The Seventh Plague: Hail and Fire
(Exodus 9:13-35)
God sent Moses to Pharaoh early in the morning with a message that was longer and more serious than any previous warning. God said: "This time I am going to send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth."
Then God said something remarkable. He told Pharaoh that He had raised Pharaoh up for a purpose: so that God's name and power would become known throughout the whole earth. Even Pharaoh's stubbornness was being used by God to display His glory to the nations. Then came the specific warning: "Tomorrow at this time I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now. Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in."
Something had shifted. Those of Pharaoh's officials who feared the word of the Lord hurried their servants and animals inside. But those who did not take God's word seriously left everything in the field. God gave a clear warning, and people had a clear choice.
Then Moses stretched his staff toward the sky and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning that flashed down to the ground. It was the worst hailstorm Egypt had ever seen. The hail struck down everything in the field across the entire country: people, animals, every plant, every tree. Only in the land of Goshen, where Israel lived, was there no hail at all.
Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said something he had never said before: "This time I have sinned. The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer."
Moses went out of the city and spread his hands toward the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he hardened his heart and sinned again. He and his officials refused to let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.
A Curious Question
For the first time, Pharaoh said out loud, "I have sinned." That sounds like a real confession. But then he took it back the moment the storm stopped. What is the difference between being sorry that something bad happened to you and being truly sorry for what you did wrong?
Jesus Connection
Pharaoh said the right words: "I have sinned." But his confession did not come from a changed heart. It came from pain. The moment the hail stopped, he went back to what he wanted. This is an important distinction that runs through the entire Bible: remorse is not the same as repentance.
True repentance is more than feeling bad about consequences. It is a genuine turning of the heart toward God. The Bible says that "godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Pharaoh had worldly sorrow. He was sorry that the hail was hurting Egypt. He was not sorry that he had been defying God.
Jesus offers something Pharaoh never found: the grace to actually change. When we come to Jesus with genuine repentance, God does not just remove the storm. He changes the heart. The Holy Spirit produces in us a real desire to turn away from what is wrong, not just when it is painful, but always. That change of heart is itself a gift, not something we manufacture by trying harder. God's grace is what makes true repentance possible in the first place. Without it, we are all just Pharaoh, saying the right words and going back to what we want the moment the pressure lifts.
Discussion Questions
- God warned Pharaoh in advance and told him to bring his animals inside. Some Egyptians actually listened and their animals were saved. What does that tell you about God's character, even in the middle of judgment?
- Pharaoh said "I have sinned" but then changed his mind. What is the difference between being sorry about the consequences of something and actually being sorry for doing it?
- What do you think true repentance looks like in everyday life, not just in big dramatic moments?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
This week, practice the difference between an apology and repentance. When you do something wrong, instead of just saying sorry to get past the uncomfortable moment, try this: stop, think about why what you did was wrong, tell the person specifically what you did, and then ask God to help you not do it again. That is what a soft heart looks like in real life.
Memorize God's Word
2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret."
Hand Motions:
- "Godly sorrow" Place both hands over your heart and bow your head slightly.
- "brings repentance" Turn your whole body 180 degrees, stepping around to face a new direction, showing a complete turn.
- "that leads to salvation" Walk two steps forward with purpose and reach both arms upward.
- "and leaves no regret." Dust your hands off and smile, like setting something heavy down and walking away free.
Praying with Kids
Father, thank You that You warned the Egyptians before the hail came, giving them a chance to respond. You are always patient and always giving people opportunities to turn to You. Give us hearts that truly repent, not just hearts that are sorry when things hurt. Help us to turn toward You completely, not just during the storms. And thank You for the grace that makes a real change of heart possible. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Craft: Storm Jar vs. Calm Jar
Children create two contrasting sensory bottles: one stormy and chaotic representing Egypt under judgment, and one clear and peaceful representing the heart that truly repents and finds peace with God.
Materials Checklist:
How to Assemble:- Storm Bottle: Fill one bottle about halfway with water tinted dark grey or blue. Add pom-poms, yellow and red glitter, and small torn bits of paper to create a chaotic, swirling mess when shaken. Seal tightly with duct tape.
- Calm Bottle: Fill the second bottle with clear hair gel and a small amount of light blue water. Add nothing else. It should be almost transparent and settle quickly when still. Seal tightly.
- Label the storm bottle: "Pharaoh's heart: sorry about the storm." Label the calm bottle: "A heart that truly repents: peace with God."
- Have children shake the storm bottle, then set both side by side. Ask: "Which bottle do you want your heart to look like when you say sorry to God?"
Effective Teaching Techniques
Before reading about the warning God gave, draw a simple weather chart on the board: sun, clouds, rain, storm. Point to the storm and say: "God told Pharaoh this was coming with enough time to get everyone inside. What does it tell you about God that He warned them?" This sets up the grace embedded in the story before any judgment falls.
Pharaoh's confession is a pivotal teaching moment. Read his words slowly: "This time I have sinned. The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong." Then pause and say: "Those sound like good words. But watch what happens next." The contrast between the right words and the unchanged heart is exactly what makes this lesson so memorable and relevant.
For younger children, focus on the simple truth: God gives warnings because He is patient and loving, not because He wants to hurt people. For older children, dig into 2 Corinthians 7:10 and help them understand the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. That distinction is one of the most practically important theological ideas in the entire curriculum.