083 - A Thousand-Year Hail!

You pick up your Bible and one is there more here than meets the missing something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper may look like just print on a page, but it's more than Inc. join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our as we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than that hailstorm.

We had a figure so you meeting actually home it was big deal about healing to actually see it destroyed all my gosh it matched today. We get back to Egypt where I have failed really destroy stuff today I'm going to our dining table. I'm Dorothy and I'm Jim and this is more than where we just sit our dining room table and talk about the Scriptures and really never know exactly where our own little handwritten notes and were not sure what the person has really here's the platinum plan battleship you and I've got my side of the table. I got my stuff you got. Here's a fascinating account but this is what makes up what we do each other and can also affirm each other annually or disagree with each other once in a while and that is part of the glory of wrestling together with the word of God for understanding you and you know if you would just have an inkling to get together with someone and say you know it's read the Bible together will is an expert can we do this well I'll tell you when two people read the word together you come up with more than two people questions which makes it a really fascinating to pursue another are some basic basic rule writers write down your question let the Scripture interpret itself.

Don't just read a sentence and then go wake often to something where you write so well reading flight test want to be careful that we don't over spiritualize every point. Bring look for the main point of the story right.

See with transfer. What is telling us about God.

What is he like what is it saying to us about our condition. Yeah.

And where does it connect with the real history, yet often when you do bring up questions that are you both.

You know, you raise your eyebrows for your children.

I don't know but what I do know is God is like this right what I'm saying so is a preop mistake with what we have gone through Nell's six plagues six of the 10 plagues and last last we left him with oils where they ramble and asking they've lost all of their domestic animals that boils. Maybe they've recoverable. I don't know, but they are ramping up and getting more personal close to home. The boys were very close to home thing and so God directly afflicts them and that's a big deal today. It's going to be served like that all over again so well. And if you've ever been through a massive hailstorm a few years ago you could just watch and how much damage massive hail. He may be done after the damage it not match and maybe have experienced how much damage hail can do.

It's terrifying is to affect we will be moved to Spokane some years ago, one of the first month I was there, is driving on the freeway and I couldn't see a car in front of the fruit. I got the crew because the hail came down so thick it made a curtain around me and then it went away in about 15 seconds cleared up and said I could see around me and there was a foot deep of hail on the freeway. Okay, we went into the text do it.

Okay well so were middle chapter 9 verse 13. This is the seventh plague so the Lord said to Moses, rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to them, noticing that before this early morning chats and say to Pharaoh thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve me for this time. This time I will send all my plagues on you your self and on your servant and your people so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth for. By now I could've I could've put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence and and you are been cut off from the earth that's wasting die, but for this purpose I have raised you up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth, you're still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go to behold. About this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt, from the day it was founded until now, and now therefore send get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on. Then whoever through the word of the Lord. Among the servants of Pharaoh heard his slaves in his life stuck in those houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

I can wait a minute I thought all the livestock were killed.

That's what some plague we have someone stuck still well. So as I said yeah today is possible that they went and bought more livestock from the Israelite errors exactly as we have these kinds of Zen writers and they seem to somehow so whatever they did to recover from that loss. They're going to lose if they don't put this this was a period of time that took place here was like the next day after the catalog died that they had that this next one came so we really have no frame of reference for how long. The time span was these things to unfold, but it was blow after blow after blow barely catch your breath and the next one comes the last two were devastating. Economically I talked about is like our current covert shutdown will this one be. This is really bad deal. Not his will is oh his warning here. It's interesting, as distinguished couple ways affect one way he actually says you know, if you listen to what I'm saying.

You can mitigate this disaster and all just just bring your animals inside. Well that's the thing is, if you obey me. If you believe what I just asked her will not fall on right and there's a little theology is that core principle of the Scriptures. If you share God's word and heed it will come in judgment.

If you hear his voice today. Hearken to his voice rang and that's so so hear you saying you know here's here's a second level challenge for you. Not only just as this hail going to be where I'm going try and persuade you to let my people go, but you can you can do something about it. If you just believe what I'm saying. So you know what's happening here is we then begin to see even a separation, not just with the Israelites from the Egyptians, but Egyptians from Egyptians.

