Exodus 9:28

Entreat the Lord, (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and haile, and I will let you goe, and ye shall stay no longer. Exodus 9:28 (KJV)

Exodus 9:28 belongs to the narrative of the seventh plague, the hail that struck Egypt. In the surrounding verses Pharaoh speaks to Moses and Aaron, acknowledging his sin and pleading for relief from the storm: “I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.” The verse therefore records Pharaoh’s own words, not a direct statement of God hardening his heart.

The passage highlights God’s sovereign authority over nature. Through the hailstorm He demonstrated control over the elements, showing Pharaoh and the Egyptians that the God of Israel was the true God. God’s purpose in allowing the judgments was to advance the larger plan of delivering His people from Egyptian bondage and leading them to the Promised Land. By permitting the plagues, God both displayed His power and created the conditions for Israel’s liberation.

Pharaoh’s response is a study in resistance. Though he momentarily acknowledges his wrongdoing and asks for the storm to cease, his heart quickly hardens again, and he later refuses to let the Israelites go. This stubbornness underscores the link between disobedience and the continuation of suffering. The verse therefore serves as a reminder that hardened hearts bring further judgment.

Moses’ role, while not spoken in this verse, emerges immediately afterward. After Pharaoh’s request, Moses intercedes with the LORD on behalf of the people (Exodus 9:29‑33), pleading for mercy. God answers the intercession by stopping the hail and thunderings, yet Pharaoh’s renewed obstinacy leads to additional plagues.

Overall, Exodus 9:28 reminds believers of God’s supreme control over history, the consequences of a hardened heart, and the importance of obedience. It also points to the pivotal role of intercession, showing that even amid judgment there is an opportunity for repentance and divine mercy, all directed toward the ultimate goal of Israel’s freedom.