Boils revealed His power
Exodus 9:8-17; 3/8/2026; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
The previous plague was the plague on the livestock. In its essence, it was directed against Egypt’s bull gods—especially Apis and Hathor, who symbolized strength and productivity. But today, as we come to the sixth plague, we see that God is now confronting another Egyptian deity—Sekhmet, the lioness goddess. And notice this: the disaster escalates again. Before, it struck the livestock. Now, it falls upon both man and beast. Pharaoh, are you still not awake? Let us now look at our first point.
Throwing Ashes — boils break out
The things of God are already made known among men—some visible, some invisible. So we are without excuse. First of all, where can we go to argue our case? The Lord speaks again to Moses and Aaron. What does He command? The Bible says, “Take several handfuls of ashes from the furnace, and let Moses throw them toward heaven in Pharaoh’s sight.” From a human point of view, this sounds unreasonable. Several handfuls—not just one. How do you bring ashes into Pharaoh’s court? How do you throw them into the air before the king? Where are the guards? In short, however you explain it, it seems unbelievable. Even more unimaginable is this: And then the Bible says the ashes will become fine dust over all Egypt. How is that possible? This is like the principle of faith. If we believe in Christ, even mountains can be moved. The question is: Do you believe? Do you really believe? Moses and Aaron believed. They did not argue. They simply obeyed. And it happened.
Second, where did the boils appear? On both people and animals—they became festering, blistered sores. This isn’t my interpretation; it’s what the Bible says. Think of the poor Egyptian livestock—already struck by disease, and now they, too, suffer the same boils as the people. Truly, it is a scene of sorrow and misery! And the sores were strange and remarkable. Scripture records that the ashes Moses and Aaron threw toward heaven first became fine dust over all the land of Egypt. This dust—the very stuff God used to create humans—The dust that covered all of Egypt could even become lice. Now, the furnace ashes turned to dust, and on both people and animals, it became festering boils. God uses humble things, humble people, to accomplish great works of salvation!
Finally, whose face was struck? This is a picture full of irony: the humblest furnace ashes were thrown up before the proud and mighty Pharaoh. From Pharaoh’s perspective, how humiliating it must have been! Not only ashes, but ashes that became dust—utterly lowly dust—turned into a vessel he could not overcome. We can imagine Pharaoh’s frustration. What is dust? Isn’t it the very thing I trample underfoot every day? Just like those Hebrew slaves, who let Pharaoh abuse them and kept quiet even when more bricks were piled on them? Isn’t it the same for ordinary people under a dictator? Destroying your churches, tearing down your crosses, arresting Christians—what can you really do to me?” Let us now turn to the second point.
Sorcery fails
The sorcerers were Pharaoh’s secret weapon, the source of his pride and what he relied on. If Pharaoh gets into trouble, shouldn’t the sorcerers be in trouble too? First of all, all the Egyptians got this plague. That’s why these “Mourahs” couldn’t stand.(You can look up why they’re called that, or ask in Sunday school.) Here’s the logic, simple and clear: All Egyptians have the plague. Sorcerers are Egyptians. So, sorcerers have the plague too. If you Mourahs are plagued yourselves, how can you help others who aren’t? If you do wrong yourself, how can you guide others to the right path? Just like Jesus said about the Pharisees: “Let them be. They are blind guides. If a blind man leads another blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14).
Next, Pharaoh’s heart was still hard. By now, half of the ten plagues had passed, and they had reached the sixth one. At this point, Pharaoh’s stubbornness went to the next level—not only was his heart hard, but God Himself helped make it so. The Bible says, “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” From this moment, Pharaoh’s hard heart wasn’t even a question anymore. It would only get harder, and God’s perfect justice would become even clearer. Pharaoh and his officials might have been thinking, “Your God, Moses and Aaron, plays no fair? According to international law, how can you just take people from a sovereign nation?” And so, Pharaoh “did not listen to them, just as the Lord had told Moses.”
Finally, “Let my people go.” The Lord commanded Moses to tell Pharaoh to release His people—this is the main theme of the entire book of Exodus. The Bible keeps emphasizing it: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh in the morning and say to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they may worship me.”’” Honestly, Pharaoh didn’t understand, and the world didn’t understand either. What exactly is God saying? The core is simple: I, the Lord, am the Creator, the Savior, and the Judge. Yet foolish Pharaoh dares to argue about national sovereignty, Egypt’s “rightful defense” against God, even thinking it’s reasonable to reject Him. Pharaoh, you’re showing off on God’s territory—do you really have a point? let’s move to the third point:
God’s name proclaimed, His grace revealed
This is one of those truths we often can’t fully understand: even in God’s discipline or punishment, there is still grace and mercy. First, He lets you go through all kinds of disasters. One after another, again and again—we keep experiencing, learning, and growing through life, right? Including disasters, challenges, and difficulties. The core issue between Pharaoh and God was simple: let the Israelites go. Pharaoh wanted to cling to his national sovereignty, but God said, “Your authority comes from Me.” Pharaoh said, “Why should I listen to You? Who is this God? I don’t know Him—and I don’t care to! That’s the root of the problem—not just Pharaoh’s, but humanity’s, the fundamental problem between God and mankind. Because knowing God is the beginning of wisdom. If you turn away from knowing God, then everything else you think you know about people and the world is bound to be foolish.`
Secondly, God wanted people to know His name. Knowing God shows both our weakness and our resistance—our hearts are reluctant, our will is unwilling. So God did everything possible to make Himself known. He sent His servants, Moses and Aaron, to share His message. At the same time, He brought disasters on the Egyptians—but even these were full of mercy, love, power, and wisdom. The purpose was simple: “So you will know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.” There’s no one like Me—what I say exists, what I command stands! I act with absolute authority, yet full of love, giving Pharaoh a chance to repent and turn back.
Finally, God is still giving you a chance. Pharaoh’s foolishness made him blind to God’s love, unaware of God’s power, and incapable of understanding God’s wisdom. His heart was still full of complaints and grumbling. God said, “If I were to strike you and your people with a plague, you would already be wiped off the earth.” This is a message to all humanity: if it weren’t for God’s gift of salvation, we would all be lost. Especially to those who oppose Christ’s authority: “Will you continue to exalt yourself over My people and refuse to let them go?” Do you still want to keep God’s people imprisoned under the authority of earthly powers? God says, “ But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. ”
Conclusion
Thank the Lord! It’s already the sixth plague—how long will you stay foolish? The disasters are already striking people. Even though it’s “just” a small boils, we must not ignore their seriousness! God is not to be taken lightly, and His people are not to be oppressed! When the dust rises, it is the Lord who lets the boils cross the boundaries of His children and strike the Egyptians. Only You can do such a thing! Your majesty is awe-inspiring, and Your mercy reaches across the earth!
Let’s pray together……
8 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.”
10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians.
12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself,and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.
16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.