Category Archives: Repenting from Sin

Faith / Trusting God, Fear / Reverence for God, Repenting from Sin, Revelation

When the World’s Treasures Disappear (Revelation 18:9–19)

What would the loss of the things you value most reveal about where your heart has been invested?

Key Verse:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 (NASB)

Background Context:

Earlier in Revelation 18, God called His people to come out of Babylon and refuse to participate in her sins. Now John shows us the response of those who did participate in her system. Kings, merchants, and seafarers stand at a distance watching Babylon burn, mourning the sudden destruction of the city that had brought them wealth and luxury.

Their grief provides a striking contrast with God’s perspective. Heaven sees the righteous judgment of a corrupt system. Those invested in Babylon see the disappearance of prosperity, influence, and opportunity. Their reaction exposes what they truly treasured.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 18:9–19

   9“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

      11“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— 12cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, 13and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. 14“The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15“The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ 19“And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’

Reflection on Revelation 18:9–19:

The kings of the earth are the first to mourn. They had joined themselves to Babylon and enjoyed the pleasures she offered. Yet when judgment arrives, they stand “at a distance because of the fear of her torment.” Their relationship with Babylon was built on what they could receive from her. When the benefits disappear and the consequences arrive, they do not come to her rescue. The powerful system that once seemed so desirable is suddenly something they fear even approaching.

The merchants respond similarly. John gives an extraordinary list of merchandise—gold, silver, precious stones, fine clothing, expensive woods, spices, food, livestock, and much more. Babylon had created tremendous prosperity, and many had become wealthy through her excessive luxury. But in a single hour the system collapses. The merchants weep because “no one buys their cargoes any more.” Their grief is not centered on repentance for participating in Babylon’s corruption. They mourn because the source of their wealth is gone.

The list becomes particularly disturbing when John reaches “slaves and human lives.” Human beings themselves had become commodities in Babylon’s economy. This exposes how far a society driven by wealth, pleasure, and power can fall. When profit becomes more important than righteousness, people eventually become things to be used rather than neighbors created in the image of God. Babylon’s prosperity looked impressive, but underneath its luxury was exploitation and wickedness.

John then turns to those who made their living from the sea. Shipmasters, sailors, and traders also stand at a distance and cry out as they watch Babylon burn. Again the lament focuses on economic loss: “Who is like the great city?” and “in one hour she has been laid waste!” What seemed permanent disappeared almost instantly. Wealth and worldly power can create a convincing illusion of security, but Revelation repeatedly reminds us how quickly everything built apart from God can fall.

Yeshua warned His disciples about exactly this danger. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). The problem is not simply possessing material things. Scripture contains many examples of God providing abundance to His people. The danger comes when possessions possess us—when wealth, comfort, success, or status become the foundation of our security and the measure of a successful life.

There is an important contrast with the command we studied earlier in this chapter. God tells His people, “Come out of her.” The merchants and kings effectively say, “Look at everything we are losing.” That contrast forces us to consider what might make us reluctant to separate ourselves from something God condemns. Sometimes compromise is attractive not because we believe rebellion is right, but because obedience might cost us something we value.

Revelation 18 therefore challenges us to examine our treasures before they are taken away. If our deepest security rests in wealth, career, possessions, reputation, political influence, or comfort, those things will eventually fail us. But the kingdom of God cannot be shaken. Yeshua calls us to store up treasure in heaven and invest our lives in what will endure beyond this present world.

The mourners of Babylon discovered too late that they had invested everything in a kingdom destined to fall. God’s people should learn from their mistake. We can receive His earthly blessings with gratitude without making them our treasure. Our greatest treasure is the Lord Himself, and our greatest investment should be in His eternal kingdom.

Application:

  • Consider what your reaction to losing wealth, possessions, status, or comfort might reveal about your heart.
  • Receive God’s material blessings gratefully without allowing them to become the foundation of your security.
  • Refuse opportunities for prosperity that require compromise with God’s ways.
  • Treat people as those created in God’s image, never merely as resources to advance your own interests.
  • Invest your time, resources, and priorities in God’s kingdom and in things that have eternal value.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for every good thing You provide. Help me to enjoy Your blessings with gratitude without allowing them to become my treasure. Search my heart and reveal anything in this world that I value more highly than I should. Give me courage to walk away from compromise even when obedience costs me something. Teach me to value people above possessions and Your kingdom above worldly success. May my heart be invested in what will endure, and may You always remain my greatest treasure. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy / Set Apart, Repenting from Sin, Revelation

Come Out of Her, My People (Revelation 18:1-8)

Can we live surrounded by a culture opposed to God without allowing its values to become our own?

