Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
The hail that fell throughout Egypt was mingled with fire and came with thunder and lightning, more grievous than any since Egypt became a nation, striking down both man and beast in the field, destroying every herb of the field, breaking and shattering every tree, with death and desolation following in its path. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was there no hail, marking a clear distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Its time was told beforehand so it could not be called chance, demonstrating that the land and the whole earth and its elements, including thunder and hail and storm, are under the command of the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, and obey His voice. In mercy in the midst of judgment a warning gave every Egyptian a way of escape by gathering servants and cattle into houses and barns, and the judgment tested exalted pride and revealed hearts by dividing those who feared the word and made servants and cattle flee into shelter from those whose hearts were hardened like Pharaoh's and who left them in the field to die.
Pharaoh, who had asked who the Lord was that he should obey Him, was humbled to confess that he had sinned and that the Lord is righteous while he and his people are wicked, and to beg Moses to intercede with God that the thunder and hail and lightning might cease. The sparing of Goshen fulfills the prophecy that God's people shall dwell in a peaceful habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places when hail comes down on the forest. It proves that the only true safety for nations and individuals is to be obedient to the voice of God and to ever stand on the side of truth and righteousness.
The hail that fell throughout Egypt was mingled with fire and came with thunder and lightning, more grievous than any since Egypt became a nation, striking down both man and beast in the field, destroying every herb of the field, breaking and shattering every tree, with death and desolation following in its path. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was there no hail, marking a clear distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Its time was told beforehand so it could not be called chance, demonstrating that the land and the whole earth and its elements, including thunder and hail and storm, are under the command of the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, and obey His voice. In mercy in the midst of judgment a warning gave every Egyptian a way of escape by gathering servants and cattle into houses and barns, and the judgment tested exalted pride and revealed hearts by dividing those who feared the word and made servants and cattle flee into shelter from those whose hearts were hardened like Pharaoh's and who left them in the field to die.
Pharaoh, who had asked who the Lord was that he should obey Him, was humbled to confess that he had sinned and that the Lord is righteous while he and his people are wicked, and to beg Moses to intercede with God that the thunder and hail and lightning might cease. The sparing of Goshen fulfills the prophecy that God's people shall dwell in a peaceful habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places when hail comes down on the forest. It proves that the only true safety for nations and individuals is to be obedient to the voice of God and to ever stand on the side of truth and righteousness.