In Exodus chapter nine, verse three, the Egyptians worshipped bulls and other animals. They believed that gods revealed themselves through these animals and were the Egyptians’ protectors. The plague on the livestock was again a direct attack on the polytheism and idolatry of the Egyptians. All the cattle of the Egyptians cattle died. However, the livestock in the shelters did not die during that plague.
The prohibition against other gods required no image of them, nor could anyone make an image of the Lord God Himself. He is too great to be represented by anything made by human hands. As applied to believers in Christ, the second commandment forbids making images of God or creatures for worship, prayer, or spiritual help. The principle behind this applies equally to all three persons of the Trinity.
No image or picture of God can represent His glory and character of Him. God is transcendent, so holy and unsearchable, that an image of Him dishonors Him and detracts from His true nature and what He has revealed about Himself. The believer’s concepts of God must not be based on images and pictures of Him but on God’s Word and His revelation in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This plague only affected the Egyptian’s cattle. In Exodus chapter nine, verse three says, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.” The cattle of the Egyptians died: meanwhile, the Israelite’s cattle did not receive harm.
Our cattle is similar to family and young children. We need to take care of the livestock: living by the truth. You shall know the truth, and the truth will set us free if we embrace it.