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.)
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
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