As we read about the fourth plague upon the Egyptians, it seems like we have read similar
stories recently. We read about God turning water into blood, about God sending a plague of
frogs, and about the plague of gnats. By now we are starting ask ourselves, “What is it
going to take to get Pharaoh to finally understand that he is not in charge, but God is?”
Once again, Moses is told to get up in the early morning hours and meet Pharaoh as he went
down to the river. Again, there is a message directly from the Lord that is intended for Pharaoh’s
ears. Just like before, God wants Pharaoh to let His people go. God is upfront about what will
happen, and to whom it will happen if Pharaoh ignores God’s command. God tells Pharaoh
exactly when this plague will start and what the results will be. If Pharaoh gave Moses an
answer, we don’t have it. The next thing that we have record of is the beginning of the plague.
When you read this story, if you had not read ahead in the Bible, you might think that you are
seeing a little glimmer of hope from Pharaoh. This time he offers a compromise which
Moses immediately rejects. Pharaoh acquiesces, and it looks like the Israelites are about to
take a road trip. Pharaoh asked Moses to pray for him. Moses does, God answers the prayer,
and we quickly discover that it is not yet time for Israel to pack their bags.
Pharaoh reminds me of some people I know. I know a man who made some bad choices in
life. He had a problem with alcohol, and he had a very bad reputation in the community.
One day he came to see me. He was crying so hard that I figured he must have killed
somebody. He told me that he needed Jesus. We talked. We read scripture, and he
prayed to receive Jesus as his Lord. He was baptized. He never missed church. He even
started seminary. He attended all sorts of really good conferences. He started a jail ministry.
He preached at a few churches. But little by little, step by step, he slipped right back into
that old life he had lived before.
Do you remember that old adage that says, “Close only counts in horse shoes and hand
grenades”?
You can come close to following Jesus. You can come close to building a stable life based
on the teachings of God’s word, but it will take more than just trying God for a little while.
When people tell me they have given their heart to Jesus, I am excited, but I want to see
what happens now. When you really give your heart to Jesus, your life will follow. I
am not talking about being perfect, don’t even go there. I am talking about living a life in which
your decisions are based on God’s instructions.
Israel was coming back to God. All these Israelites were raised in Egypt. They were just
learning what it means to follow God. Their ancestors had gotten off track and had failed to
teach their children about God. But there is a vast difference between the lives of the Israelites
and the lives of the Egyptians under Pharaoh’s leadership. The story of these plagues teaches us
many things, but one of the most obvious lessons is about what happens when a person has
a stubborn heart toward God.
20 ¶ Then the LORD told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s
way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my
people go, so they can worship me.
21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people,
and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be
covered with them.
22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will
be found there. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I am present even in
the heart of your land.
23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This
miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ”
24 And the LORD did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s
palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos
by the flies.
25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to
your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”
26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices
that we offer to the LORD our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the
Egyptians can see us, they will stone us.
27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD
our God, just as he has commanded us.”
28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to
offer sacrifices to the LORD your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray
for me.”
29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow
the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But
I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to
sacrifice to the LORD.”
30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the LORD to remove all the flies.
31 And the LORD did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear
from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained.
32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.
- What did God tell Moses to do early in the morning? How frightening do you think it would be
to go “stand in Pharaoh’s way?” (8:20)
20 ¶ Then the LORD told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s
way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my
people go, so they can worship me.
God told Moses to go and stand in Pharaoh’s way early in the morning. We don’t really know why
Pharaoh went to the Nile in the early morning. There are many different theories, but the most
likely answer to me is that he greatly admired the Nile, and they constantly measured the water
level because the river played such an important role in Egypt. The level of the Nile even helped
to determine the level of taxes paid. I think Pharaoh just liked to walk down and look at the
river. I am sure that you would agree with me that standing in Pharaoh’s way was not usually a
good plan. Moses and Aaron must have been praying earnestly as they interrupted Pharaoh’s
morning walk.
- What encouragement have we been given for times when we need to “stand in Pharaoh’s
way”? (Mat 16:18) Are gates typically an offensive tool or a defensive tool?
Matthew 16:18 (ESV) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus spoke these words in Caesarea Philippi at a place called Bashan, a very sinister place.
The imagery was associated with the underworld and would have been understood by His
disciples. They would have been a bit unnerved by His reference to a place that had bars and
cords to tie down its inhabitants to keep them from escaping. This verse reminds us that Jesus
promised us that when we are representing Him, the defenses of hell will not be strong
enough to win the battle. Cities built walls and gates to defend themselves from outside
forces. Those well familiar with the Old Testament would know they were standing right in front
of the gates of which Jesus spoke. Let me plug this thought into our world today. There are
evil activities, like addiction and abuse, that will tie you down and try to keep you from
escaping. Jesus is telling us that these evil powers cannot stand up to His power. When God’s
forces come after you, the gates of hell cannot keep them from succeeding. A better
translation of this verse might end with this phrase, “the gates of hell will not withstand it.”
