Exodus 9:8-12

A boil breaking forth with blains.

Lessons

1. Upon former warnings despised, God falls suddenly, on the wicked with vengeance unawares.

2. Though God can plague His enemies without instruments, yet sometimes He will use them.

3. God gives command out of the ashes to bring fiery plagues on the wicked sometimes at His pleasure.

4. Hands full of ashes are to note full measure of vengeance on God’s enemies.

5. Signal actions (as here the sprinkling ashes) God sometimes useth for men to see and fear.

6. God can make ashes dust, and dust boils, to plague His enemies.

7. God foretells His servants that His command obeyed shall not be in vain.

8. Man and beast are joined together in plagues when sinners are not warned by smiting beasts alone.

9. God giveth out threatenings of judgment for manner and measure as He will.

10. The botch or blain on Egypt is a memorable plague. God appropriates it (Exodus 9:9). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. Experience of the devil’s helplessness against God will not persuade the wicked to desist from him.

2. God’s boil shall come upon these wicked instruments, do the devil what he can against it.

3. All Satan’s instruments are vanquished at the appearance of God’s plague (Exodus 9:11).

4. The great God observes and judgeth to obduration sinners who harden themselves against His judgments.

5. Obduration from God’s giving men up to their own lusts makes them more to stop their ears and turn their hearts from His word.

6. God’s foreseeing and foresaying order (or limit) the issues of rebellion in the wicked against Himself (Exodus 9:12). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

The physical suffering brought upon men by sin

I. That there is much physical suffering brought upon men by sin and disobedience. Moral considerations are at the basis of health. The body is influenced by the moods of the soul. Piety is restorative. It gives eternal life.

II. That the physical suffering consequent upon sin comes upon men independent of their social position or of their scientific attainments. The king, the magicians, and all the people of Egypt were smitten by the pestilence. None were exempt.

1. Hence we see that social position does not exempt men from the physical suffering consequent upon sin.

2. Hence we see that scientific attainment does not exempt men from the physical suffering consequent upon sin. The boils were upon the magicians.

III. That the physical suffering consequent upon sin does not always lead to moral reformation. Lessons:

1. That God permits suffering to come upon wicked men to reprove and correct their moral character.

2. That the laws of physical manhood are in harmony with true well-being of the soul.

3. That pain should lead us to review the meaning of our lives. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)

The insignificant commencement of great calamities

I. That great calamities are often insignificant in their commencement. All causes are potent to great effects. A trivial ailment may work death. A little misunderstanding may break up a Church. A little sin may ruin a soul.

II. That great calamities are often mysterious in their infliction. It is astonishing how apparently trivial causes are influential to such great results. Men are at a loss to explain how little sins are so far-reaching in their effects. It must be recognized as the wondrous ordination of God, and as the efficient law of moral life, designed to keep men right.

III. That great calamities are often irrepressible in their progress. When the judgments of God are abroad in the earth, and when little causes are working out their punitive issue in the lives of men and nations, they cannot be restrained by pride or power. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)

The helplessness of wicked men in the hour of Divine retribution

I. They are helpless because they have not the ability to avert the retributions of God. Sin ever makes men helpless.

II. They are helpless because they have not the courage to endure the retributions of God. Sin makes men cowardly. Hell cannot inspire the wicked heart with courage in the hour of trial.

III. They are helpless because they lack those moral qualities which alone can aid men in the hour of retribution. Lessons:

1. That though men have experience of Satan’s inability to help them in their trouble consequent upon sin, they will not desist from it.

2. That all Satan’s instruments are vanquished by the plague of God. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)

A type of corrupt souls

Let this incident lead us to think how great will be the anguish and confusion of wicked men and persecutors when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come again to earth, and when the light of God shall shine upon them. Then the corruption of their unconverted souls will openly appear, and they will not dare to show themselves before the holy angels, and before the redeemed, who are covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Only imagine what would become of any of us if for every evil thought, every wicked word, every falsehood, every slander, every angry word, an ulcer or a boil were to appear on our faces? If it were to happen to us, for example, as to Miriam, the sister of Moses, who, as the punishment of her pride and angry words to her brother, became all at once a leper white as snow, that is to say, covered with a disgusting disease. How horrible we should seem if all the pollutions of our souls were to appear outwardly on our bodies! It is well for us co think occasionally of such things, to examine the sins of our hearts, to humble ourselves before God, and to feel more deeply the need of being washed in the blood of Christ, which “cleanseth from all sin.” It is our Lord Jesus Christ alone who can present to Himself His Church (that is, the assembly of His redeemed people) glorious and pure, “not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish.” (Prof. Gaussen.)