Troubles
Read This Week: Exodus 8
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country.
– Exodus 8:1-2 NIV
As a continuation of the last chapter’s showdown between Pharoah and Moses, Exodus 8 details three of the ten plagues God inflicted upon Egypt to persuade the Egyptian ruler to release the Israelites. This chapter outlines the skin-crawling details of the plagues of the Frogs, Gnats, and Flies. These troubles are not just historical events in the annals of Jewish history; they carry profound spiritual and practical lessons that resonate with us as believers today.
Verses 1-15 unveil the plague, where God commands Moses to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. When Pharaoh refuses, God unleashes a swarm of frogs over Egypt. These frogs invade every aspect of life, covering the land and entering houses, beds, and kitchens. Frogs, typically seen as harmless creatures, become instruments of judgment. God can use even the most unlikely elements of creation to accomplish His purposes. In Egyptian culture, frogs were associated with a goddess of fertility and life. By turning this symbol into a curse, God shows the pointlessness of relying on idols or false gods.
Following the frogs, God instructs Moses to strike the dust of the earth, turning it into gnats (or lice) that infest both people and animals. This third plague is notable because the Egyptian magicians, who were able to replicate the previous plagues, could not duplicate this one. They acknowledge that this is the finger of God (v.19). The magicians’ inability to replicate this plague reveals the limits of human and demonic power. While they could mimic some of the earlier miracles, they could not match the power of the true God and remind us that human wisdom and power are finite and cannot stand against the will of God.
Even the pagan magicians recognize that the gnats are a direct act of God. This acknowledgment is crucial because it shows that, in the face of overwhelming evidence, even those who do not believe must concede the reality of divine intervention. It calls for humility and acknowledgment of God’s authority in our lives. This plague marks the beginning of a clear distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Trouble begins to fall more heavily on Egypt, setting the stage for the later plagues where God’s protection over His people becomes even more evident.
The final plague of this chapter brings swarms of flies upon Egypt. However, in this plague, God makes a clear distinction: while the Egyptians suffer from the flies, the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, is spared. The selective nature of the plague shows God’s ability to protect His people while delivering judgment on their oppressors. This duality of defense and discipline is a recurring theme in the Bible of God’s justice and mercy.
Despite the increasingly severe consequences, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart. His refusal to let the Israelites go, even after the flies are removed, illustrates the dangers of pride and stubbornness. It’s a warning against resisting the Lord, even when the evidence of His power is undeniable. The plagues, including the flies, serve as a call to obedience—not just for Pharaoh, but for all who witness God’s power. They tell us that obedience to God is not optional, and there are consequences for resisting His Word.
Just as God controlled the plagues, He is sovereign over the events of our lives. In moments of crisis, we are reminded to trust in His plan and His timing, knowing that He can use even tricky circumstances for His purposes. As a result, we must guard against allowing pride, stubbornness, or sin to harden our hearts against God’s guidance. Instead, we should cultivate a responsive and obedient heart, whether ancient idols or modern-day distractions; anything that takes the place of God in our lives is ultimately powerless. Exodus 8 challenges us to examine our lives and remove anything that competes with our devotion to God. He is the answer to avoid unnecessary troubles and the answer to our troubles.
Exodus Chapter 8 Verse 19
Then The magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God! But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and strong and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.
~Truth Or Trickery~
God Is Saying To Me:
In life, you may encounter those that only admit or recognize God’s supremacy when their efforts fail to match their divine beliefs. That doesn’t mean that they will become a convert. What it does indicate is that the grip of evil and paganistic idolatry has to accept and recognize that there is a power greater than that they do not honor and serve.
What This Means To Me:
1. As much as Satan or the enemies power is, it is limited and no match for our sovereign God.
2. Blatant disregard for God’s supreme power only hardens the heart and keeps the door open for continued suffering and separates us from God’s love.
3. Don’t allow the attitude of compromise to continue to separate you from the truth. True faith does not allow for half-cocked deals to be made.
4. Stick to your determined heart to set you apart for God. Others will see your steadfast commitment to Father God over partial beliefs.
Exodus 8:8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron to come to him. He said, ‘Pray to the Lord. Ask him to remove the frogs from me and from my people. Then I will let your people go. They can offer sacrifices to the Lord.’
15 But when Pharaoh saw that the trouble had gone, his mind became hard again. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron. The Lord had said that this would happen, and it did!
God has lots of Patience for everyone
Is there any Pharaohs in your life?
People who don’t want to listen?
God leads you to talk to someone.
They may appear like they’re listening, if it’s a really hard place they’re in they may even ask you to pray for them.
But then they go back to what they were doing.
Pharaoh’s refusal to listen to God through Moses and Aaron reflects a deep pride and a stubborn heart.
Pride blinds him to see the truth leading him to further suffering for himself and his people.
God is patient,
He gives pharaoh multiple opportunities to repent.
In 2 Peter 3:9 Peter talks about how patient God is not wanting anyone to perish but for ALL to come to repentance.
That gives us hope for everyone.
Even as a Christian, we want our hearts to continue to stay open to God’s will, listening and responding to Him.
We want to desire to examine our hearts daily.
Asking Father God if there is an area we are resisting in what He is wanting us to do?
God is always calling us to grow and be open to have a change.
Father God, I pray for all of us to be able to come to you and ask you to help us in any area that is holding us back from all that you have for us. Help us to recognize in any area of our heart that needs to be softened more. And help us to follow through in what you’re wanting us to do, with your help doing it with You, You give us strength to makes changes for our good. thank you, Father God, we love you, Jesus and your Holy Spirit for all you’ve patience and Love ❤️
Have you ever had someone promise to do something, only to discover that when the time came, they didn’t follow through? They failed to live up to their word.
Did you wonder if they ever truly intended to keep their promise, or if they were being disingenuous from the start? Perhaps they lied to get what they wanted, never intending to fulfill their commitment—or, when the moment arrived, they simply changed their mind and disregarded what they had agreed to do.
How did it make you feel when this happened to you? Have you ever done this to someone else?
It’s crucial that we say what we mean and mean what we say. Being trustworthy means proving ourselves worthy of others’ trust, showing that they can rely and depend on us.
We all want to count on others in our lives, and we want to count on God to do His part. Therefore, it’s vital that we take our covenants seriously, ensuring that our words are true and good. We must follow through, even when it’s not self-serving or convenient—even when it comes at a cost.
Let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no.”
1. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be worthy of others’ trust.
2. Follow through with your commitments, even when it may not be easy, convenient, or requires a personal sacrifice.
3. Speak and act as an authentic Christian. Don’t be a poser—don’t say one thing and do another. You represent God, and people are watching you. Build and protect a good reputation with God and others. You are a billboard for God.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Exodus 8
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and then the second song.
1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240818-Worship1.wav
2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240818-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240818-Worship2.wav
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I got a song in Exodus chapter 8
Worship
Let’s gather together to worship our Lord let’s gather together to worship our Lord praising lifting our hands, singing, glory, glory hallelujah. We are blessed blessed because our Lord loves us. There is no one like our Lord there is no one like our Lord he is always on our side, no matter what kind of day we are having our Lord is always there for us teaching. Guiding comforting us showing us the way his way is the only way his way is the only way yes Lord we honor you. We honor you we give you thanks our Lord amen.
we are amazingly blessed because he is always there through everything . He will listen he will help guide us through even difficult times.
We thank you Jesus