Key Verse:

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.'” — Revelation 18:4 (NASB)

Background Context:

Revelation 17 introduced Babylon as a corrupt and seductive system aligned with the beast and opposed to God. She entices kings and nations with power, immorality, wealth, and worldly influence. Yet despite her impressive appearance, her judgment is certain.

Revelation 18 now announces her fall. An angel declares that Babylon has become a dwelling place of demons and that the nations, kings, and merchants have participated in her corruption. Then another voice from heaven interrupts the announcement with a direct appeal to God’s people: “Come out of her, my people.”

The command reveals that Revelation is not merely telling believers what will happen to Babylon. It is warning us not to become part of what Babylon represents.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 18:1-8

Babylon Is Fallen

      1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

      4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6“Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7“To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’ 8“For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

Reflection on Revelation 18:1–8:

The chapter opens with an angel descending from heaven with great authority and announcing, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” From the world’s perspective, Babylon appears wealthy, powerful, influential, and secure. From heaven’s perspective, however, her destruction is already certain. Once again Revelation challenges us to evaluate the world according to God’s perspective rather than according to appearances.

Babylon’s influence reaches far beyond a single ruler or city. The nations participate in her immorality, kings join themselves to her, and merchants grow wealthy through her excessive luxury. She represents a world system built around rebellion against God—one that promises satisfaction through power, wealth, pleasure, influence, and self-indulgence. These things can be tremendously attractive precisely because they often appear successful for a time.

Then comes one of the most important commands in the chapter: “Come out of her, my people.” Notice that God is speaking to His people. The danger is not merely that unbelievers will follow Babylon. God’s people themselves must guard against becoming entangled in her sins. We can belong to Yeshua while still facing powerful pressure from the culture around us to adopt its priorities, values, and compromises.

Coming out of Babylon does not necessarily mean physically withdrawing from society. Yeshua prayed concerning His disciples, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). God’s people are called to live in the world without becoming like the world. We should influence those around us for God’s kingdom rather than allowing the surrounding culture to reshape us according to its values.

This connects directly with the theme we have been following through Revelation. The dragon makes war against those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua (Revelation 12:17). Revelation 14 describes the perseverance of the saints in similar terms. Revelation 15 shows the victorious singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Revelation 17 describes those with the Lamb as called, chosen, and faithful. Now Revelation 18 adds another dimension: God’s faithful people must be willing to separate themselves from the world’s rebellion even when participating in it would be easier or more profitable.

There is also an important warning in God’s words: “so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” Choices have consequences. God’s grace does not make participation in sin harmless. Babylon’s sins have “piled up as high as heaven,” and God has remembered her iniquities. The apparent delay of judgment should never be mistaken for God’s approval. We saw the same principle recently in Ecclesiastes: delayed judgment can encourage people to continue in evil, but God’s patience does not mean He has forgotten.

This makes God’s command to come out an expression of mercy. Before judgment falls, He warns His people to separate themselves from Babylon’s sins. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly warns before He judges. His warnings give people opportunity to repent, turn away from wickedness, and return to Him. But His patience should never be confused with unwillingness to judge persistent rebellion.

Revelation 18 therefore confronts us with a deeply personal question. Have we become comfortable with things God calls sinful simply because the culture around us considers them normal? Babylon does not always demand that God’s people openly reject Him. Sometimes it simply invites us to compromise little by little—to desire what the world desires, celebrate what the world celebrates, and measure success the way the world measures it.

God calls His people to something different. We are to live among the nations while belonging to another kingdom. We should love people, share the good news of Yeshua, and faithfully represent God in the world around us, but our values must come from Him. When the world’s ways conflict with God’s Word, the call remains clear:

“Come out of her, My people.”

Application:

  • Ask God to reveal where the values of the surrounding culture may have influenced you more than His Word.
  • Refuse to accept something as good simply because society celebrates it or because participating in it benefits you.
  • Remember that living differently from the world does not mean withdrawing from people; we are called to represent Yeshua faithfully among them.
  • Take God’s warnings about sin seriously rather than interpreting delayed judgment as approval.
  • Choose faithfulness to God even when obedience costs you comfort, acceptance, influence, or material benefit.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for warning Your people before judgment comes and for calling us away from the things that lead us into sin. Help me to recognize where the values of the world have quietly influenced my thinking, priorities, or behavior. Give me courage to stand apart when Your Word calls me to live differently, while still loving those around me and faithfully representing Yeshua to them. Keep me from compromise and teach me to measure my life by Your truth rather than by the standards of the world. May I remain among those who keep Your commandments, hold fast to the testimony of Yeshua, and remain faithful to the Lamb. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Fear / Reverence for God, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Repenting from Sin, Through Prophets

A Heart that Refuses to Repent (Revelation 16:1–9)

When God confronts our sin, how do we respond?

