Thoughts on Evidence from 5th Plague in Exodus 9
April 11, 2022 by SLIMJIM
A few weeks ago I wrote “Exodus 4: For or Against Presuppositional Apologetics? I thought today I look at the topic again on Exodus and apologetics. Specifically I want to look at the fifth plague in Exodus 9:1-7.
The fifth plague involved the death of Egyptian livestock. But in the natural world in a fallen sinful world animals dying from all kinds of plagues happens. So how do we know it is a miraculous work of God where God is telling Egypt to let the Hebrews go from slavery?
This is a miracle for the following reasons:
- It was prophesied by Moses (v.3) to Pharaoh (v.1-2) of what will happen before it happened.
- The plague did not effect the Hebrews’ animals even though they too live in Egypt (v.4)
- The exact timing of when it will happen (v.6) is stated (v.5)
It is always interesting to see what criteria of miracles/evidence is seen as a priority by an individual as proof of a miracle. Of those three which ones stood out to Pharaoh? What about you? Or do you think all three are equally important?
According to verse 7 Pharaoh decides to have investigated criteria number 2, where the plague did not effect the Hebrews’ animals even though they too live in Egypt: “And Pharaoh sent men, and they learned that, behold, not even one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.” Now I want to be careful with saying for sure that Pharaoh weighed the second criteria as more miraculous than the other two criteria for what is miraculous and evidential. The first criteria, with the plague being declared beforehand, is something that Pharaoh would have known himself since Moses addressed him directly. The third criteria was also something Pharaoh must have heard. So perhaps the the king’s desire to have investigated the second criteria was to see if this happened or not.
What strikes me as amazing is how Pharaoh actually in one sense “looked into the evidence:” He sent someone to investigate. It doesn’t say Pharaoh even denied the evidence. Still his heart according to verse 7b was hardened. The evidence didn’t move him to do the right thing.
I think for Christians we can learn something this with implications for apologetics: Evidence is important; but it has its limits. We must take into account people’s sins. Given people’s sins we need to make sure that apologetics is not done divorced from preaching the Gospel. Its the Gospel that removes hardened hearts.
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The story of this plague that killed Egyptian animals but didn’t touch Israelite livestock seems amazing, but not unbelievable in my humble opinion. It reminds me of driving along a road to go home it was cloudy but clear and dry. I crossed a line I saw in the road into a violent rain storm, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the dry road where I had come from. This may seem flippant, but such things prove that nothing is impossible to our God.
Amen. Indeed as you said with your analogy this is something that is within the realm of the possible. How was your Sunday Alan?
Sunday was good Jim. I was blessed by church, the brethren and the message. After a discussion with my wife yesterday saw me deciding that I needed to reorganise my commitments better; I am struggling more with my brain issues recently. How was your Sunday brother?
Excellent insight brother. This is it: “I think for Christians we can learn something this with implications for apologetics: Evidence is important; but it has its limits. We must take into account people’s sins. Given people’s sins we need to make sure that apologetics is not done divorced from preaching the Gospel. Its the Gospel that removes hardened hearts.”
Shalom!
When reading about how long the plagues lasted, people speculate from a few days to a year. Biblically, forty days can be a reasonable timeframe. For example, the probably-finally-eradicated rinderpest virus was devastating to cattle, with a high mortality rate — but not one hundred percent. They died six to twelve days after symptoms occurred. As we know, an animal or person can be infected for some time before symptoms appear.
This fits with your observations. Pharaoh was told what and when, and it happened. They acted like it was something sudden, not *mostly* fatal over several days.
Wow food for thought. Now I’m wondering how long this and other plagues lasted. Blessings to you Cowboy Bob!
Amen! The Gospel is needed🙌🙌🙌
And amen the Gospel is so needed and just because the nonbelievers say they don’t believe don’t mean we don’t stop with the Power of the Gospel being declared! I just prayed you have a blessed week sister!
Amen! Thanks much🙏 🙌
Yes, I’ve seen videos of atheists admitting that even if you proved to them that the God of the Bible was real that they still wouldn’t worship him. They sit in judgment of the real God. That won’t end well.
