Justin Houtz

Exodus 9, Luke 15

DateVersionReading Plan
February 28, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 9

Observation

Exod. 9:4-7 – Similar to how God made a distinction between Israel and the Egyptians in sparing the Israelites of the plague of flies, they would now also be spared the plague among the livestock. Additionally, the LORD set a time that the plague would strike—the next day—and it happened as it was a set. The combination of specific recipients and timing of the plague illuminate both the power of God and His precision.

Exod. 9:11 – Not only were the magicians unable to replicate the plague of boils, they were entirely succumbed by it themselves; unable to stand before Moses because the boils had come on them along with all the Egyptians. Their power was shown to be as nothing, utterly impotent compared Almighty God who alone possesses ultimate dominion over creation.

Exod. 9:16 – God provides the reason why He had raised Pharaoh up, “so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” God’s aim was that He would receive His due recognition, adoration and reverence. The NAC summarizes it well:

Pharaoh himself had come to power and was acting as he was under God’s control, the result being not only that he, the king of the world’s greatest superpower at that time, would see true divine power but that all who learned of the exodus story in all generations thereafter would give the true God credit for that power.

Exod. 9:27 – In response to the plague of hail and fire, Pharaoh admitted that he had sinned “This time”, that the LORD was in the right and that he and his people were in the wrong. Interestingly, as the CSB Notes points out, “When Pharaoh said, I have sinned, he may have been admitting to being merely ‘at fault,’ or ‘in the wrong,’ using the word translated ‘sinned’ in a way similar to its use in 5:16.”

Exod. 9:34 – When Pharaoh saw that the hail and fire had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart along with his servants. This is the first mention of the hardening of others’ hearts, all previous references of hardening were of Pharaoh’s heart.

Application

When God spoke of His purpose in raising Pharaoh up to show His power so that His name would be proclaimed in all the earth, we are privy to the Bible’s grand, overarching redemptive narrative. The very purpose of existence is that everything in both the heavens and the earth would declare His glory. It is the root of everything and, for those who abide in the Lord as Creator of all things, our lives should be singularly focused on this one end: that His name would be known and that He would receive all glory.

Luke 15

Observation

Luke 15:5 – The shepherd laid the lost sheep on his shoulders and carried it home. The laying of it on his shoulders “suggests that the saved sheep enjoyed a place of privilege and intimacy that it never knew as long as it was numbered with the others.” (BBC)

Luke 15:24, 32 – The father of the prodigal son repeated his sentiment regarding the younger son who returned to both his servants and the older son.

Application

The three parables of this chapter all speak on lost things and of the celebration that results in their finding. It should be for us to properly keep afresh the realization of our lostness apart from Christ and so also rejoice that He gathers His children back to Himself. It is a work of HIs grace for which we should never grow cold in acknowledgement and gratitude. May we be diligent in reminder of the great sacrifice by which it came and of the precious gift of new life we have been given in Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are awesome in wonder and worthy of all praise. Let my life be for You, cruciform in every thought, word and deed, anchored to the purpose of making Your name known. Father, help me to never grow dull of the grace you poured out, of the immeasurable cost you paid in order to restore and redeem this lost soul.

Resources