What does it mean that 'the earth is the Lord's' (Exodus 9:29)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

As the Creator, God has authority over everything. In Exodus, Pharaoh did not recognize God's sovereignty over His creation, which is why he didn’t free Israel until he was forced to do so (Exodus 3:19). God’s ten plagues on Egypt demonstrated His divine authority over all of nature. Even after Pharaoh knew that the Lord was the authority over the earth, he still refused to let Israel go as God had commanded through Moses. Pharaoh believed in his own power, thinking he was sovereign because of his position. Through what happened with Pharaoh, Moses saw that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below, and that there is no other who has such authority (Deuteronomy 4:39). God Himself stated His authority over the heavens and the earth and all of their contents (Deuteronomy 10:14). Even pagan nations, when hearing of God’s works, recognized Him as God of both the heavens and the earth (Joshua 2:11). David reminds readers in Psalm 24:1 that the earth is the Lord and everything it contains—including all those who live in this world. God has authority not only over the things He created but also over us; we belong to Him. Rather than walking in foolishness and learning the lesson painfully like Pharaoh did, all should humble themselves under the mighty hand of the Creator, and He will lift us up (1 Peter 5:6).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Exodus 9:29, after God sent hail and Pharaoh seemingly repents from his sin, Moses says to Pharaoh, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord's.” Moses acknowledged what Pharaoh had already experienced with the various plagues God had sent: God is Creator of all things and has authority over all things. In Egyptian culture, pharaohs were considered divine, so the pharaoh of Exodus had a false sense of his own power. Pharaoh learned of his limitations through the plagues God sent and when his entire army was destroyed in the Red Sea as God again demonstrated His authority over nature (Exodus 14:28).
• The Lord is the only true God, which is why the first of the commandments in Exodus 20:2–3 is “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” We are to worship only the true God. He alone deserves our worship as the Creator of all.
• Moses' assertion of God’s sovereignty in Deuteronomy 10:14 came after the Israelites had participated in worshiping a golden calf following God’s miraculous delivery of them from Egypt: “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” Like Pharaoh, the people had seen all the miracles, but they still needed to be reminded of God’s sovereignty as they could (and would) easily stray into worshiping gods of their own making.
• Isaiah 44:9–23 illustrates that God alone is worthy of worship because He is the Creator and we are the created. Isaiah shows the absurdity of people worshiping what they themselves have formed. In chapter 44, the prophet depicts a carpenter who ignorantly worships the same wood he uses for his needs: “Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, ‘Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!’ And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god!’” (v.16–17). Through this example, Isaiah shows the foolishness of those who do not acknowledge God, the Creator of all—including the wood ancient people created their idols with. He is the only One worthy of our worship.
• Even the Canaanites, Israel’s enemies, feared God because they had heard of His power and authority in defeating the Egyptians. In Joshua 2:11, Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, tells the two spies from Israel, “And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Pagans, though they would like to deny God, cannot overlook His supreme authority.
• David, the quintessential king of Israel, acknowledged God as sovereign over all in Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” He recognized that although his own kingdom was earthly, God had dominion over it and more.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Acts 17:24, Paul presented the truth about God’s omnipotence as the Creator to Greek pagans who believed in a pantheon of gods: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.” Paul preached the authority of Christ, who is “Lord of heaven and earth.” The Lord cannot be confined to any physical building because He is beyond any building. He is Lord of all.
• In Romans 1:20, Paul explains how God’s creation manifests His divine authority: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” The Lord’s creation is a testimony of His power and glory to everyone on earth, even pagans.
• In John’s vision of twenty-four elders worshiping God in Revelation 4:11, their worship includes acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” God is the only One worthy of worship because He is the Creator of all.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

All honor, glory, and worship belong to God as He is the Creator of all. When we prioritize anything or anyone above God, we create idols. In ancient days, such idols were physical forms people fashioned (Isaiah 44:9–20). Today, these idols may take a different form: some people work excessively for money, worshiping it as an idol. Others may elevate people, such as celebrities or sports figures. Even family or friends might become our idols if we compromise our morals to please them rather than please God. What’s the priority in your life? Are you living your life in a way that shows you acknowledge it belongs to God? Nothing and no one should supersede our worship of the Creator. He deserves to be our priority. We should have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:2–3; Matthew 6:34; 22:36–40; 1 John 5:2–5, 21). Rather than walking in foolishness and learning the lesson painfully like Pharaoh did, we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our Creator, recognizing that the earth and everything in it is the Lord’s. As we humble ourselves and surrender to Him, He promises that He will lift us up (1 Peter 5:6). What we can't accomplish for ourselves, He does for us if we approach Him in humility.

UNDERSTAND

• The earth is the Lord’s means that God is the Creator and rightful owner of all creation.
• God has control over all nations and human affairs.
• The earth is the Lord’s means that we, whom He created, also belong to Him, and our rightful response is to surrender to and worship Him.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that the earth is the Lord’s influence the way you respond to Him?
• In what areas of your life are you tempted to control instead of surrendering to God’s authority?
• What is one step you can take this week to recognize God’s ownership of everything in your life, including your time, resources, or relationships?

ENGAGE

• How do you think God’s sovereignty over creation challenges our culture’s view of ownership and personal rights?
• Why do you think people, like Pharaoh, often resist acknowledging God’s authority, even when it’s clearly demonstrated?
• How can believers engage with others who view the world as self-owned or controlled by forces other than God?