Brief
outline of Exodus 9: Exodus 9 continues the narrative of the plagues that
God sends upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. First, a
plague strikes the livestock of the Egyptians, killing their animals but
sparing those of the Israelites. Next, Moses and Aaron scatter soot into the
air, causing painful boils to break out on the Egyptians and their animals.
Despite the suffering, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened. Finally, a devastating
hailstorm destroys crops, animals, and people who are not sheltered, but the
land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, is spared. Pharaoh briefly admits
his sin and asks Moses to stop the hail, but once the plague ceases, he hardens
his heart again and refuses to let the Israelites go.
Lessons
from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
The plague of
the boils occurred when Moses and Aaron took handfuls of soot from the
furnace and threw it in the air that became dust all over Egypt causing
festering boils on the Egyptians (Exodus 9:8-12). St. Gregory teaches that the
"furnace" symbolizes the fire in Gehenna, which affects those who
lead sinful life and the ones who lead a righteous life are spared from this
punishment.
St. Gregory suggests
that each plague (like the gadflies, flies, locusts, and hailstorms), corresponds
to a specific spiritual lesson or consequence. These punishments are not
directly inflicted by God but are the result of each person's free will and
choices. If someone chooses to live a sinful life, they bring these spiritual
"plagues" upon themselves. St. Gregory references St. Paul’s
teaching- “But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for
yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will repay according to each one’s deeds” (Romans 2:5) In a nutshell, St.
Gregory advises that our choices and actions have spiritual consequences. Those
who choose to live righteously can find salvation and healing, while those who
choose sin bring punishment upon themselves.
St. Gregory
gives another example- if a harmful condition develops in the intestines due to
unhealthy lifestyle choices, then the physician administers medicine to the
patient to induce vomiting. The doctor isn't causing the sickness but helping
the body to get rid of the harmful substances.
It is the poor eating habits that cause the condition, and medical
intervention merely reveals it.
Similarly,
when people face painful consequences for their wrong actions, it's not God who
is causing the suffering. Instead, God is like the physician, revealing the
consequences of our actions to help us understand and correct our mistakes. So,
while it might seem like God is causing the suffering, the real cause is our
own wrong choices. The suffering is simply the natural result of our actions,
just like sickness can be the natural result of unhealthy eating habits.
Questions for Personal
Reflection:
1. In what ways have I experienced the natural consequences of my actions, both positive and negative?
2. In what ways has God acted as a physician in my life, revealing the consequences of my actions to help me grow? How can I be more receptive to God’s guidance and correction?
3. Are there areas in my life where I need to exercise better judgment and
make more virtuous choices?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 54-55. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978)
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original book for a comprehensive understanding.
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