Exodus 9:32

But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

Exodus 9:32 (KJV)

Context

This verse closes the account of the seventh plague, the hail that struck Egypt. Moses had warned Pharaoh, but the king still refused to let Israel go. The hail destroyed flax and barley because they were already grown, yet it spared wheat and rie, also called spelt, because they were still young (Exodus 9:18-26).

Meaning

The word “rie” means spelt, a grain that ripens later than barley. Its survival was not an accident. God directed the hail with exact care, showing that his judgment is never random. He measured both the destruction and the mercy. The spared crops were not a sign of favor toward Egypt, but proof that God controls the timing and extent of his acts.

Biblical connections

The next plague, locusts, would finish what the hail left behind (Exodus 10:12-15). This shows that God’s judgment was progressive and complete. The temporary sparing of wheat and rie pointed ahead to fuller judgment, not to lasting safety. God’s patience in delaying destruction gave Pharaoh another chance to repent, yet he continued to harden his heart.

Application

God’s sovereignty extends over every part of life, even the growth of crops. When judgment is delayed or partial, it is not a promise of permanent peace. Such mercy is a call to turn back to God while there is still time. Believers can trust that God knows the right moment for every action, whether to protect or to withhold.

Reflection

This verse invites humble trust in God’s perfect timing. His ways are higher than human plans, and his judgments are always just. The same God who spared the young grain also sent the locusts later. He alone decides when mercy ends and judgment begins. Therefore, respond to his patience with repentance, not with delay.