August 4, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Exodus - The Fifth Plague: Egyptian Livestock Die
Exodus 9:1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. 4 And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. 5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. 6 And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
The LORD God of the Hebrews was in sure control. Pharaoh had hardened his heart just as the LORD said he would. Now, some would think Pharaoh was in control not knowing that God told Moses that Pharaoh would do exactly what he would do.
This entire process was for two reasons; one, to bring God’s people out of the land and rule of Egypt; two, to show that the LORD is God.
Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
As said before, these plagues were all focused against the false gods of the Egyptians. They were to prove to them that their false gods cannot and are not real and have no power at all. This plague was to prove the Apis the black bull god was impotent under the hand of God.
“Apis, the black bull, was worshiped in Egypt. The second largest temple that Egypt built was located in Memphis and was for the worship of the black bull Apis. Apis was supposed to be an embodiment of Ptah of Memphis. Apis, thought to be engendered by a moonbeam, was distinguished by several characteristics. A new Apis was always believed to be born upon the death of the old. The dead bull was embalmed and buried in Memphis. His soul then passed to the world beyond as Osiris–Apis.”
God said He was sending a grievous murrain, a murrain of great proportion for it would be very grievous bringing death to all the animals of Egypt. The word murrain means plague or pestilence. The camels and asses, and oxen, the burden bearers of the economy would be gone. The cattle, and sheep, the food supply for Egypt would be eradicated. Literally, the economy would come to a standstill.
God tells us that these things will happen again in the time of which we live. As we draw nearer to the rapture and the tribulation period we will see great famines and pestilences.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Notice again that God separated the land of Goshen from Egypt. Israel was safe from all harm, their cattle, sheep and beast of burden lived.
God gave the curse to Egypt and the blessings to His people. At this point there was definitely a line drawn in the sand.
My friend, God wants to bless you. The first blessing from the Lord is the blessing of salvation. God wants to save your soul. Salvation brings you into the family of God, it makes you a child of God which brings the blessings of God.
Just as Pharaoh chose, you can chose. Will you harden your heart believing you are in control, or, will you trust in the Lord to save your soul and receive the blessings of God?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
