Exodus 9:8-12: a reflection

8The LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal. 11The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

In the plague of boils, painful sores break out on people and animals throughout Egypt. And the passage notes a detail about Pharaoh's magicians, the men who had earlier opposed Moses, mimicking his signs and hardening Pharaoh's resistance. Now, the text says, the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on them as on all the Egyptians. Those who had opposed God's messenger could not even stand in his presence; they were brought low along with everyone else.

Notice what became of those who had set themselves against God's work. Earlier, the magicians had stood before Pharaoh imitating Moses' signs, opposing God's purpose. But now they could not stand at all; struck like everyone else, they were unable even to remain in Moses' presence. Their opposition had come to nothing; those who had set themselves against God were, in the end, unable to stand.

That is a small picture of a larger truth: those who set themselves against God cannot finally stand. For a time, opposition to God and his purposes may seem to hold its ground, even to succeed; the magicians once seemed to match Moses. But in the end, those who oppose God cannot stand before him; their opposition comes to nothing. This is a comfort when we see God's purposes opposed, and a warning against setting ourselves against him. Do not fear that the opposition to God will finally prevail; those who set themselves against him cannot stand. And do not be among those who oppose God's purposes, for however they seem to hold their ground for a time, they cannot stand before him in the end. God's purposes will stand; his opponents will not.

Lord, in the plague of boils, the magicians who had opposed your messenger could not even stand before Moses, struck like everyone else; those who had set themselves against your work were, in the end, unable to stand. Show me the larger truth in that: that those who set themselves against you cannot finally stand. For a time, opposition to you and your purposes may seem to hold its ground, even to succeed; the magicians once seemed to match Moses. But in the end, those who oppose you cannot stand before you; their opposition comes to nothing. Comfort me with this when I see your purposes opposed, and warn me against setting myself against you. Keep me from fearing that the opposition to you will finally prevail; those who set themselves against you cannot stand. And keep me from being among those who oppose your purposes, for however they seem to hold their ground for a time, they cannot stand before you in the end. Your purposes will stand; help me stand with you, not against you.