Exodus 9:1-16
A very grievous plague (murrain) now breaks out on the cattle. God spares the flocks in Israel from which it will be necessary to provide lambs for the Passover, and later for other sacrifices. Then boils break out on men and beasts. The king’s heart remains hardened, although – note the expression – it was upon his heart that the LORD is sending all these plagues (v. 14). How can we explain this fury of Pharaoh against Israel? Satan knows that from this people one day must be born the Messiah, who, a greater than Moses, will come to deliver men from his yoke and will be his conqueror. So then he keeps Israel in bondage as long as possible. But this obstinacy only succeeds in demonstrating the power of God all the more, and in declaring His name throughout all the earth (v. 16 quoted in Romans 9:17).
Brought face to face with the power of God, but also His mercy which has taken away successively the frogs, the lice and the poisonous flies . . . proud Pharaoh each time deliberately hardened his heart and refused to repent. How many people harden their heart in the presence of the greatest of all miracles of grace: the Son of God dying for the salvation of lost mankind!