FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Exodus 8:1-32
Job 33:4

“But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite,
he hardened his heart …”

LESSONS FROM THE TEN PLAGUES (II)

As forewarned by the LORD, He smote the land with frogs when Pharaoh refused to let His people go. Frogs were in the Egyptians’ bedrooms, on their beds, and cooking areas. The Egyptians worshiped the frog-headed goddess of fertility and birth. The LORD showed them who controlled the frogs which they worshipped as gods. He is the true God of fertility that gave the increase of the Hebrew babies and preserved them whom the Egyptians sought to kill. The magicians also brought up frogs, which were hopping out everywhere, instead of stopping them. Pharaoh had to ask Moses to make the frogs return to the rivers. At that point, Pharaoh said he would let the Hebrew slaves go to worship their God. Yet when he saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and broke his promise. Next, the LORD brought lice upon man and beast in the third plague without prior warning. This time the magicians could not imitate the act so they had to confess it was the finger of God, admitting defeat to the Hebrew God. But Pharaoh continued to harden his own heart (Exod 8:19) and would not listen. God sent the fourth plague of thick swarms of flies which destroyed their land when Pharaoh refused to heed God’s prior warning. God made it clear that He, the God of the Hebrew slaves, was indeed the LORD on earth because He controlled the swarm of flies to avoid Goshen where His people lived. Pharaoh’s own houses were attacked so he promised Moses to let them go make sacrifices as long as they did not go too far away. God removed this plague at Moses’ request. But despite this clear sign, Pharaoh yet hardened his heart (Exod 8:32) after God removed this plague and broke his promise again.

Let us never forget how God can control armies of insects when man cannot even control one tiny insect’s actions. Do you fear that God is unable to divert some terror to bypass you if He so wishes?

THOUGHT: The LORD is the true giver and protector of lives.
PRAYER: LORD, let me see Thee more clearly so that I will fear nothing.