Exodus 9:1-9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the Lordwill bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” 6 And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died,but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.7 Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

God made a distinction

Once again with this plague only the Egyptians where affected by this curse.

Also only the Livestock “in the field” Were Killed. This seems to limit the livestock that died, which means that some livestock would have survived through this plague. Also verse 3 lists horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, but it does not list goats, which was an important animal.

God set a time

God set a time, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” The next day, most of the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites perished.

The plague that killed Egypt’s livestock would have had a special impact on the people, not just economically, but spiritually as well. The animals that died in the plague represented some of Egypt’s most important gods

The “plague”

The original Hebrew word translated here as “plague” describes a disease – a disease of epidemic proportions that results in mass deaths. The type of disease is not specified in the verses and any such guess would solely be conjecture.

Not all the livestock died of this plague but they lost their source of meat, milk, transportation. This plague caused a very significant impact in the livelihood of the Egyptians.

God spares His people

Malachi 3:17 They will be my people,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.

As a principle God protects His people even when calamity happens in the world. SOmetimes we cannot escape the consequences of plagues, disasters and calamities but many times God brings His protection over us.

The Lord makes a distinction between his people and the people of the world in order to reveal himself. Each player in the drama of the plagues has the opportunity to take notice of this difference and acknowledge the Lord. So wherever we see ourselves in this story, we have that opportunity.

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

He separates his people for special treatment, he graciously rescinds the fourth and fift plagues, and his power is successfully prophetic, complete and clear.

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