Introduction

Exodus 8 continues the contest between YHWH and the gods of Egypt with three more plagues: frogs, gnats, and flies. Each plague intensifies the pressure on Pharaoh, and with the gnats, even Egypt's magicians recognize the finger of God. Yet Pharaoh continues to harden his heart.

The Second Plague: Frogs

[1-15] Frogs overrun Egypt.

• God's command [1-4]: "Go to Pharaoh and say, 'Let my people go.' If you refuse, I will send a plague of frogs. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come into your palace, your bedroom, your bed, your officials' houses, on your people, into your ovens and kneading troughs."
• Aaron stretches out his hand [5-6]: Frogs come up and cover the land of Egypt
• Magicians replicate [7]: The magicians do the same—they can make more frogs but cannot remove them
• Pharaoh asks for relief [8]: Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron: "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go."
• Moses' offer [9-10]: "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray." Pharaoh says, "Tomorrow." Moses agrees: "So that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God."
• The frogs die [11-14]: The frogs die in houses, courtyards, and fields. They are piled into heaps and the land reeks
• Pharaoh hardens his heart [15]: When Pharaoh sees there is relief, he hardens his heart and does not listen—just as the Lord said

The Third Plague: Gnats

[16-19] This time, no warning.

• God's command [16]: "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout Egypt the dust will become gnats."
• Aaron obeys [17]: The dust of the ground becomes gnats on people and animals throughout Egypt
• Magicians fail [18]: The magicians try to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they cannot
• "This is the finger of God" [19a]: The magicians tell Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." They recognize a power beyond their own
• Pharaoh's heart hardens [19b]: But Pharaoh's heart is hard and he will not listen, just as the Lord said

The Fourth Plague: Flies

[20-32] A distinction between Egypt and Israel.

• God's command [20-21]: "Get up early and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say, 'Let my people go.' If you do not, I will send swarms of flies. They will fill your houses and cover the ground."
• A crucial distinction [22-23]: "But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people."
• The plague arrives [24]: Dense swarms of flies pour into Pharaoh's palace and all Egypt. The land is ruined by the flies
• Pharaoh's compromise [25-27]: Pharaoh calls Moses and Aaron: "Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land." Moses refuses: "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer would be detestable to the Egyptians." He insists on a three-day journey
• Pharaoh's conditional permission [28]: "I will let you go to offer sacrifices in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me."
• Moses warns against deception [29]: "I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again."
• The flies leave [30-31]: Moses prays; not a fly remains
• Pharaoh hardens again [32]: But Pharaoh hardens his heart this time also and will not let the people go

Key Takeaways

• Magicians reach their limit [18-19]: God's power exceeds all human magic
• God protects His people [22]: Goshen is spared—a distinction emerges
• Temporary repentance isn't repentance [15, 32]: When pressure lifts, Pharaoh returns to hardness
• Partial obedience isn't obedience [25-28]: Pharaoh offers compromises; God requires full obedience

Reflection Questions

• When have you made promises to God during crisis that you forgot when the pressure lifted?
• What "compromises" do you offer God instead of full obedience?
• How have you seen God distinguish and protect His people?