It’s amazing how people truly are hardened against God. Typically before I talk about evidences I often ask what would I have to present for them to trust in Christ and I’m amaze how sometimes what people say has nothing to do with rational basis for trusting in Christianity but there’s things like wanting to live how they want, the bad done to them by the church etc. it doesn’t even answer the question. Thanks for sharing that, good observation and point.
Evidence is important but it has limits. Yes, I agree. Some people will not be moved no matter what they see, there are a few other examples in Scripture like the Holy Spirit’s arrival in Acts and Jesus raising Lazarus in John 12.
Side note. I was listening to Apologia Radio yesterday and they payed a clip of a pastor who said Jesus telling Lazarus to come out was like he was telling modern Christians to come out of the closet. Might be the most bizarre take I have ever heard on any passage.
“ a clip of a pastor who said Jesus telling Lazarus to come out was like he was telling modern Christians to come out of the closet” wow that is crazy. That really is twisting the text. God doesn’t play with the twisting of Scripture. The worst Twisting of Scripture these days seems to be from the social justice warrior progressive “Christians” and at least with precious cults they seem to try to go with the passage’s context. But woke is so nutty and cultural relevance trumps the hard work of establishing an interpretation based upon the passage doesn’t it seem that way these days??
Yeah, it’s crazy. His name is Brandon Robertson and he is a Tik Tok pastor. Jesus did tell Lazarus to come out but that language referring to gays coming out didn’t exist then. I kinda understand why non-believers twist Scripture to make it say what they want it to say but this is really reaching. Hard to believe anyone could believe it.
You are correct about progressive Christians, they do seem to be the worst. Worse than their terrible theology is how many people they are deceiving.
It angers me that Brandon calls himself a pastor. God is patient; however, He will not be mocked. Progressive Christianity is doing irreparable damage. Praise God for both of your sites sharing the true Gospel. Have a blessed Monday!
The damage progressive Christianity is doing is maddening but I count progressive Christians as the same as non-believers. Enemies of God, plain and simple.
Sounds harsh, probably but a false Gospel is no better that no Gospel at all.
The only antidote, as I see it, is the truth.
Hope you have a blessed day as well.
James, I agree with you 100%! I tell youth the greatest threat to sound, biblical Christianity is progressive Christianity and the NAR. Keep speaking truth, brother!
Good point that it is the Gospel that removes hardened hearts (as it has done with my own). Regarding miracles, I would also look to evidence as Pharaoh did observing that the Israelite animals were not harmed.
It’s fascinating how two different people can respond to good evidences differently. Objectively this is a miracle that demand obedience. I am glad that by God’s grace you and I respond to the evidence differently than Pharaoh did. By His grace…
Good message. Sometimes when we talk or argue with unbelievers about Christianity we get bogged down in the facts/evidence (doctrine and history) rather than focusing on Jesus and the Good News!
Indeed we must not forget the Gospel. We must not neglect it. Answering your earlier question my Sunday went well it was busy as we arranged moved chairs from our sanctuary to now the fellowship hall where we have our service. And there’s of course many discussions and talks. Then bbq when I got home for dinner. How goes your rest day today???
Thanks. Lots of rest today although I did take care of last minute tax matters and did a little yard work. But mostly sat on the couch reading a new publication about the Byrds that I’ll be posting about down the road.
How is your rest day going?
I a pretty much counting on God’s protection here in my world. Son #3 goes back out Wed. and his company is still demanding all of this XXX, He knows if he manages to come out of this in one piece it is because his Mother has been in God’s closet in prayer .
Praying for your son; also praying for your grandkids growing up healthy and strong
Thank you. We really can’t pray enough during this situation we are in.
Good work with this!
Thank you! Praying, hope your paper goes well that you are writing on sister (unless you finished!)
I am on spring break this week and I am hoping to review Greek and do research for my term paper. How did you memorize Greek verb endings if I may ask?!
Well said.
Pharaoh has all the evidences and proof but still did not believe. Its not only about evidences.
Amen!! The gospel is the power of God to save.
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