Fourth Plague: Flies

Fourth Plague: Flies

Exodus 8: ²⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²¹ Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. ²² And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. ²³ I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ” 

 

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GOD returns to HIS Warning Action Response (WAR) structure by giving Pharaoh another warning through Moses. HE told Moses to meet Pharaoh early in the morning when he comes out to the water and warn him to let HIS people go that they may serve HIM. If Pharaoh would not comply, GOD would send swarms of flies.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave Pharaoh the fourth warning to let HIS people go to serve HIM.
• GOD gave Pharaoh twenty-four hours to comply.
• GOD told Pharaoh what would happen if he did not comply.

 

Flies were not worshiped by the Egyptians, but they were revered as tenacious. This is similar to a sports team being named after an animal. One fly would be admired for its bothersome nature. But what would happen when billions of flies would be released.

 

GOD wanted HIS people to serve HIM versus Pharaoh. The plague of the flies was not lethal. GOD never said, “Or you will die.” HE was warning Pharaoh that HE would use what they revered as tenacious to show how stubborn they were being. There is a difference between tenacity and stubbornness. The WAR against GOD would prove futile.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the warning HE gave Pharaoh?
• Have you ever refused to do something GOD wanted you to do or surrender?
• Is GOD lovingly changing your mindset by allowing the same trial to repeat in your life?

Response to Lice – Hard Heart

Response to Lice – Hard Heart

Exodus 8: ¹⁸ Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. ¹⁹ Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.

 

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Feeling confident that they could match what Aaron did, the magicians tried to make lice out of dust, but they could not. They told Pharaoh that what Aaron did had to be done by GOD’s power. This time Pharaoh hardened his heart without the evidence from his magicians.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh’s magicians tapped into supernatural evil abilities and were able to do two things Aaron could do.
• Pharaoh’s magicians could not perform this supernatural action.
• Pharaoh still believed he was a god and refused to let the people go.

 

Lice may have been symbolic of the mistreatment of people. Life came from dust for the second time. The first was Adam. GOD did not breathe a soul into the lice, making this act of the creation of life different.

 

The magicians recognized that their magic was no match for GOD’s power. They tried over and over to create life without GOD, and were unable to do so. This is still the pursuit of humans to this very day. From this plague on, the magicians could no longer perform any of the supernatural thing’s GOD did. Pharaoh’s response was to remain in the position where he thought he was in control. GOD was not dealing with Pharaoh’s actions directly, rather HE was taking down a belief system.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the magician’s inability to mimic HIS plague?
• Has there been clear evidence that GOD can do anything and you still do not believe HE can do it for you?
• Are you able to place your hope in GOD despite the odds?

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” ¹⁷ And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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GOD does a switch up and does not give a warning to Pharaoh. HE goes from making frogs overrun the land to having Moses tell Aaron to use his rod to create lice. Aaron obeyed Moses and struck the dust and lice were everywhere.

 

My Observations:

• The Egyptians looked down on the Hebrews and could not even eat with them because they felt the Hebrews were unclean.
• Lice was a form of uncleanliness to the Egyptians.
• Aaron’s rod was used for the third time to do something supernatural.

 

Shortly after digging wells to get fresh water, frogs came in epic proportions. GOD listened to Moses and allowed the frogs to die. The land stank, but eventually the Egyptians cleaned up the rotting frogs. Just when they thought their homes were restored, GOD told Moses to tell Aaron to strike the dust. Lice were everywhere.

 

This action by GOD came without warning. The first two plagues were used to tell Pharaoh to let GOD’s people go. But this plague was probably performed in front of Pharaoh and his magicians, so that they would know GOD did it. GOD was dismantling the attitude of superiority.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD went directly into the next plague without warning Pharaoh?
• Have you learned a skillset and felt superior to other’s who do not possess the skill?
• Does GOD see you as inferior to other people and if not, then do you feel you are superior?

Response to Frogs – Hard Heart

 

Response to Frogs – Hard Heart

Exodus 8: ⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

 

⁹ And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”

 

¹⁰ So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. ¹¹ And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

 

¹² Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. ¹³ So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. ¹⁴ They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. ¹⁵ But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

 

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Frogs were everywhere. Pharaoh begged Moses to pray to the LORD to remove the frogs. He said he would let the people go if the frogs went away. Moses prayed to the LORD and GOD did what Moses said.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was in trouble and said whatever it would take to get out of trouble.
• Pharaoh did not ask his magicians to get rid of the frogs.
• GOD revealed HE listened to Moses.

 

Seeing his land become overrun with frogs, Pharaoh lied to get his way. We have done the same thing when we told GOD “I will never do that again.” Moses prayed to the LORD and may have even specifically said, “Leave the frogs in the house and let them die there.” GOD listened to Moses’s prayer and killed the frogs.

