' So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Each of you take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and in the presence of Pharaoh let Moses scatter it toward the sky. It will turn into fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and cause festering boils on human being and beast alike throughout the land of Egypt. So they took the soot from a kiln and appeared before Pharaoh. When Moses scattered it toward the sky, it caused festering boils on human being and beast alike. Because of the boils the magicians could not stand in Moses’ presence, for there were boils on the magicians as well as on the rest of the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said to Moses (Ex. 9:8-12)
The plagues that God inflicted upon the Egyptians became more and more serious. The sixth plague was not announced, and the boils affected both humans and livestock. Even the magicians were affected by the boils so they could not perform their rituals to Isis, the Egyptian goddess of medicine, in an effort to cure the boils. The Egyptians were covered in boils and were ‘unclean’. God did not impose his will on Pharaoh. Pharaoh remained obstinate of his own free will even though all the Egyptians and their livestock were covered in boils and were suffering.
Almighty God, it is through suffering that you purify and prepare us to share in the glory of the Risen Christ. Grant us the grace to accept your will and to overcome the stubbornness of heart that can lead us away from salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Luis A. Martin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Antonio Garcia-Moreno, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy, & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (1999). The Navarre Bible - The Pentateuch. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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