Key Verse:

“They blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.” — Revelation 16:9 (NASB)

Background Context:

As Revelation 16 begins, the seven angels receive instructions to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth. These judgments intensify those described earlier in the seals and trumpets, demonstrating that God’s warnings have been repeatedly ignored. Yet even in the midst of these severe judgments, John records a sobering truth about the human heart.

Rather than turning to God in repentance, many continue to reject Him. The passage reminds us that the greatest barrier between humanity and God is not a lack of evidence but the unwillingness of the human heart to submit to Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 16:1-12

Six Bowls of Wrath

      1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

      2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

      3The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.

      4Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

      8The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

Reflection on Revelation 16:1–9:

One of the saddest observations in all of Revelation is found in the repeated response of those experiencing God’s judgment.

John writes:

“They did not repent.”

Despite witnessing events unlike anything the world has ever seen, many continue to harden their hearts against God. Rather than humbling themselves, they blaspheme His name and refuse to give Him glory.

This should remind us that miracles alone do not produce repentance.

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly demonstrated His power through mighty signs and wonders, yet people often continued in unbelief. Pharaoh witnessed the plagues upon Egypt but repeatedly hardened his heart. Many who saw Yeshua heal the sick, give sight to the blind, calm the sea, and even raise the dead still refused to believe that He was the Messiah.

The issue has never been whether God has revealed Himself.

The issue is whether people are willing to surrender to Him.

Yeshua taught this truth in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. When the rich man asked that someone be sent back from the dead to warn his brothers, Abraham replied:

“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)

What a remarkable statement.

The resurrection of Yeshua would prove those words true. Even after the greatest miracle in history, many still refused to believe.

Revelation 16 reveals the same condition of the human heart. Judgment itself cannot soften a heart that has already chosen rebellion. Genuine repentance begins when we humbly acknowledge God’s authority and turn to Him in faith.

The apostle Paul reminds us that it is God’s kindness that is intended to lead us to repentance:

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

Throughout Revelation, God has repeatedly warned the world and called people to repentance. The eternal gospel has been proclaimed, His witnesses have testified, and countless opportunities have been given to turn back to Him. The bowls of wrath do not reveal a God who is eager to judge, but a holy God whose patience has been continually rejected.

Peter likewise reminds us of God’s heart:

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

This passage also encourages us to examine our own hearts.

Most of us will never openly blaspheme God as those described in Revelation do. Yet whenever we resist His conviction, excuse our sin, or delay repentance, we move in the same direction. A hardened heart rarely develops overnight. It is formed one small act of resistance at a time.

David understood the proper response when confronted with his own sin. He prayed:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

That should be our prayer as well.

Rather than waiting until hardship forces us to examine our lives, may we respond quickly whenever God convicts us through His Word and His Spirit. A soft heart is one of God’s greatest blessings.

Revelation 16 reminds us that every person ultimately makes a choice.

Will we humble ourselves before the Lord while His mercy is still extended?

Or will we harden our hearts until repentance no longer seems desirable?

Today is the day to respond to God’s grace.

Application:

  • Ask God to reveal any area where your heart has become resistant to His correction.
  • Respond quickly when the Holy Spirit brings conviction instead of delaying repentance.
  • Thank God for His patience and mercy, which continually invite you back to Him.
  • Pray for those whose hearts remain hardened against the gospel.
  • Cultivate a humble heart that is eager to submit to God’s will.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your incredible patience, mercy, and kindness toward me. Forgive me for the times I have resisted Your correction or delayed repentance. Create in me a clean heart that is soft and responsive to Your Spirit. Help me to recognize Your loving discipline as an expression of Your care and to turn quickly to You whenever You reveal sin in my life. May I continually give You the glory You deserve and faithfully walk in Your ways. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Wise

God Made Us Upright (Ecclesiastes 7:23–29)

Where does the brokenness we see in ourselves and in the world come from?

Key Verse:

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” —Ecclesiastes 7:29 NASB

Background Context:

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes 7, he reflects on the limits of human wisdom and the reality of mankind’s sinful condition. Although he has devoted himself to seeking wisdom and understanding, he recognizes that there are mysteries only God fully comprehends. His search ultimately leads him to a profound conclusion: God created humanity upright, but people have continually chosen their own paths instead of God’s.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7

      23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it? 25I directed my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

      27“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. 29“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:23–29:

Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly reminds us that human wisdom has limits. In this closing section of chapter seven, he admits that despite all his searching, some things remained beyond his understanding. This is a refreshing reminder that even the wisest man who ever lived recognized that God’s wisdom is infinitely greater than his own.

There is great humility in admitting that we do not have all the answers. Our culture often celebrates self-confidence and independence, encouraging us to trust our own understanding. Yet Scripture consistently points us in the opposite direction. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the more we recognize how much we still have to learn.

Solomon’s search eventually brings him to one of the most important conclusions in the entire book:

“God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

This verse beautifully summarizes the story of Scripture. In the beginning, God created mankind in His image and declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Humanity was designed to live in fellowship with God, reflecting His character and walking in His ways.

The brokenness we experience today did not originate with God.

It originated when mankind chose to depart from His design.

Beginning with Adam and Eve in the garden, people have continually pursued their own wisdom instead of trusting God’s. We devise our own plans, redefine right and wrong according to our preferences, and convince ourselves that our way is better than His. Solomon describes these pursuits as “many schemes”—countless attempts to find fulfillment, purpose, and wisdom apart from the One who created us.

Paul describes this same reality in Romans 3:23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The problem is not that God’s design was flawed.

The problem is that humanity has repeatedly rejected it.

Yet the good news of Scripture is that God did not abandon His creation. Through Yeshua, He has made a way to restore what sin has broken. Paul writes:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Gospel is not merely about forgiveness.

It is about restoration.

God is transforming His people into the likeness of His Son and restoring us to the purpose for which we were created.

As Ecclesiastes 7 comes to a close, Solomon leaves us with both a warning and a hope. The warning is not to trust our own schemes or imagine that we can improve upon God’s design. The hope is that our Creator has not given up on us. His wisdom remains perfect, His ways remain good, and through Christ He invites us back into the life He intended from the beginning.

The wisest path we can take is not creating our own way.

It is humbly walking in His.

Application:

  • Trust God’s wisdom even when you do not fully understand His ways.
  • Examine your life for areas where you may be following your own plans instead of God’s.
  • Remember that sin originates from humanity’s rebellion, not from God’s design.
  • Rejoice that through Yeshua, God is restoring His people to Himself.
  • Commit yourself to walking in God’s ways rather than pursuing your own schemes.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me with purpose and for never giving up on Your creation. Forgive me for the times I have trusted my own understanding instead of Your perfect wisdom. Help me to reject my own schemes and to walk faithfully in the path You have set before me. Thank You for the restoration You offer through Yeshua and for continuing to transform me into His likeness. May my life reflect Your wisdom and bring glory to Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Repenting from Sin

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late (Revelation 9)

How many warnings does it take before a hardened heart finally listens?

Key Verse:
“The rest of mankind… did not repent of the works of their hands…” —Revelation 9:20 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 9, the fifth and sixth trumpets bring increasingly severe judgment upon the earth. Torment, destruction, fear, and death unfold on a massive scale, yet humanity continues to resist God rather than turn to Him.

This chapter forms a complete picture of escalating judgment, hardened hearts, and ignored warnings—while also echoing patterns seen earlier in Exodus during the plagues upon Egypt.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 9

Reflection on Revelation 9:
One of the clearest themes in Revelation 9 is that judgment alone does not produce repentance.

As the trumpet judgments intensify, humanity experiences suffering on a scale unlike anything previously seen. The warnings are unmistakable. God’s power is clearly being revealed.

And yet:

“They did not repent.”

This is the tragedy at the center of the chapter.

People often imagine that if God revealed Himself more clearly, everyone would immediately turn to Him. But Revelation 9 shows that the deepest issue is not lack of evidence—it is the condition of the heart.

A hardened heart can witness extraordinary things and still refuse to submit.

This strongly echoes the pattern we saw in Exodus.

Pharaoh repeatedly witnessed God’s power through the plagues:

  • water turned to blood
  • darkness over the land
  • devastation throughout Egypt
  • the distinction between Egypt and Israel

Yet instead of humbling himself, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart. Later, Scripture tells us that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart as well—not by forcing him into rebellion, but by confirming and sustaining the resistance Pharaoh had already chosen.

Revelation 9 reveals humanity responding in much the same way.

Warnings increase.
Judgment intensifies.
Opportunities to repent remain.

But many continue resisting God.

At the same time, both Exodus and Revelation show another important truth:

God distinguishes those who belong to Him.

In Exodus:

  • Israel was protected in Goshen
  • the blood marked those under God’s protection

In Revelation:

  • God’s people are sealed
  • limits are placed on judgment

This reveals God’s consistent character.

