YOUR CATTLE / EXODUS 9:2-3

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Exodus 9:2-3

For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, ³ Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Dismantling False Gods: What the Plague on Livestock Teaches Us Today

We often read about the ten plagues of Egypt as a dramatic series of historical wonders—water turning to blood, swarms of locusts, and thick darkness. It is easy to view these events merely as an intense cosmic wrestling match between Moses and Pharaoh. However, a closer look reveals that God was doing something far deeper. He was systematically dismantling the cultural, economic, and spiritual foundations of the ancient world’s greatest empire.

When we arrive at the fifth plague, we find a direct confrontation with the things the Egyptians relied on most.

The Scripture

“If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.”
— Exodus 9:2-3 (NIV)

Striking the Sacred

In ancient Egypt, livestock represented massive economic wealth, transportation, and military power. But even more significantly, the Egyptians worshiped bulls and other animalsThe Fifth Plague – Then⤒🔗. They believed that various deities revealed themselves through these creatures, viewing them as living symbols of divine protection and fertility. For instance, the bull-god Apis was revered as a protector of the realm, and Hathor, depicted as a cow, was worshiped as a mother goddess of sustenance.

Therefore, when the hand of the Lord brought a severe plague upon the livestock, it wasn’t just a blow to Egypt’s financial system—it was a direct attack on Egyptian polytheism and idolatryThe Fifth Plague – Then⤒.

God was proving a definitive point: the very creatures the Egyptians looked to for security and blessings could not even protect themselves from the one true God. The silent idols made of wood, stone, or walking on four legs were utterly powerless.

Modern-Day “Cattle”

It is easy to look back at ancient polytheism and wonder how a society could worship a bull. Yet, if we look closely at our own lives, we often build the exact same altars—just with different names.

What is your “cattle”? What are the things you look to for ultimate security, identity, and protection?

• Financial Portfolios: Relying on savings or career status to feel safe about the future.
• Human Validation: Looking to the approval of others to define your self-worth.
• Control: Constructing a perfect environment, believing that your own strength can protect you from the unexpected.

When God allows our modern-day “cattle” to shake, it isn’t out of cruelty. Just as He did in Egypt, God exposes the fragility of our false gods to remind us that He alone is our provider, protector, and sustainer. He dismantles what we lean on so that we will learn to lean entirely on Him.

The Power of Distinction

There is a beautiful promise nested within this judgment. In Exodus 9:4, God declares that He will make a clear distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, ensuring that “not a single one of Israel’s animals will die.”

Even in the midst of national chaos and judgment, God fiercely protects and provides for His covenant people. When the world around us shakes, those who belong to the Living God can stand secure. Our ultimate inheritance is not tied to the world’s economy, its shifting cultures, or its fragile securities. Our security is bound to the unwavering faithfulness of God.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, You alone are the Lord, the God of all creation, and there is no one like You in all the earth. Forgive us for the times we have elevated modern-day idols—our finances, our comfort, our control, and our own capabilities—above Your sovereignty. We confess that these false gods cannot save or sustain us.

Search our hearts today, Lord. Dismantle any misplaced trust we have harbored, and anchor our souls firmly in Your truth. Thank You for Your fierce protection, Your perfect provision, and the grace that sets us apart as Your children. When the world around us is shaken, help us to stand firm, knowing that our security rests in Your hands alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. THIS IS THE FINGER OF GOD / EXODUS 8:18-19
2. FROGS / EXODUS 8:2
3. HE STRUCK THE WATER / EXODUS 7:20
4. IT BECAME A SNAKE / EXODUS 7:12
5. I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH’S HEART / EXODUS 7:3-4
6. THEY DID NOT LISTEN TO HIM / EXODUS 6:9
7. I WILL TAKE YOU AS MY OWN PEOPLE AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD / EXODUS 6:7
8. BY MY NAME THE LORD I DID NOT MAKE MYSELF KNOW TO THEM / EXODUS 6:3
9. YOU HAVE NOT RESCUED YOUR PEOPLE AT ALL / EXODUS 5:23
10. IS THIS WHY YOU SENT ME? / EXODUS 5:22
11. THIS IS WHAT THE LORD – THE GOD OF ISRAEL SAYS / EXODUS 5:1
12. THE LORD WAS ABOUT TO KILL HIM / EXODUS 4:24
13. ISRAEL MY FIRSTBORN / EXODUS 4:22
14. I WILL HARDEN HIS HEART / EXODUS 4:21
15. WHO MAKES HIM BLIND? / EXODUS 4:11
16. I AM SLOW OF SPEECH / EXODUS 4:10
17. STAFF … BECAME A SNAKE / EXODUS 4:2-3
18. ASK … PLUNDER THE EGYPTIANS / EXODUS 3:22
19. I AM WHO I AM / EXODUS 3:14
20. I WILL BE WITH YOU / EXODUS 3:12
21. MILK AND HONEY / EXODUS 3:8
22. SEEN THE MISERY OF MY PEOPLE / EXODUS 3:7
23. HOLY GROUND / EXODUS 3:5
24. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD / EXODUS 3:2
25. MOSES WAS TENDING THE FLOCK / EXODUS 3:1
26. THEIR CRY WENT UP TO GOD / EXODUS 2:23
27. MIDIAN / EXODUS 2:15
28. KILLED THE EGYPTIAN / EXODUS 2:12
29. MOSES / EXODUS 2:11
30. HEBREW BABIES / EXODUS 2:6
31. A SON / EXODUS 2:1-2
32. SLAVE MASTERS OVER THEM TO OPPRESS THEM / EXODUS 1:11
33. WHO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT JOSEPH / EXODUS 1:8
34. MULTIPLIED GREATLEY / EXODUS 1:6-7
35. THE SONS OF ISRAEL / EXODUS 1:1-5
36. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace