The Plague of Frogs
July 5, 2019
Commentary
Soon after the seven days when the water was turned to blood, God told Moses, for the first time, to go to Pharoah and demand that he let the children of Israel go so they may serve the true God (v. 1). This command showed that Israel was in bondage; God wanted them to have freedom in order that they might serve Him. Because Pharoah refused God’s command God said the land would be filled with frogs (v. 2). The goddess Head was pictured as a frog’s head so before this the Egyptians had counted the frog sacred and wouldn’t kill them. Now these sacred animals would be in their bedrooms, kitchens and crawling on the people (vv. 3-4). The Lord asks Moses to tell Aaron to hold his stick over the rivers, canals, and ponds (v. 5). Suddenly there were frogs everywhere (v. 6). Then the magicians with their satanic powers did the same thing with their enchantments and brought more frogs upon the land (v. 7).
When Pharoah began to see that the God of the Hebrews was greater than the gods of Egypt, he turned to Moses and Aaron for help (v. 8). Moses allowed Pharaoh to set the timetable for the relief from the frogs however, Moses wanted Pharoah to know there was no one like the Lord God (vv. 9-11). Moses cried unto the Lord; asking Him to remove the frogs (v. 12). The Lord did as Moses requested and the frogs died out in the houses, villages, fields etc (v. 13). They gathered up the dead frogs upon heaps and the land stank (v. 14). After the frogs were gone Pharoah makes his heart hard again and said he would not let the people go (v. 15).
Application
Am I living in obedience to God’s Word or do I have unconfessed sin in my life? I can only have a right relationship with God and others if I have made everything right with God and my fellow men.
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.