harm to another. Those folks? I really didn’t mind taking them into custody.
Several times, while booking an individual, I would get a look at their “rap sheet.” I could see how many times they had been arrested or had spent time in jail or prison. Most people in the city where I worked were first-time offenders, though a few were habitual offenders.
What was really funny was seeing how repentant—or sorry—these habitual offenders seemed to be. They would practically beg not to be arrested. They swore up and down this was the first or last time they would ever do this. They had every excuse in the book, trying to play on your compassion to be released with just a warning. Then, I would run their record, and the truth was revealed. Once they saw I knew, they would tone it down and just shrug it off. They knew they had lost the argument. Some of them even joked, “Well, I had to try.”
There’s a big difference between sorrow and repentance. These habitual offenders were very sorry they got caught, but they never considered true repentance. Repentance requires a change in direction—a 180-degree turn from the path you’re on—and taking a step in a new direction. Notice, “taking a step” is required for repentance. Just turning around to look at the “right way” isn’t enough. It takes that act of faith to step toward it.
We read about more plagues hitting Egypt as Pharaoh continues to agree to repent, but he never reaches the point of actually taking that step. I’m sure he was sorry for the suffering he endured, but he was never repentant enough to make a real change. I pray that the Father gives me the wisdom to recognize when I am becoming stubborn or hard-hearted, so that I may avoid the lessons Pharaoh had to face.
Egyptian Cattle Die
1 Then Jehovah said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Jehovah says, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve me.’ 2 For if you refuse to let them go, and will hold them still, 3 behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon your cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks. There shall be a very grievous plague. 4 And Jehovah shall make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”
5 And Jehovah appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow Jehovah shall do this thing in the land.” 6 Jehovah did that thing on the next day. All the cattle of Egypt died. [This plague was directed against the Egyptian god “Hathor” whose was depicted prosperity and healing. It’s more than ironic that a plague of sickness overtook the cows, huh?] But of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 7 Pharaoh investigated, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go.
The Plague of Boils
8 And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot of the furnace, [“the” furnace referenced here is believed to be the one to which the Egyptians used for human sacrifice.] and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall festering boils break forth on man and on beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.”
10 Moses and Aaron took soot of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh. Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth festering upon man and upon beast. 11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. [This plague was probably directed against the Egyptian god “Imhotep” who was known as the Physician god, and known for wisdom and science. He was a symbol for intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. Even those who were thought to be closest to him, the court magicians, were stricken with this plague.] 12 And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he listened not to Moses and Aaron, as Jehovah had spoken to them.
The Plague of Hail
13 Jehovah said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘This is what Jehovah says, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For I will this time send all my plagues upon your heart, and upon your servants, and upon your people; that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For now I had stretched forth my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth: 16 but in for this very reason have I made you to stand, to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17 And yet you exalt yourself against my people, that you will not let them go?
18 Therefore, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now. 19 Now therefore send quickly in your cattle and all that you have in the field. For every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die.”
20 Those that feared the word of Jehovah among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and his cattle come into the houses. 21 Those that regarded not the word of Jehovah left their servants and his cattle in the field.
22 Jehovah said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt. [This plague could have been directed at several gods, but most notably “Nut” the sky goddess, also known as the protector of the Stars and cosmos.] 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail struck throughout all the 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, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Jehovah is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Pray to Jehovah, for there has been enough of these mighty thundering’s and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” [It is wonderful to hear a repentant heart, but alas, this was not Pharaoh. Pharaoh was more grieved at the consequences of his sin, but not at the sin itself.]
29 Moses said to Pharaoh, “As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Jehovah. The thunders will cease, neither shall there be any more hail, that you may know that the earth is Jehovah’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear Jehovah God.
31 And the flax and the barley were smitten. (for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed, for they were not grown up.)
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to Jehovah. The thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go, just as Jehovah had spoken by Moses.
