◄ Exodus 9:33 ►
Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.
Study Bible
So Moses left Pharaoh
The act of Moses leaving Pharaoh signifies a moment of transition and obedience. In Hebrew, the word for "left" (יָצָא, yatsa) often implies a purposeful departure. Moses, as God's chosen leader, demonstrates his role as an intermediary between God and Pharaoh. This departure is not just physical but also spiritual, as Moses moves from the presence of earthly authority to divine communion.

went out of the city
The city, likely Pi-Ramesses or another Egyptian city, represents the heart of Pharaoh's power and the epicenter of Egyptian idolatry. By stepping out of the city, Moses symbolically distances himself from the pagan influences and aligns himself with God's will. This act underscores the separation between the ways of the world and the ways of God, a recurring theme in Scripture.

and spread out his hands toward the LORD
The gesture of spreading out hands is a posture of prayer and supplication, deeply rooted in Hebrew tradition. It signifies openness, surrender, and a plea for divine intervention. This physical act reflects Moses' faith and reliance on God's power. In the broader biblical context, such gestures are often associated with seeking God's mercy and favor, as seen in other instances like Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication (1 Kings 8:22).

Then the thunder and hail ceased
The cessation of thunder and hail is a direct response to Moses' intercession, highlighting the power of prayer and God's control over nature. The Hebrew word for "ceased" (חָדַל, chadal) implies a complete stop, emphasizing God's authority to command creation. This miraculous event serves as a testament to God's sovereignty and His willingness to respond to the prayers of the faithful.

and no rain fell on the land
The absence of rain following the storm is significant, as it marks a return to normalcy and a reprieve from judgment. In the ancient Near East, rain was often seen as a blessing, but in this context, its cessation is a sign of God's mercy. The phrase underscores the completeness of God's intervention and the restoration of peace after divine judgment. It also serves as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and His ability to provide and withhold according to His will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this verse, Moses acts as an intercessor between God and Pharaoh.

2. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt, whose heart was hardened against letting the Israelites go. He represents resistance to God's will.

3. The City
Likely refers to the Egyptian capital or a significant city where Pharaoh resided. Moses leaves this place to pray, indicating a separation from the seat of Egyptian power.

4. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who demonstrates His power over creation and the false gods of Egypt through the plagues.

5. Thunder, Hail, and Rain
Elements of the seventh plague sent by God as a judgment upon Egypt, showcasing His control over nature.
Teaching Points
The Power of Intercession
Moses' prayer demonstrates the power of intercession. Believers are called to pray for others, trusting that God hears and responds.

God's Sovereignty Over Nature
The cessation of the storm upon Moses' prayer illustrates God's control over creation. This reassures believers of God's power in their lives.

Separation for Prayer
Moses leaves the city to pray, indicating the importance of separating oneself from distractions to focus on God.

The Hardness of Heart
Pharaoh's continued resistance despite witnessing God's power serves as a warning against hardening one's heart to God's will.

Faith in Action
Moses' actions reflect faith in God's promises. Believers are encouraged to act in faith, trusting in God's timing and power.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' role as an intercessor in Exodus 9:33 inspire you to pray for others in your life?

2. In what ways can you create a "separation" from daily distractions to focus on prayer and communion with God?

3. How does the demonstration of God's power over nature in this passage strengthen your faith in His sovereignty over your personal circumstances?

4. Reflect on a time when you witnessed a "hardness of heart" in yourself or others. How can this passage guide you in responding to such situations?

5. How can the pattern of prayer and response seen in Moses' life encourage you to persist in prayer, even when immediate results are not visible?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 8:12-13
Similar to Exodus 9:33, Moses prays to God, and God responds by removing a plague. This pattern highlights Moses' role as an intercessor.

James 5:16-18
The power of a righteous person's prayer is emphasized, drawing a parallel to Moses' effective intercession.

1 Kings 8:35-36
Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication, asking God to respond to the prayers of His people and control the weather, mirrors Moses' intercession.
Sermons
The Plague of HailJ. Orr Exodus 9:13-35
The Seventh Plague - the Hail Mingled with FireD. Young Exodus 9:17-35
The Terrors of God's MightJ. Urquhart Exodus 9:22-35
People
Aaron, Egyptians, Israelites, Moses, Pharaoh
Places
Egypt, Goshen
Topics
Abroad, Cease, Ceased, Fall, Forth, Hail, Hands, Ice-storm, Longer, Pharaoh, Poured, Prayer, Rain, Spread, Spreadeth, Stopped, Stretched, Stretching, Thunder, Thunders, Town, Voices
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 9:33

     4843   plague

Exodus 9:18-33

     4828   hail

Exodus 9:33-34

     4844   rain
     4852   thunder

Library
Confession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
The Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New
(Palm Sunday.) Exodus ix. 14. I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. We are now beginning Passion Week, the week of the whole year which ought to teach us most theology; that is, most concerning God, his character and his spirit. For in this Passion Week God did that which utterly and perfectly showed forth his glory, as it never has been shown forth before or since. …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

The Plagues of Egypt
(Palm Sunday.) EXODUS ix. 13, 14. Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. You will understand, I think, the meaning of the ten plagues of Egypt better, if I explain to you in a few words what kind of a country Egypt is, what kind of people the Egyptians were. Some of you, doubtless, …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22). In the last chapter when treating of the Sovereignty of God the Father in Salvation, we examined seven passages which represent Him as making a choice from among the children of men, and predestinating certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son. The thoughtful reader will naturally ask, And what of those who were not "ordained to eternal life?" The answer which is usually returned to this question, even by those who profess …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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