Exodus 9:13-19: a reflection

13The LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth; 16but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth, 17because you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go. 18Behold, 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. 19Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. The hail will come down on every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, and they will die.”’”

As God announces the coming plague of hail on Egypt, a judgment on Pharaoh's continued hardness, he does something we might not expect in the midst of judgment: he gives a warning that allows those who will heed it to be spared. Command that all your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter, God says; for the hail will come down on every man and animal found in the field and not brought home, and they will die. Even in the midst of judgment, God gives a warning, a way for those who heed it to take shelter and be spared.

Notice God's mercy even within his judgment. The hail was coming as judgment on Egypt's hardness; and yet God, even then, warned the Egyptians to bring their people and animals into shelter, so that those who heeded the warning might be spared. He did not have to give this warning; but even in judgment, his mercy provided a way of escape for those who would take it. The same God who sent the judgment gave the warning that could spare those who heeded it. Mercy was present even within the judgment.

That mercy within judgment is worth taking to heart, for it shows a God who, even when he warns of consequences, provides a way of escape for those who heed him. God's warnings are themselves a mercy; they come so that we might take shelter and be spared, not merely to announce doom. When God warns, in Scripture or conscience, of the consequences of sin, hear in the warning itself his mercy, providing a way to be spared if we heed it. Do not despise God's warnings as mere threats; they are a mercy, given so that you might take shelter, as the Egyptians were warned to bring in their own before the hail. Heed God's warnings, taking the shelter he provides, and find in the warning itself the mercy of a God who, even in judgment, gives a way of escape to those who will take it, as he warned the Egyptians to shelter their own before the hail fell.

Lord, as you announced the coming plague of hail on Egypt, a judgment on Pharaoh's continued hardness, you did something I might not expect in the midst of judgment: you gave a warning that allowed those who would heed it to be spared. Command that all your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter, you said; for the hail will come down on every man and animal found in the field and not brought home. Even in the midst of judgment, you gave a warning, a way for those who heed it to take shelter and be spared. Show me your mercy even within your judgment. The hail was coming as judgment; and yet you warned the Egyptians to bring their people and animals into shelter, so that those who heeded might be spared. You did not have to give this warning; but even in judgment, your mercy provided a way of escape. Take that mercy to my heart, for it shows a God who, even when he warns of consequences, provides a way of escape for those who heed him. Your warnings are themselves a mercy; they come so that I might take shelter and be spared. When you warn, in Scripture or conscience, of the consequences of sin, help me hear in the warning itself your mercy. Keep me from despising your warnings as mere threats; they are a mercy, given so that I might take shelter. Help me heed your warnings, Lord, taking the shelter you provide, and find in the warning itself the mercy of a God who, even in judgment, gives a way of escape.