 

Pharaoh, who made additional work for the Hebrews, now had to clean up frogs. The Egyptian people had to have seen the futility in praying to the frog god. They also had just spent an entire week digging for water that had turned to blood. They were tired and their houses and land stank with dead frog smell. Pharaoh’s response was a hard heart, which meant he did not care that his people were tired, nor would he let the Hebrews go.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the frog plague?
• Have you ever promised something to GOD and took back your promise when you got relief?
• Can you see the value in keeping your promises to the LORD?

Second Action to Dismantle a Mindset

 

Second Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ⁵ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” ⁶ So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ⁷ And the magicians did so with their ^[a]enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

 

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After giving Pharaoh the chance to let HIS people go, GOD spoke to Moses and told him to execute the action HE warned Pharaoh about. Moses told Aaron to use his rod a second time.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was warned, now GOD worked through Moses who worked through Aaron to produce frogs.
• Pharaoh’s magicians were able to produce frogs as well.
• Aaron’s rod was used for the second time.

 

The second mindset GOD was dismantling was the deep focus on placing hope in idols. The Egyptians would place their hope and trust in a human or an object, ignoring GOD completely. They revered frogs as gods. We sometimes treat humans or things as idols.

 

Meanwhile, the true GOD produced so many frogs that the land was overtaken by them. But to disprove the power of GOD, the magicians were able to produce frogs as well. We treat GOD the same way as the magicians when we downplay anything that should be viewed as miraculous. Satan’s goal is to have you and me think that we are gods and that the things we do have no connection to HIS power. GOD was taking down this mindset.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the action HE took against Egypt?
• Have you ever thought you were in control when it was really GOD?
• Can you give GOD HIS credit in the accomplishments you have achieved?

Second Plague: Frogs

Second Plague: Frogs

Exodos 8: And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ² But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. ³ So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. ⁴ And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”

 

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GOD sends Moses with the third warning to tell Pharaoh. HE warned him to “Let MY people go,” otherwise frogs will overrun the area.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was about to face the second plague and could respond with obedience to GOD.
• GOD was clear in HIS words to Pharaoh.
• GOD did not speak directly to Pharaoh, but to HIS chosen leader Moses.

 

Frogs were revered by the Egyptians as gods. They worshiped frogs more than humans. They treated the Hebrews worse than frogs. GOD decided to warn Pharaoh first before sending frogs. If Pharaoh would change his heart, then frogs would not plague the land. But if he does not change his heart, then frogs will be everywhere.

 

GOD shows HIS sense of humor and said HE would put frogs “on your people.” This is funny and scary at the same time. GOD would produce so many frogs that there would be no place to go. The frogs represent a useless idol. They would have so many useless frogs and no way to get rid of them. They would place their hope in frogs but nothing would come from it.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to Pharaoh about the frogs?
• Have you ever placed your hope in a thing or a human versus placing your hope in GOD?
• Is your hope in GOD strong enough to keep you from placing your hope in something or someone else?

Response to Blood – Hard Heart

Response to Blood – Hard Heart

Exodus 7: ²² Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. ²³ And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. ²⁴ So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. ²⁵ And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river.

 

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Pharaoh’s magicians were also able to turn water into blood. Pharaoh was not impressed with what GOD did through Aaron’s rod and the command that Moses gave to Aaron. He went into his house, ignoring Moses and Aaron. The Egyptians had to dig for water near the river.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was not impressed with what GOD did as the first plague.
• Pharaoh’s magicians were able to do something supernatural which “solidified” his thinking that he was still a god.
• Pharaoh took away the straw for an enormous quota of bricks which made the Hebrews work harder; meanwhile, GOD took away the river, causing “all” the Egyptians to have to work hard just to drink.

 

This was the second warning to let GOD’s people go. The first caused Pharaoh to take away the straw for the brick quota. Pharaoh’s response to this plague was a hardened heart towards GOD. He was not impressed by the little trick that GOD did, or so he thought it was a trick.

 

He did not know that GOD was methodically removing a mindset that existed in the nation of Egypt. To keep the mindset of pride going, Pharaoh made “all” the Egyptians dig for water. Meanwhile, the Hebrews had plenty of fresh water to drink in the land of Goshen. The Egyptians had to work harder than the cruel directive Pharaoh gave to the Hebrews. GOD saw Pharaoh’s response before he gave it.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Pharaoh’s response to the plague of blood?
• Is fear driving you to a place where you are unable to change?
• Is your reliance on your own abilities getting you nowhere, causing you to seek GOD’s help?