Yes, because it says some of the servants of, among Egyptians Pharaoh's servants hurried and brought their animals in their they've seen enough evidence to believe that this is going to happen, but we circle back to this huge, huge statement.

That's right here in the middle of this concept because this really is is should capture our attention. This is the first time that says anything like this in the midst of that of the plagues in verse 14 he says this time I'll send all my plagues on you yourself on your servants and your people.

Here's his purpose so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth right all your little puny made up Egyptian gods Were little magicians running around for right okay then verse 16 he says, but for this purpose I could cut you off, but for this purpose. I've raised you up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth has a huge statement of God's purpose in all of this. If you're asking yourself why did God put Pharaoh and Egyptians through this well there it is up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth is interesting that he says in all the earth not just Egypt. Right. This became a pretty famous event from all the peoples around well from a very practical point of view. Egypt was a massive train nation right there was a huge huge trade route coming across from the east and from the north down through across the coast by Gaza coming across the top of the desert into Egypt and sell that trade would not have necessarily stopped during this time, but word what had been done to be carried back to all the nations with whom Egypt treated what the heck is going on in Egypt doesn't make you wonder what the people in Canaan. One thing okay we know what they were thinking is some 4050 years later when they come into Jericho. Rahab says oh we got you now how does she hear that from her parents. Yes, because this was a generation later from the light of what was happening in Israel are in Egypt was spreading all the known earth God's name was proclaimed in all your he's the only God. The only God is the only God.

He's the one in charge of everything. This is this God in this God is interceding on behalf of his nation and he is the one who placed Pharaoh in power raised him up and kept him there in order to show God's glory point is scramble our brain.

Yeah, I know we have despots today literary power and would like you doing, why don't you take this guy out. Well, that seems to be doing something other than we can see yes and you know you if it's as simple as saying in this particular case yes Camano Street was the most powerful person on earth right now, they will. Pharaoh is Pharaoh's thesis.

My guys more powerful RAM really more powerful and, for I can't even imagine a guy like that. You're right it is hard to imagine but Pharaoh went down under the thumb of the assets I will show you you're still exalting yourself against my people, and you will let them go so and then he gives them a warning very specific point tomorrow. They'll stuff all and again it's this it's this exalting yourself with the pictures pretty instructive.

It means to elevate you to elevate yourself to think of yourself as higher and better and above somebody else to use that language today is that's what you're continually doing you think that your something special or something elevated above these people you think you're really somehow in that particular sense but you know what you're not. And because of that you think you deserve. Keeping my people like you are this year the elite class rank server class in your something, but you're actually not something nothing. Yeah, the contrast is really instructive here that that that these nobody servants that work for this very powerful nation. These nobody servants are being are being represented by the by the most powerful being in the universe it's it's really something.

So Hale's going to come and by the way, if you're smart you'll listen to my words have I been wrong before. He says tell her about this time the clock is ticking and the miracle is as much the timing as it is the right thing because this is an event that he says has never happened in Egypt before they can even imagine what this is going to be like a kid.

I mean I'm sure in their lifetimes of never seen anything like this. And by the way, you can set your watches. It's going to happen at this time tomorrow well and you know we don't know who's experienced hail that hail can happen very suddenly without warning all yes don't know it's coming. And all of a sudden it's raining rocks so you know, the fact that this is called a very heavy hail. Well he says you know if you're outside… That's a pretty bad failure.

Animals that hail storm a few years ago I had baby chickens in the yard and ran aground because the hairballs were as big as her head burns and brought it would have killed every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home right. This is lethal hail cell testing.

Verse 21 it says who never feared the word of the Lord. Among the servants of Pharaoh hurried right back in verse 21.

Whoever didn't pay attention to the word of the Lord, would you not pay attention to the word of this God.

Up to this point, who had been been stirring nature killed all your livestock, and inflicted a burning skin affliction on you yet even if there is a pride issue that is keeping from right okay were in no so we are seeing this division, beginning to show up among the Egyptians themselves.

