We are in chapter nine of Exodus with our word for today which is actually two words related by the miracle. פִּיחַ soot, cinders, ashes. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament all of these in our chapter. שְׁחִין boil, eruption, ulcer, inflamed spot. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. Here are some examples that give us more details of this word’s meaning. Leviticus 13:18-23 When someone has a שְׁחִ֑יןboil on their skin and it heals, and in the place where the הַשְּׁחִין֙boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest. The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the בַּשְּׁחִ֥יןboil was. But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling disease. But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the הַשְּׁחִ֖יןboil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean. This is how this word is used in our passage today.
Exodus 9:8-12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of פִּ֖יחַsoot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become לִשְׁחִ֥יןboils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” So they took פִּ֣יחַsoot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became שְׁחִין֙boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the הַשְּׁחִ֑יןboils, for the הַשְּׁחִ֔יןboils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
We find our word used as a warning an example of disobedience. Deuteronomy 28:27, 35 The Lord will afflict you with the בִּשְׁחִ֤ין boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured… The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful בִּשְׁחִ֣ין boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head. I find it interesting that when God gave Satan permission to go after Job our word is used. Job 2:4-7 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful בִּשְׁחִ֣ין sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
While we may struggle to always understand why God allows the evil one to do what he does on this fallen messed up corrupted place. We need to always remember that sickness is not what God originally wanted for us. That comes from evil not the goodness of God. But our God is so great and loving that he can even use evil to bring good out of it. I’ll close with this great Psalm about God’s love for us and desire to heal us. Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
