Exodus 9 … Consider Him Who Makes a Distinction

Originally posted: 02/27/2019

“But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel,” (9:4).

Distinction: a difference or contrast between similar things or people; excellence that sets someone or something apart from others.

This English phrase, “will make a distinction,” is translated from one word in the Hebrew language.

From Strong’s Concordance: 6395. פָּלָה pālāh: A verb meaning to be distinct, separate, set apart, to be different. It describes the fact that Israel was to be a distinct or different people to God (Ex. 33:16). It can take on the sense of being wonderful or amazingly constructed (Ps. 139:14). It has a causative sense of making distinct or separate, making different (Ex. 8:22[18]; 9:4; Ps. 4:3[4]).

There is no blurring the lines; the LORD God makes the distinction. His amazing and wonderful perfection distinguishes Himself above all creation; and by His sovereign hand He determines that which is set apart. The LORD causes the Distinction; and the contrasts are unquestionably defined.

Consider Him Who Makes a Distinction

• He Makes a Distinction: Bestowing favor on the livelihood of His people.
  • “But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel,” (9:4).

• He Makes a Distinction: Marking His time as fixed.
  • The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land,” (9:5).

• He Makes a Distinction: Unveiling His Power as unparalleled.
  • “For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth. ¹⁶ But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power…” (9:15-16).

• He Makes a Distinction: Revealing His Name as exalted.
  • “…and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. ¹⁷ Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go,” (9:16-17).

• He Makes a Distinction: Providing shelter to those who fear His Word.
  • “Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.” ²⁰ The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; ²¹ but he who paid no regard to the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field, (9:19-21).

• He Makes a Distinction: Demonstrating His Protection over His people.
  • Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail, (9:26).

• He Makes a Distinction: Lifting His standard of righteousness.
  • Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones,” (9:27).

• He Makes a Distinction: Identifying those who do not yet fear Him.
  • “But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God,” (9:30).

How do we respond to Him Who Makes a Distinction?

We must always begin with first things first; do we have the assurance we have been wonderfully set apart as His own, amazingly born again through the blood of Jesus? When we have placed our faith in His shed blood on the cross as payment for our sins, we can trust Him with our livelihood, with His timing, and with His righteous judgments; for His power is unparalleled.

• Let us exalt His Name in everything!
  • O magnify the Lord with me,
    And let us exalt His name together, (Psalm 34:3).
  • Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
    But to Your name give glory
    Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth, (Psalm 115:1).

• When life brings confusion, trials, and suffering, let us run to His Word for shelter and protection. As we grow in our reverent fear of His Word and come to abide in Him, He strengthens our faith to intimately know Him as our refuge and fortress.
  • He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
    ² I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    My God, in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:1-2).

• Let us carefully lift His standard of righteousness, in which “there is no distinction, for all have sinned” and are in need of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
  • But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ²² even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:21-23).

• Let us earnestly pray and ask Him to lead us to share His truth with those who do not yet fear Him. The days are short; may we make the most of every opportunity!
  • Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of your time, because the days are evil, (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Let’s Grow Together!