Some are beginning to fear the word of the Lord yeah and it could very well be in distinction to fearing the word of Pharaoh me. What if what if you were someone who could be seen by Pharaoh in your pulling your animals inside today when you don't write what you will or God has on day we got our own gods so it could be some oppression. We don't know what we do know this division. Some people get a Savior and will somewhere in some people and it's the ones who listen to what God is said and believe is happening. Yeah, still true word of the Lord you were there you a believer you not believe God speaks to listen any of this is this is the same problem will have over 40 years later when they try going to land and they see the Giants and they say you don't got setting on think is in there, but it is Giants. I was supposed to do this they wouldn't believe it's interesting to read on.

We have to read on hail in the Scripture shows up thirtyish time on Scripture of them right here some errors where they show up.

Hail is always indicative judgment is Hale's in a blessing.

Hale's judgment did you look, there's a place somewhere in Deuteronomy were it's it's mentioned as part of the curse, if you don't listen to God how I should turn now and forever. But I did find someone 48 eight where it says hail does his bidding. Yes, right, and that of course is that very famous passage in Revelation, where the hail comes in is Revelation 1621. She hail stones, about 100 pounds each, came down from heaven upon men and men blasphemed God because of the plague hail so that even wrapped in Revelation is a direct reference back to the judgment and hail on Egypt, where the response of those who do not listen to God is to blasphemed when the symbolism is very clear to me that you always think of God as being in heaven above you in the right. So when you got these tarballs coming out from heaven.

This is pretty clear.

It's coming from. The symbology is unmistakable.

So yeah we got Rita John did it happen. Verse 22 okay so then the Lord said to Moses, stretch out your hands toward heaven, said that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt on man beast and every plant in the field of land in Egypt. Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven and the Lord sent thunder and hail and fire ran down to the earth and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the mess of the hail very heavy hail such as had never been seen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation that hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field only in the land of Goshen where the people of Israel where there was no handle all well. It happened, it happened. Well why think we probably should press on because that's just the description of event, or some USA all all. The only thing is warning. God said if you bring your animal right people in the live there also mentioning about the fact you can't bring your plants inside hail in here mentioned.

And sure enough, you know, it just wrecks a member that matches what's on the surface but doesn't destroy the roots right and will see that a second, but what is interesting here just thinking back that June that we had that hail time ago and here you have, you know, all in this event would not just to smithereens. If your person or beast of the field you die in your plants are just smashed nothing. So the damage has happened. So 27 the response. So Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron so they been coming to him. But now Pharaoh since it says this time I have sinned, the Lord is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go and you shall stay no longer Moses said to him as soon as I got out of the city. I will stretch out my hands to the Lord, the thunder will cease and there will be no more hail so that you may know that the earth is the Lords but as for you and your servants, no that you do not yet fear the Lord God is not interesting. I know your heart's not right.

Yeah. And then we get this in parentheses here. Now the flaxen barley were struck down for the barley was in the ear in the flax is in the bud, but the wheat and the emirate were not struck down for their late coming, so Moses went out from the city of Pharaoh, and stretched out his hands to the Lord in the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail and thunder had ceased. He seemed to yet again and hardened his heart. He and his servants so the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he did not let the people of Israel go. Just as the Lord had spoken to Moses: Moses knew his heart had changed.

I know you don't, for the Lord God and so really what you see is a man who who regrets the consequence of his sin which is worse, not repentance because he says he sinned Bopp and 27 and down near the end God says he sinned again so it's interesting that now we equate the fact hardening your heart is sin or at least a result of this debt connected here for the first time he sinned his heart hardened his heart and yeah and so here's the repercussions to see what Pharaoh says now okay this time I send Lords Wright says the Lord's right going plead with him so he take personal use go personally to God.

Now you go, you go and tell them enough thunder and lightning, thunder and hail this this is enough. This is strong similar to circumstances fixed that he is unwilling to be fixed himself well and I think it's interesting that when Moses responds to says okay I'll do this when I grow city. Are you all right stretch him out.