Even in judgment, He knows those who belong to Him.

Another important theme in Revelation 9 is restraint.

The judgments are severe, but they are not uncontrolled:

  • boundaries are established
  • timing is limited
  • authority is permitted, not autonomous

God remains fully sovereign.

Nothing unfolds outside His authority.

This chapter also exposes the danger of delayed repentance.

Many assume:

  • “I will turn to God later.”
  • “If things get serious enough, I’ll change.”
  • “There will always be more time.”

But Revelation 9 warns us that the longer a heart resists God, the more fixed that resistance can become.

This is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to respond today.

Not after more warnings.
Not after more consequences.
Not after life becomes unbearable.

Today.

The chapter ultimately points us toward both warning and hope.

Warning:

  • a hardened heart can resist even overwhelming evidence

Hope:

  • God still calls people to repentance
  • God still distinguishes His people
  • God still provides deliverance through the Lamb

Just as Passover in Exodus pointed to salvation through the blood of the lamb, Revelation points us to Yeshua—the Lamb through whom ultimate deliverance is found.

The question Revelation 9 leaves us with is deeply personal:

Are we responding to God while our hearts are still soft?

Or are we slowly becoming comfortable resisting Him?

Application:

  • Respond to God’s conviction and warnings without delay.
  • Examine your heart for areas of resistance or compromise.
  • Remember that outward circumstances alone do not transform the heart.
  • Trust that God remains sovereign even when judgment and chaos unfold.
  • Place your confidence in the deliverance God provides through Yeshua.

Closing Prayer:
Father, keep my heart soft and responsive to You. Help me not to delay repentance or ignore Your warnings. Reveal any areas where I am resisting Your will, and teach me to walk in humility and obedience. Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, and the deliverance You provide through Yeshua. In His name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Justice / Judgment, Miracles, Miracles, Repenting from Sin, Slow to Anger

Are We There Yet? (Exodus 11)

What do you do when God makes it clear that time is running out?

Key Verse:
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here.’” —Exodus 11:1 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 10, the plagues intensify, and Pharaoh continues his pattern of resistance, compromise, and temporary confession without true repentance. God repeatedly reveals His power, yet Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.

Now in Exodus 11:1–10, God declares that one final plague is coming—one that will break Pharaoh’s resistance and bring about the release of His people. This chapter serves as both a warning and a preparation for what is about to unfold.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 11

The Last Plague

      1Now the LORD said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely. 2“Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.” 3The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

      4Moses said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, 5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6‘Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. 7‘But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ 8“All these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, ‘Go out, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

      9Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

Reflection on Exodus 11:1–10:
God begins with a clear declaration:

“One more plague…”

This marks a turning point.

Everything that has happened so far has been building to this moment. The warnings have been given. The demonstrations of power have been shown. The opportunities to respond have been extended.

Now the end is near.

God explains that after this final plague, Pharaoh will not only let the people go—he will drive them out completely.

This is important.

Pharaoh’s resistance will not end gradually. It will be broken decisively.

God also instructs the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold. And something remarkable happens—the Egyptians respond favorably.

This reveals that God is working not only through judgment, but also through provision.

He is preparing His people not just to leave, but to leave with what they need.

Then Moses describes what is coming.

At midnight, the LORD will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land will die—from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the lowest servant, even to the livestock.

This is the most severe judgment yet.

And it is specific.

It will affect every household in Egypt, bringing a cry unlike anything that has ever been heard.

Yet once again, there is a distinction.

“Against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark…”

God is making it unmistakably clear—He distinguishes between His people and those who oppose Him.

This final plague is not random destruction.

It is a decisive act of judgment and deliverance.

God is both:

  • bringing justice
  • fulfilling His promise
  • and delivering His people

Moses then tells Pharaoh’s servants that they will come to him, bow down, and urge the Israelites to leave.

This is a complete reversal.

The one who refused to listen will now be the one urging them to go.

Yet even after this warning, Pharaoh does not respond.

This is sobering.

Even when the end is clearly declared, a hardened heart can still resist.

God had given warning after warning. He had demonstrated His power again and again. But Pharaoh chose not to respond.

Now judgment is certain.

This passage reminds us that God is patient—but His patience has a purpose.

There comes a point when warning gives way to fulfillment.

For us, this is a call to take God’s word seriously.

When God speaks, it is not empty.
When He warns, it is not without purpose.

We are not meant to wait until the final moment to respond.

God calls us to respond now—while there is still opportunity.

