Bible Talks: The Story of Moses the Man of God

From: Messages of God's Love: 1968

Exodus 9:19-26¹⁹Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. ²⁰He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: ²¹And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. ²²And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine 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. ²³And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. ²⁴So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. ²⁵And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. ²⁶Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. (Exodus 9:19‑26)

Before the awful judgment of hail and fire fell on the land, God warned even the Egyptian and in His goodness provided a way of escape. “Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.” And God’s voice still speaks in words of grace, saying: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways.” Ezekiel 33:11¹¹Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11). Again, it says He is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” How truly this tells out the love and mercy of God. His righteousness demands judgment of sin, but His grace prepares a way of escape for all who will respond.

What was the effect of this warning message? The answer of men in that day was much the same as the answer of men today. Some believed and some believed not. “He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.” verse 20. Do we not rejoice to thus learn that even among the servants of Pharaoh some believed God’s message and were saved? When the storm broke in all its fury these were secure in the shelter of their houses, picture of a sinner who places himself under the shelter of the Lord Jesus Christ; “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree...; by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Pet. 2:24²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Yes, friend, He bore the fury of God’s wrath against sin, so that the judgment could not reach or harm all who trust Him for salvation.

But, alas, we also read: “he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.” verse 21. And in the field they met death when the storm broke with such might that there was no escape. “The field is the world.” Matthew 13:38³⁸The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 13:38). In which company would you be found dear reader? Is your life safely “hid with Christ in God?” Colossians 3:3³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3).

The story also brings before us a picture of God’s distinction between His people and an unrepentant world. “Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.” verse 26. Israel, God’s earthly people in a coming day, will pass through great tribulation, but the promise to them is, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” and this shall indeed be their experience, while their enemies meet with the due reward of their deeds and ungodliness.

In this we can also see those who now rest in the security of faith in the atoning work of Christ, knowing they will never see judgment visited upon them. These have believed the promise: “He that heath My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Just as Noah and his family were spared from the great flood that destroyed the world in his day, the ark (type of Christ) being their salvation, so all who now trust in Jesus as Saviour will be safe and secure with Him when this world is destroyed by fire.

ML 12/01/1968

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.