Exodus 9, ep 120

Hi, I’m Sal Lopez Executive Director of Ozark Hunger Relief, I am doing this to hopefully find some sponsors (tax deductible donations) for an office in Prairie Grove, Ar. I have seen and fed many children who wander around here. I thought if I started a non-profit, the community would be happy to help. Nope! I’ve had nothing but suspicion, derision, denial, and was eventually ripped off for everything I had, by another food pantry. They offered to let me work with their food pantry, then when I delivered everything I had, they told me to they couldn’t let me in their office, but subsequently asked me for more of my money. It has been horribly depressing, but I will persevere and get this office open.
My vision is to be a community resource center, but the main goal is to feed hungry kids, whose parents are drug addicts, and/or alcoholics. I guess some are just poor. Anyway, I need help and will advertise for you, and have signs of acknowledgement for every donor, proportionate for the donation.
Remember to try to stay positive, you can choose your state of mind, so I offer this advice: Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”
Anyway, this episode is on Exodus 9. Don't Let the Hail Stop Your Harvest: God Turns Setbacks into Comebacks
Good morning, everybody! Wow, what a joy to be with you today. You know, I love starting the day with a smile because God has already smiled on you. He woke you up this morning with new mercy, new opportunities, and a fresh dose of His favor. Can somebody say, "I'm blessed"?
Today, we're diving into Exodus chapter 9. This is where things are really heating up in Egypt. God has already sent the first six plagues, blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, and boils, but Pharaoh's heart is still as hard as ever. Now comes plague number seven: hail like Egypt has never seen. Fire flashing, thunder roaring, hailstones pounding everything in the fields. Crops destroyed, trees shattered, animals killed, total devastation. But here's the amazing part: in the land of Goshen, where God's people lived, not one hailstone fell. Total protection!
Let me read a portion to you:
Exodus 9:25-26 says, "The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast... Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail." Friends, this chapter is shouting one big truth: God knows how to protect what's His, even when the storm is raging all around. And not only does He protect you—He positions you for a comeback that's bigger than the setback!
Let me give you three powerful points from Exodus 9 that will lift your faith today, and we'll back them up with other Scriptures so you can see this is God's pattern all through the Bible.
First: God warns before He moves.
Before the hail came, God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a clear warning: "Let My people go, or tomorrow I'm sending the worst hailstorm Egypt has ever seen." Some of Pharaoh's officials actually listened! Verse 20 tells us that those who feared the word of the Lord hurried their servants and livestock inside. They were spared.
God is so merciful, He always gives a warning. We see this same principle in 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise... Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." And in Ezekiel 33:11, God says, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live." Friend, if you're hearing a warning in your spirit today, maybe about a relationship, a habit, a decision, don't ignore it. God warns because He wants to bless, not destroy. Second: God makes a distinction between His people and the world.
That hail devastated Egypt, but Goshen? Not a drop. Not a stone. Why? Because God said in Exodus 8:22, "I will make a distinction between My people and your people." This wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.
You see the same thing in Psalm 91:7-8: "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." In Numbers 16, when the ground opened and swallowed Korah's rebellion, the families of God's faithful were spared. In Daniel 6, the lions' den shut its mouth for Daniel. In Acts 12, Peter walked out of prison while Herod's guards stayed locked up. And today, 2 Timothy 2:19 declares, "The Lord knows those who are His."
Listen to me: When recession hits, sickness spreads, or drama explodes all around God knows how to draw a bloodline around your house, your family, your finances, your health. Declare it right now: "The storm may rage, but it won't touch me!"
Third: Your greatest storm often comes right before your greatest harvest.
Look at what happened after the hail. Pharaoh called for Moses and said, "I've sinned this time... Pray to the Lord and I'll let you go." He didn't mean it, his heart hardened again, but the point is, every plague pushed him closer to surrender. The worst storms brought Israel closer to freedom. We see this pattern everywhere in Scripture. In Genesis 41, seven years of famine followed plenty—but it positioned Joseph to save nations and reunite his family. In 1 Samuel 30, David came home to find everything stolen, but after pursuing in faith, he recovered all—and more! In John 16:21, Jesus said, "A woman giving birth has pain... but as soon as the baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy."
Some of you are in a hailstorm right now. The enemy is trying to destroy your crop, your dream, your marriage, your health. But God is saying, "This storm has an expiration date. It's clearing the way for your comeback!"
I heard about a man who lost his job during a tough economy. Bills piled up, doubt crept in. But he kept praising, kept believing. Six months later, not only did he get a better job, but it came with a signing bonus that paid off all those bills and left extra. The storm didn't stop his harvest, it prepared the soil for a bigger one!
So today, I want you to lift your expectations. Don't curse the hail, thank God it's temporary. Don't focus on what's breaking, focus on Who's protecting. Your Goshen season is here. Your distinction is showing. Your harvest is coming in greater than ever.
Father, right now we thank You that no weapon formed against us will prosper. We thank You for divine protection, for warnings that save us, and for storms that lead to greater glory. Touch every person hearing this, turn their setbacks into setups for something amazing. In Jesus' name, Amen! Until next week May God Bless and Heal you!