(Crosswalk.com)
The point with this verse from Matthew is that we are called to impact culture, not run and
hide from it. As followers of Jesus, we are to be on the offense against evil, not just playing
defense. - What result did God promise Pharaoh if he refused Him? (8:21)
21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people,
and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be
covered with them.
These “flies” may have been mosquitoes. We are not 100% sure we know the nature of these
“swarm.” What we do know is that this swarm was significant that it impacted all the Egyptians.
It filled their houses and covered the ground. It made their lives miserable. - With the intensity of the plagues growing, God lets Pharaoh know that the Jews will not be
impacted by this plague. What comfort for God’s people do you find in this? (8:22-23)
22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will
be found there. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I am present even in
the heart of your land.
23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This
miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ”
This time the Jews will not be included in the plague. There will be no flies for the Jews. God
says He is making a clear distinction between His people and Pharaoh’s people. It is interesting
that God calls this a miraculous sign and sets tomorrow as the time it will happen. God is our
protector. We need Him all the time. Psalm 3:3-5 But you, O LORD, are a shield around
me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 ¶ I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. 5 I lay
down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.
God was protecting Israel, and God protects His people today.
- Describe what you think it is like when you live in chaos. (8:24)
24 And the LORD did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s
palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos
by the flies.
Chaos is when things are in disorder and confusion. When you are living in chaos, nothing is in
order, and you tend to fear everything. There is no peace, no joy, and no sense of purpose.
Can you imagine living in this swarm of flies? Everywhere you stepped, you stepped on flies.
You were covered in flies. They fly up your nose and craw into your ears. You senses are
thrown into overdrive. - What compromise did Pharaoh offer, and how did Moses respond? (8:25-27) In what ways
do people offer God a compromise? How likely is God to respond positively to your offers of
compromise?
25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to
your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”
26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices
that we offer to the LORD our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the
Egyptians can see us, they will stone us.
27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD
our God, just as he has commanded us.”
Pharaoh’s attitude seems to softening a bit, but he is still not sure about God. So, he offers a
deal, a compromise. Now he is good with Israel offering sacrifices to God, but he wants them to
do so in Egypt. Moses quickly rejects Pharaoh’s compromise and restates God’s instructions.
We are tempted to compromise everywhere we turn. Compromise is a good thing when Deby
and I are trying to decide where to eat on a Friday night. But compromising the truth is never a
good thing. Compromise doesn’t mean that we turn from believing the truth, it means that
accommodate things that are not right. People are saying the dumbest things ever. Take
gender for example. Some highly educated folks have identified a number of genders. I read
part of one list that had 72 genders identified. For those of you who have questions, there are
two genders –male and female. Compromise leads us to accommodate things we don’t
believe. I fully expect to walk up to some public restroom and see “Ze” or perhaps “Nonbinary”
on the door someday. The farther our society gets from God, the more we accept notions
that are not biblical or proven by real science. Compromise will lead us to accept gender
dysphorias as normal. Read the Bible, and believe the Bible. 1000 years after you are dead,
your bones could be dug up and they will be able to tell your gender by your chromosomes. This
is just one example of how society can accept a compromise with the truth.
Moses refused to compromise with a plan that against what God had said. We need to do the
same. However, let’s be reminded that we don’t get to be mean about our rejection of
compromise.
- How did Pharaoh respond when Moses refused his compromise? (8:28-29) What did Pharaoh
request in return?
28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to
offer sacrifices to the LORD your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray
for me.”
29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow
the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But
I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to
sacrifice to the LORD.”
When his compromise failed, Pharaoh verbally agreed to let Israel go, but he wanted them to
hurry and pray for him. Moses informed Pharaoh that he would pray and God would remove the
flies tomorrow. He warned Pharaoh not to lie to them. - How did God answer Moses’ prayer? After the flies were gone, how did Pharaoh react?
30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the LORD to remove all the flies.
31 And the LORD did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear
from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained.
32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.
Once the flies were gone, Pharaoh became stubborn against God again and refused to let the
people go. Continual stubbornness against God will not turn out well. It didn’t end well for
Pharaoh, and it won’t end well for any us or anyone we know. Stubbornness toward God only
has one cure. That cure is complete surrender to God. I find such comfort in thinking about
this verse: Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Pharaoh looked like he had it all. He lived in a palace, and his every wish was fulfilled by the
people around him. He was the only one who could make offering to the gods of Egypt. He
owned all the land in Egypt. But he rejected God.
What about you? Do you reject God? Do you compromise and try to partially follow God
while holding back on a part of your life that you are not willing to yield?
Are you willing to follow Jesus with your whole heart?