Yes I'll do this and then he says to Pharaoh in his face. He said to him, you know, I know that you don't yet right of the Lord God has not grown or what I just I find it fascinating how many can mumble that believes what he says right right to his face. I know you don't yet fear the Lord and so so you know what I don't know how Pharaoh can find the guts to change his mind on this when he says I've already been outed. I mean they know my heart. Moses knows where everyone knows and I'm just doing this because the circumstances changed my benefit. You know I'm not really repented in any real way. I mean they know me inside out but don't change my mind and get away with well where you actually see in the next few weeks that actually Pharaoh's people begin to say to him what is wrong with you. Don't you see Egypt went exact ESL intent in his hardness and I and I see it is a repudiation of him just in the common life in Egypt as well because there there probably were some people who save their animals in the barn from hail their work and so now they're walking around with their animals. They're the only ones that have animals in Egypt. They're the ones that went against Pharaoh and went with the God of Israel. And that's just got to be a constant reminder as well as Pharaoh looks across his land.

There were some people that actually did heed the word of God where I did not and look at their benefit. That's have been just a constant walking reminder in front of you know what, if you listen to God you'll find life if you don't listen to God to find and I don't know.

So now he's got this testimony from his people walk around their animals against them and against what he's done so many people now are turning against Pharaoh and their and their losing people in their households and you know we get to the 10th plague those household members in a big way. So this is just escalated in a massive way. But it's interesting that that the writer here which courses Moses says the flaxen barley were struck down mass to a pulp by the week and ever were still barley and Emma were still okay so it was in but say the least. We have our wheat right because the hell didn't penetrate what was down below the dirt.

But what is interesting, because that's going to be coming up when the locusts, that benefit is not to survive is alright so you think you may still have a little money in the bank but as time passes. Yeah. And I've always wondered know this is total speculation on my part, but I wonder Pharaoh and his partner will restructure on after this and said well, folks, things do look bad. We lost all of our barley.

You know we got everything does look better, but at least we've got our wheat, you know, maybe the God of Israel is slipping a little bit because he could've time this will better take a memo that we did but he did so we are we totally spent a week but you know when the next chapter.

That's not to matter anymore just like a matter well with come down near the end close to the so my question is why this is telling us about God always is there new information here. Well we get that incredible savings is I'm doing this so you know there is none like me.

It's really true that even desperate. Like Pharaoh God says I've put you in place to serve my purpose you think your serving your own purpose, but I'm your serving my purpose. My name will be proclaimed in all the earth, I will show my power because you are such a wretch. The contrast sets his own people apart that struck me so visually. Like we said the other day about you know what about if you look at your driveway and you see snow in your driveway.

No snow in your neighbors.

Well, what's with that. Well, this is just giving hail. That's not falling right on laser lights and you can attributed to nature know the hailstorm can be right it can land on me and not my neighbor yacht and all that is really not all the Israelites, the Legion statistically that's a pretty low probability that that's not happening then here also. We have this take away that this resistance to to believing God's word is not actually sent right.

What is your heart, is that you harden your heart to accept what God says even further as you do that tooth actually is simple posture to take when you hear God's words and you say no back and have anything to do with it. Now he tries he tries to mediated a little bit by by basically you know, it looks like he regrets the consequences of the sinner looks like he says what it turned out really poorly will so will you plead for me it looks like you he takes a couple steps the right direction, but he's really not he's really not.

That's remorse hurts. I'm sorry it's happening except I regret this consequent ass. Maybe next summer will do this, but I regret the consequence, but no one believe in Egypt they know there's another take away here when it says it Pharaoh's heart was hardened Pharaoh hardened his heart and his servants heart so that influence of a hardened heart in a leader can influence people who otherwise might have been inclined another way of God that is a warning God's gracious when he gives a warning says that the judgment is coming. The clock is ticking.

Do not harden your heart that's from Psalm 95 is usually not harden your heart and that's all that couple always goes to go biblically you hear his voice what you and your going to bed you into something better.

You just deny it better. Always go together and and in God's fairness.

You know it it's not as though he's not telling us these things is telling us very clearly it's in our pride and in our sin we say no don't have any work salting ourselves, resulting ourselves and yet we we think were getting away with it. But just like Moses is right to Pharaoh's face. No back there in verse 30. I know that you don't yet fear the Lord, you just don't fear your heart's not the right place and I know that but I'm still gonna plead for God then will take. I know you're not fooling God. God looks at our hearts and we do and of our time and come back next starting to chapter 10 very very famous play has become next time. And sure enough that please the whole not having you sprouted is not very helpful because all come back next time. Mainstream church is solely responsible to contact us with your questions or comments