Application:

  • Take God’s warnings seriously and do not delay your response.
  • Recognize that God’s patience is purposeful, but not endless.
  • Trust that God is both just and faithful to His promises.
  • Be encouraged that God provides for and protects His people.
  • Respond to God with humility and obedience while there is still time.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to take Your word seriously and respond when You speak. Keep me from delaying or ignoring Your warnings. Give me a humble and obedient heart that trusts in You. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your justice, and Your provision. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Justice / Judgment, Repenting from Sin

A Hardened Heart in the Face of Truth (Revelation 9:13-21)

What would it take for someone to truly turn to God?

Key Verse:
“The rest of mankind… did not repent of the works of their hands…” —Revelation 9:20 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 9:1–12, the fifth trumpet brings intense torment upon those without God’s seal, showing a shift from environmental judgment to direct human suffering.

Now in Revelation 9:13–21, the sixth trumpet sounds, bringing even greater devastation. Yet the most striking part of this passage is not just the judgment—but the response of the people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 9:13-21

The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East

      13Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

      20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Reflection on Revelation 9:13–21:
When the sixth trumpet sounds, a voice comes from the altar before God, and four angels are released—angels who have been prepared for this exact moment.

This reminds us again:

Nothing is random.
Nothing is out of control.

Even the timing of judgment is precise and purposeful.

These angels are released to lead an army of unimaginable size—two hundred million. The imagery that follows is overwhelming: fire, smoke, and brimstone proceed from them, bringing destruction to a third of mankind.

This is an escalation beyond anything we have seen so far.

The scale is massive.
The impact is undeniable.

Yet the most sobering part of this passage is not the judgment itself—it is the response.

“The rest of mankind… did not repent.”

Despite everything:

  • the warnings
  • the suffering
  • the clear demonstration of God’s power

People still refuse to turn to Him.

Instead, they continue in the same patterns:

  • idolatry
  • worship of false things
  • immoral living
  • violence
  • deception

This reveals something deeply important.

The problem is not lack of evidence.

The problem is the heart.

Just as we saw with Pharaoh in Exodus, people can witness powerful demonstrations of God and still refuse to submit. Hardness of heart is not broken by intensity of circumstances alone.

This passage challenges a common belief:

“If things got bad enough, people would turn to God.”

But Scripture shows that this is not necessarily true.

Without a willing heart, even the clearest warnings can be ignored.

This is why repentance is not just about reacting to circumstances—it is about a change of heart and direction.

God has been:

  • revealing Himself
  • giving warnings
  • showing restraint
  • providing opportunities to respond

Yet many continue to choose their own way.

This is both sobering and instructive.

It reminds us that we should not wait for circumstances to force change. The longer a heart resists, the more fixed it can become.

For us, this passage is a call to examine our own response.

Are we responding to God now?

Or are we delaying, assuming there will always be another opportunity?

God’s patience is real—but it is not endless.

He calls us to respond while there is still time.

Application:

  • Do not wait for circumstances to force you to turn to God.
  • Recognize that hardness of heart can persist even in severe situations.
  • Examine areas where you may be resisting God’s truth.
  • Turn from anything that draws you away from Him.
  • Respond to God’s call with humility and repentance now.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to have a soft and responsive heart toward You. Keep me from resisting Your truth or delaying my response. Reveal anything in my life that needs to change, and give me the strength to turn fully to You. Thank You for Your patience and Your mercy. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Repenting from Sin

Warnings Ignored (Revelation 9:1-12)

What happens when people experience God’s warnings—but still refuse to turn to Him?

Key Verse:
“They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth… but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” —Revelation 9:4 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 8, the first four trumpet judgments are released, affecting the earth, sea, waters, and heavens. These judgments are partial, serving as warnings and opportunities for repentance.

Now in Revelation 9:1–12, the fifth trumpet sounds, and the nature of judgment changes. Instead of impacting creation broadly, the focus shifts directly to people—bringing intense torment rather than immediate destruction.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 9:1-12

The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit

      1Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 3Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. 6And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.

      7The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. 11They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.

      12The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

Reflection on Revelation 9:1–12:
When the fifth trumpet sounds, a star fallen from heaven is given the key to the bottomless pit. This is not merely a natural event—it represents a spiritual release.

The pit is opened, and smoke rises like a great furnace, darkening the air. From the smoke come locust-like creatures, unlike anything natural. They are given power not to kill, but to torment.

This is a shift.

Previous judgments affected the environment. Now the focus is on human suffering.

But even here, there is restraint.

They are told not to harm the earth or those who belong to God—those who have His seal. This again shows that God distinguishes His people and protects them, even in the midst of judgment.

The torment is severe.

