Exodus 8 recounts a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as God intensifies His plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This chapter details the second, third, and fourth plagues: frogs, gnats (or lice), and flies.
The story begins with the second plague, the Plague of Frogs, as commanded by God through Moses:
> "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your territory with frogs. The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and of your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.'"" (Exodus 8:1-4, ESV)
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Moses and Aaron obeyed. Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and an uncountable multitude of frogs emerged, covering the land. They infested houses, beds, ovens – every conceivable space. Pharaoh, desperate and overwhelmed by the stench and sheer volume of frogs, summoned Moses and Aaron.
> "Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, 'Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.'" (Exodus 8:8, ESV)
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Moses agreed to pray for a specific time, so that Pharaoh would know that the power belonged to the Lord. The next day, the frogs died off, and the Egyptians gathered them into piles, leaving a terrible smell. However, once the relief came, Pharaoh hardened his heart once more, refusing to let the people go.
Then came the Plague of Gnats (or Lice). This time, there was no warning to Pharaoh.
> "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, "Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt."'" (Exodus 8:16, ESV)
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Aaron did so, and gnats infested people and animals alike throughout Egypt. The magicians of Egypt, who had previously mimicked some of Moses's miracles, attempted to produce gnats but failed. Faced with a plague they could not replicate or control, even they recognized the divine hand at work.
> "The magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.' But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said." (Exodus 8:19, ESV)
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Despite the clear sign, Pharaoh remained obstinate.
Finally, the Plague of Flies descended upon Egypt. This plague marked a significant shift, as God introduced a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
> "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh as he goes out to the water and say to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.'" (Exodus 8:20-22, ESV)
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The Lord brought swarms of flies into the houses of Pharaoh, his servants, and all of Egypt, devastating the land. But remarkably, the land of Goshen, where the Israelites resided, was untouched by the flies. This stark contrast served as undeniable proof of God's power and His protection over His chosen people.
Overwhelmed again, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and offered a compromise: the Israelites could sacrifice to their God, but only within Egypt.
> "Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, 'Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.'" (Exodus 8:25, ESV)
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Moses, however, refused, explaining that the sacrifices the Israelites offered were detestable to the Egyptians, and performing them in Egypt would provoke the Egyptians to stone them. He insisted on a journey of three days into the wilderness to sacrifice, as commanded by God.
> "But Moses said, 'It would not be right to do so, for the sacrifices we offer to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? We must go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.'" (Exodus 8:26-27, ESV)
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Pharaoh conceded, saying they could go, but not too far, and again urged Moses to plead for the flies to depart. Moses prayed, and the flies vanished from Egypt. Yet, just as before, once the immediate threat was gone, Pharaoh once more hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Exodus 8 vividly illustrates the escalating divine judgment against Pharaoh's stubbornness and the growing demonstration of God's power over creation, all aimed at liberating His people from bondage. The repeated cycle of plague, Pharaoh's promise, and his subsequent hardening of heart sets the stage for the even more devastating plagues to come.
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