Exodus 8
In Exodus 8, we continue to see God's confrontation with Pharaoh through the plagues that He brings upon Egypt. The chapter focuses on the plagues of frogs, lice, and flies, which further demonstrate God's power over creation and His demand for Israel’s release. Despite the mounting severity of the plagues, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, setting the stage for even more devastating judgments.
Exodus 8:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.
3 So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls.
God instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh once again, repeating His demand for the Israelites’ freedom. This time, the warning is specific: if Pharaoh refuses, the land of Egypt will be plagued by an overwhelming infestation of frogs. The mention of frogs invading personal spaces such as houses, beds, and even cooking areas emphasizes the total disruption this plague would cause in everyday life. It illustrates that Pharaoh’s resistance would result in significant suffering for both him and his people.
Exodus 8:4-6 (NKJV)
4 And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.”
5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’”
6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
The plague is announced as not only affecting Pharaoh personally but also his people and servants. This plague demonstrates how Pharaoh's stubbornness will have widespread consequences. When Aaron stretches out his rod as instructed, the frogs emerge in overwhelming numbers. This act of power shows the authority of God over the natural world, as what was once a source of sustenance (water) now becomes a source of affliction. It also highlights how Egypt's false gods, such as Heket, the frog-goddess of fertility, are powerless to stop this invasion.
Exodus 8:7 (NKJV)
7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh’s magicians manage to replicate the plague through their own enchantments, likely through some form of trickery or demonic influence. While their actions mimic God's power, they are not able to remove the frogs but only worsen the situation. This shows the limitations of Egypt’s magicians and their inability to provide real relief from the suffering. It also further hardens Pharaoh's heart, as he sees this as evidence that his magicians can still compete with the power of God.
Exodus 8:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”
9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”
10 So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.
Pharaoh finally acknowledges God's power and asks Moses and Aaron to intercede on behalf of Egypt to remove the frogs. In a show of diplomacy, Moses allows Pharaoh to choose the time for the frogs to be removed, which Pharaoh sets for the next day. Moses’ statement, "that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God," emphasizes that this is not just about relieving the plague but about demonstrating the uniqueness and supremacy of the God of Israel over the gods of Egypt.
Exodus 8:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”
12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh.
13 So the Lord did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.
God responds to Moses' intercession, causing the frogs to retreat to the rivers, where they belonged. This shows both the mercy and the sovereignty of God. His removal of the plague demonstrates that He is willing to relent when there is repentance or request for mercy. However, the aftermath of the frogs dying in great numbers leaves the Egyptians with a reminder of God's power, as they are forced to deal with the unpleasant remains.
Exodus 8:14-15 (NKJV)
14 They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.
The Egyptians collect the dead frogs into heaps, and the land reeks from the stench. Although the immediate threat is gone, the consequences of Pharaoh’s disobedience linger in the form of the foul odor, serving as a reminder of the plague. Despite witnessing the miracle and the relief it brought, Pharaoh hardens his heart once more, refusing to let the people go. This hardening shows how his temporary fear of God's power fades as soon as the threat is removed, revealing the depth of his stubbornness.
Exodus 8:16-17 (NKJV)
16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’”
17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
With no warning to Pharaoh this time, God commands Aaron to strike the dust of the land, turning it into lice. This third plague directly targets the bodies of humans and animals alike, further intensifying the suffering. The transformation of dust into lice is significant, as dust often symbolizes creation itself (Genesis 2:7), showing God’s complete control over even the smallest elements of the natural world. The lice represent both physical discomfort and ritual impurity in Egyptian culture, where cleanliness was highly regarded.
Exodus 8:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
For the first time, Pharaoh’s magicians are unable to replicate the miracle, acknowledging their defeat by declaring, “This is the finger of God.” This admission marks a significant turning point, as even Egypt’s spiritual authorities recognize that these plagues are beyond their control and are the work of a divine power. However, despite this recognition, Pharaoh’s heart remains hard. His refusal to heed even his own magicians’ warnings shows his deep resistance to submitting to God's authority.
Exodus 8:20-21 (NKJV)
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.
God commands Moses to confront Pharaoh again, warning of a fourth plague if he refuses to let the Israelites go. This time, the threat is of swarms of flies. Flies were not only a nuisance but also carried disease and filth, further destabilizing the Egyptian society. The specific targeting of homes emphasizes that no one, including Pharaoh’s servants, will be spared unless Pharaoh yields to God's demand. The growing severity of the plagues indicates God’s increasing judgment on Egypt.
Exodus 8:22-23 (NKJV)
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.”’”
Here, God makes a clear distinction between His people and the Egyptians by sparing the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, from the swarm of flies. This protection serves as a direct sign of God’s favor upon Israel and His judgment upon Egypt. It also highlights God's power to control the forces of nature with precision. This separation is not only about mercy but also about demonstrating to Pharaoh that God is not merely a local deity but “the Lord in the midst of the land,” present and powerful everywhere.
Exodus 8:24 (NKJV)
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.
As God promised, swarms of flies invaded Egypt, filling Pharaoh’s palace and the homes of his people, but the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was not affected. The flies caused great discomfort and widespread destruction, corrupting the entire land of Egypt except for Goshen, where God protected His people. This distinction highlighted both the severity of God's judgment on Egypt and His mercy toward Israel, making it clear that Pharaoh's continued defiance would bring further suffering upon his own nation.
Exodus 8:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”
26 And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us?
Pharaoh offers a compromise, allowing the Israelites to worship their God but insisting they do it within the land of Egypt. Moses rejects this offer, explaining that the sacrifices the Israelites must offer are considered an abomination to the Egyptians, likely because they involved animals sacred to Egyptian religion. Moses points out that such sacrifices would provoke hostility from the Egyptians, further indicating that God’s demand is not for partial freedom but for a complete and unhindered departure from Egypt.
Exodus 8:27-28 (NKJV)
27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us.
28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”
Moses reiterates the demand that the Israelites must leave Egypt and journey into the wilderness to properly worship God. Pharaoh, still seeking control over the situation, agrees to let them go but requests that they stay nearby. He also asks Moses to intercede on his behalf to remove the plague, indicating that Pharaoh is only willing to make temporary concessions when he feels the pressure of God's judgment. However, his reluctance to fully comply with God's demand reveals his ongoing resistance.
Exodus 8:29-30 (NKJV)
29 Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”
30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.
Moses agrees to pray for the removal of the flies but warns Pharaoh not to be deceitful by going back on his word once the plague is lifted. This warning reflects the repeated pattern of Pharaoh's behavior—relenting under pressure, only to harden his heart again when the immediate danger passes. Moses’ intercession shows his ongoing role as a mediator between God and Pharaoh, but the warning also foreshadows Pharaoh’s continued defiance.
Exodus 8:31-32 (NKJV)
31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.
32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.
God, in His mercy, answers Moses’ prayer, completely removing the swarms of flies from Egypt. However, as predicted, Pharaoh hardens his heart once again, refusing to let the Israelites go. This final verse reinforces the theme of Pharaoh’s stubbornness and resistance to God’s will. Despite experiencing God's power and mercy repeatedly, Pharaoh's pride and unwillingness to submit prolong his people’s suffering and set the stage for further judgment.