People will seek death but will not find it. They will long to escape the suffering, but it will not come. This is not just physical—it reflects deep anguish and distress.

This passage reveals something sobering about judgment.

It is not only about destruction—it is also about exposure.

What is hidden is brought into the open. What people have chosen spiritually begins to manifest in a more visible and painful way.

The imagery of the locusts is intense and symbolic—power, fear, and overwhelming force. They are described with elements of battle, authority, and terror, showing that this is not random chaos, but controlled judgment.

And yet, even in this, there are limits:

  • A set period of time (five months)
  • A clear boundary (they cannot kill)
  • A defined target (those without God’s seal)

God remains fully in control.

This passage also connects back to earlier themes.

God warned.
God gave opportunity.
God showed restraint.

Now judgment intensifies.

But what is most striking comes after this section—people still do not repent.

This reveals a deep truth:

Suffering alone does not produce repentance.

Just as Pharaoh hardened his heart in Exodus, people can experience severe consequences and still refuse to turn to God.

The issue is not external circumstances—it is the condition of the heart.

For us, this passage is a warning and a call to reflection.

We are not meant to wait for increasing pressure to turn to God.

We are called to respond now.

God’s warnings are acts of mercy.

But if they are ignored, the consequences grow more severe.

Application:

  • Respond to God’s warnings before consequences intensify.
  • Recognize that God distinguishes and protects those who belong to Him.
  • Do not assume that suffering will automatically lead to repentance.
  • Examine your heart—are you truly submitted to God?
  • Trust that God is in control, even in the midst of judgment.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to respond to You with a willing and obedient heart. Keep me from delaying or ignoring Your warnings. Thank You for Your protection and Your mercy. Teach me to trust You and to walk in submission to Your will. Strengthen my heart to follow You faithfully. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Obeying God, Repenting from Sin, Submitted / Servant, Tribulation

Empty Words of Surrender (Exodus 9:22-35)

Have you ever said the right things to God in a difficult moment—only to return to old ways when the pressure lifted?

Key Verse:
“But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.” —Exodus 9:34 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 9:8–21, God sends boils upon Egypt and then warns of a coming hailstorm. Some of Pharaoh’s servants respond to God’s warning and act, while others ignore it. Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened as God continues to reveal His power and authority.

Now in Exodus 9:22–35, the hail falls just as God said, bringing destruction across Egypt—while again sparing His people. Pharaoh appears to respond, but his actions reveal something deeper about the nature of true repentance.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 9:22-35

      22Now the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. 26Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.

      27Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. 28“Make supplication to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the LORD’S. 30“But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.” 31(Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) 33So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the LORD; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. 34But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

Reflection on Exodus 9:22–35:
God instructs Moses to stretch out his hand toward the sky, and a devastating storm of hail, thunder, and fire comes upon Egypt. It is unlike anything the land has ever experienced.

The destruction is widespread.

People, animals, and crops left in the field are struck down. Trees are shattered. The land is broken under the weight of what God has brought.

Yet once again, there is a clear distinction.

In the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, there is no hail.

God is continuing to demonstrate both His judgment and His protection. He is not only showing His power—He is making it unmistakably clear who belongs to Him.

In the midst of this, Pharaoh responds.

For the first time, he openly admits wrongdoing:

“I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.”

These are strong words.

Pharaoh acknowledges God’s righteousness and his own sin. He asks Moses to entreat the LORD to stop the storm, promising to let the people go.

On the surface, this appears to be genuine repentance.

But Moses already understands what is happening.

“I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”

Moses recognizes that Pharaoh’s words do not reflect a changed heart. Pharaoh wants relief from the consequences, but he is not ready to submit to God.

Moses prays, and the storm stops.

The thunder ceases.
The hail ends.
The pressure is removed.

And then Pharaoh responds again.

He hardens his heart.

This reveals a critical truth.

Saying the right words is not the same as true repentance.

Pharaoh confessed sin—but did not turn from it.
He acknowledged God—but did not submit to Him.
He sought relief—but not transformation.

This pattern has been building throughout the plagues, and here it becomes very clear.

Temporary pressure can produce temporary confession.
But only a changed heart produces lasting obedience.

We also continue to see the role of God in this process. Pharaoh had repeatedly hardened his own heart earlier in the account. Now, as Scripture tells us, the LORD hardens his heart—confirming him in the path he has already chosen and allowing that resistance to continue.

This is not God forcing rebellion, but God sustaining Pharaoh’s chosen direction so that His power would be fully revealed.

God is demonstrating His authority over creation, over nations, and over kings.

But Pharaoh still refuses to yield.

This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts.

