What Were Blains?
The word "blain" appears in Scripture to describe a painful skin affliction—specifically, a blister or boil that breaks out across the body. In Exodus 9:9, we read that the Lord told Moses and Aaron, "It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and it shall become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." This was the sixth plague sent upon Egypt, a demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over Pharaoh and his people.
The Hebrew term behind "blain" conveys the image of an inflammatory sore, a pustule that causes significant suffering. These weren't merely minor skin irritations; they were painful, visible marks of divine judgment. The plague affected both Egyptian people and their livestock, sparing only the Israelites in Goshen. In Exodus 9:10-11, we see Moses taking soot from a furnace and tossing it toward heaven, and immediately the blains appeared on man and beast, with even the Egyptian magicians unable to stand before Moses because of the boils on their skin.
Biblical Significance and Context
The blains plague stands out among the ten plagues for its particular cruelty and effectiveness. While earlier plagues targeted water, livestock, and crops, the boils brought the reality of God's judgment directly to the Egyptians' bodies. This personal affliction made the plague impossible to ignore or explain away. Pharaoh had hardened his heart through the previous five plagues, but the pain and humiliation of boils spreading across the Egyptian nation represented an escalation in God's dealings with human pride and rebellion.
It's significant that the plague affected the magicians of Egypt as well. Exodus 9:11 tells us they "could not stand before Moses because of the boils," indicating that neither magical power nor social status offered protection from God's judgment. This reinforced to Pharaoh and his court that they were facing something entirely beyond human control or manipulation. The progression of plagues moved from environmental disruption to physical suffering, each one designed to humble Egypt's ruler and demonstrate Yahweh's supremacy.
Application for Today's Believer
While we don't experience literal plagues in the modern world, the account of the blains teaches us profound spiritual truths. First, it reminds us that God takes human rebellion seriously. He is not indifferent to sin or resistant to judgment when people refuse to acknowledge His lordship. Second, the universality of the plague—affecting rich and poor, powerful and ordinary—shows that no one stands outside God's authority. Third, the sparing of the Israelites demonstrates God's protective care for His covenant people, giving us confidence in His faithfulness.
For Canadian believers today, this account invites us to reflect on how we respond to God's truth. Do we, like Pharaoh, harden our hearts when conviction comes? Or do we humble ourselves and acknowledge God's rightful place in our lives? The blains remind us that God's judgment is real, His mercy is precious, and our response to His Word determines our blessing or our suffering.
"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take handfuls of soot from the furnace and let Moses throw them toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and it shall become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.'" — Exodus 9:8-9