Fourth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Fourth Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: ²⁴ And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

 

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Twenty-four hours passed and Pharaoh did not let GOD’s people go. GOD allowed swarms of flies to overrun the land.

 

My Observations:

• GOD could have used poisonous snakes, but HE chose flies, which made the land diseased or corrupted.
• GOD seems to be addressing a mindset of the Egyptians by having overwhelming issues come at them that they could not handle.
• Part of GOD’s warning to the Egyptians is that they may know the HE is LORD.

 

It is interesting that GOD would allow a mindset to continue the way it did. The Egyptians believed that frogs and flies had superior powers than those they were trying to enslave. GOD used flies to make everything they touched, disgusting. Imagine one fly crawling on you. Now imagine twenty. Now imagine two hundred. Try to eat anything or drink anything or go to the bathroom.

 

The Egyptian admiration of flies would turn into horror, all because of a hardened heart. GOD wants you and me to see how important it is to keep a heart that is able to be guided by HIM. A hard heart is one that does not believe it needs GOD. Pharoah thought he was a god. The one and true GOD was dismantling that belief. HE did not send flies to the Land of Goshen.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS action of sending the flies?
• Are there parts of your life that need GOD and you have not asked HIM into your life?
• How is GOD protecting you from a mindset that opposes HIM?

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?