Do we turn to God only when circumstances become difficult?

Do we say the right things in moments of pressure, but return to old patterns when life becomes easier?

True repentance is more than words.

It is a change of heart that leads to a change of life.

God is not looking for temporary responses—He is calling for lasting surrender.

Application:

  • Examine whether your response to God is genuine or driven by circumstances.
  • Do not confuse confession with true repentance.
  • Seek transformation of heart, not just relief from difficulty.
  • Be aware that temporary pressure can produce temporary change.
  • Commit to lasting obedience, even after the pressure is removed.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to come before You with a sincere and humble heart. Keep me from offering empty words or temporary responses. Change me from within so that my life reflects true repentance and obedience. Help me to follow You not only in difficult moments, but in every season. Thank You for Your patience and Your truth. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Miracles, Miracles, Obeying God, Protector / Deliverer, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Responding to God’s Warning (Exodus 9:8-21)

When God gives a warning, do you take it seriously—or ignore it?

Key Verse:
“The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses.” —Exodus 9:20 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 9:1–7, God sends a plague upon the livestock of Egypt while protecting Israel, clearly distinguishing His people from the Egyptians. Pharaoh sees the evidence but still hardens his heart.

Now in Exodus 9:8–21, God sends another plague—boils upon man and beast—followed by a warning of a coming hailstorm. For the first time, we see a division not just between Egypt and Israel, but among the Egyptians themselves based on how they respond to God’s word.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 9:8-21

The Plague of Boils

      8Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9“It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.” 10So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. 12And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

      13Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 14“For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15“For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth. 16“But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. 17“Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.

The Plague of Hail

      18“Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19“Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’” 20The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; 21but he who paid no regard to the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.

Reflection on Exodus 9:8–21:
The plague of boils comes without warning. Moses and Aaron throw soot into the air, and it becomes fine dust that causes painful boils on people and animals throughout Egypt.

Even the magicians—who once stood in opposition—are now unable to stand before Moses because of the severity of the boils.

This is another escalation.

Those who once tried to imitate God’s power are now overwhelmed by it. The resistance that once appeared strong is steadily being broken down.

Yet Pharaoh still does not respond.

At this point in the account, we also begin to see a shift in how Scripture describes Pharaoh’s heart. Earlier, Pharaoh hardened his own heart and repeatedly chose to resist God. Now we see that the LORD hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

This does not mean God is forcing Pharaoh in a new direction. Rather, Pharaoh has already chosen to resist again and again, and his heart has become fixed in that decision. God now strengthens and confirms him in that path, allowing his resistance to continue.

In doing so, God ensures that the confrontation unfolds fully, so that His power and authority would be revealed more clearly to Egypt, to Israel, and to all who would hear of it.

God did not create Pharaoh’s rebellion—He sustained and used it to accomplish His greater purpose.

Then God does something different.

Before the next plague, He gives a clear warning.

He tells Pharaoh that a severe hailstorm is coming—unlike anything Egypt has ever seen. This storm will bring destruction to people, animals, and crops left in the field.

But along with the warning, God provides an opportunity.

He tells them to bring their servants and livestock into shelter to avoid the coming judgment.

This reveals something important about God’s character.

Even in judgment, He provides a way to respond.

Now, for the first time, we see a division among the Egyptians themselves.

Some of Pharaoh’s servants fear the word of the LORD and act on it. They bring their people and livestock into safety.

Others ignore the warning and leave everything in the field.

The difference is not nationality.
The difference is not position.
The difference is response.

Some hear God’s word and act.
Others hear and ignore it.

And that response determines the outcome.

This is a powerful moment.

Even while Pharaoh remains hardened, individuals within Egypt begin to respond rightly to God.

This shows that no one is without opportunity.

God speaks clearly.
God provides warning.
God offers a way to respond.

But each person must choose how they will respond.

For us, the question is the same.

When God speaks—through His Word, through conviction, through circumstances—do we take Him seriously enough to act?

Or do we delay, ignore, or assume the warning does not apply to us?

God is not silent.

And the difference is not whether we hear—but whether we respond.

Application:

  • Take God’s warnings seriously and respond with action.
  • Recognize that God provides opportunities to respond, even in difficult circumstances.
  • Examine whether you are listening to God or ignoring His word.
  • Understand that God is sovereign and can use even resistance to accomplish His purposes.
  • Choose to act in obedience rather than delay.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to take Your word seriously and respond when You speak. Give me a heart that fears You rightly—honoring You and acting in obedience. Keep me from ignoring Your warnings or delaying my response. Help me to trust in Your sovereignty and to follow You fully. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.