The Plague of Frogs
October 22, 2025
Commentary
Soon after the seven days when the water had been turned to blood, God told Moses to go again to Pharaoh and demand that he let the Israelites go so they might serve the true God (v. 1). This command revealed that Israel was still in bondage; God desired to set them free so they could worship Him and experience His covenant promises. Because Pharaoh refused to obey, God said the land would be filled with frogs (v. 2). The Egyptian goddess Heqet was pictured with the head of a frog, so Egyptians considered frogs sacred and would not harm them. But now these “sacred” creatures would cover the land completely, invading bedrooms, kitchens, and even crawling on the people (vv. 3–4). The Lord told Moses to command Aaron to stretch out his staff over the rivers, canals, and ponds (v. 5), and immediately frogs came up and covered all of Egypt (v. 6). The magicians of Egypt used their evil powers to do the same and brought even more frogs upon the land (v. 7), adding to Egypt’s misery.
When Pharaoh saw that the God of the Hebrews was stronger than all the gods of Egypt, he desperately pleaded with Moses and Aaron to ask the Lord to remove the frogs (v. 8). Moses allowed Pharaoh to choose the time for the frogs to disappear, but made it clear that only the Lord could perform such a mighty and undeniable miracle (vv. 9–11). Moses prayed, and God answered by removing the frogs (v. 12). They died in the houses, villages, and fields, and people piled them into heaps until the land stank terribly (vv. 13–14). But when relief came and the crisis seemed over, Pharaoh hardened his heart once again and stubbornly refused to let Israel go (v. 15).
Application
When God removes a problem from my life, do I continue to honor Him, or do I quickly forget His mercy like Pharaoh did? It’s easy to pray when I’m desperate, but harder to stay faithful when the pressure lifts. How can I show lasting gratitude and obedience this week, trusting God’s power even when the crisis is over?
Exodus 8:1–15 (NET)
1 (7:26) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Release my people in order that they may serve me! 2 But if you refuse to release them, then I am going to plague all your territory with frogs. 3 The Nile will swarm with frogs, and they will come up and go into your house, in your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading troughs. 4 Frogs will come up against you, your people, and all your servants.”’”
5 The Lord spoke to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Extend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds, and bring the frogs up over the land of Egypt.’” 6 So Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
7 The magicians did the same with their secret arts and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt too.
8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord that he may take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will release the people that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me —when shall I pray for you, your servants, and your people, for the frogs to be removed from you and your houses, so that they will be left only in the Nile?” 10 He said, “Tomorrow.” And Moses said, “It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs will depart from you, your houses, your servants, and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.”
12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord because of the frogs that he had brought on Pharaoh. 13 The Lord did as Moses asked —the frogs died in the houses, the villages, and the fields. 14 The Egyptians piled them in countless heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.
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