Frogs, Gnats, Flies and a Hard Heart

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Exodus 2:20-32

TO CHEW ON: " And the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go." Exodus 8:31,32

Have you ever been caught in a plague of creatures or insects? Maybe the trees in your town were attacked by tent caterpillars. Or your home was invaded by ants. I heard of a city in India that was overrun with monkeys.

What was your plague?
How long did it last?
How did it end?

This is what happened to the Egyptians when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

Nile river is turned to blood - by James Tissot

First Moses turned the Nile River into blood. Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go.

Then came the plague of frogs. Imagine frogs everywhere, jumping onto your bed, into your glass of milk, up your pant leg. Still Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go.


After the frogs came a plague of gnats. Though the Egyptian magicians could copy the rod-snake thing, turn water into blood and call out frogs, they were stopped at the gnats.

“This is God,” they said to Pharaoh.

But the gnats made no difference to Pharaoh. He wouldn't let the people go.



Then came the

Plague of flies

Swarms of them
in the air
on the chair
and the stair
in your hair
everywhere!

But the flies didn't change Pharaoh's mind either. After the first four plagues his heart was still hard. He refused to let the Israelites go.

PRAYER: Dear God, when we see Your power in the big and little things of nature, we are amazed. Amen.

MORE: What Next?!
When Pharaoh kept on being stubborn, God sent MORE PLAGUES!

Plague 5 – All Egyptian livestock (cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, camels) got sick and died. Read about it in Exodus 9:1-7

Fifth plague - Egyptian livestock die - Artist unknown

Plague 6 – Boils (pussy sores) on people and animals. Read about it in Exodus 9:8-12

Plague 7 – A thunder-lightning-hailstorm which flattened fields and stripped the trees. Read about it in Exodus 9:22-26

Plague 8 – Locusts (a grasshopper-type insect). They ate everything that was left after the storm. Read about it in Exodus 10:13-20

In spite of all these things Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go.

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