# Exodus 08 đ: Frogs, Gnats, and Flies
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
**Destruction of the false god Heket- goddess of fertility. Had the head of a frog.**
 [[#Verse 01.]] (7:26) Then the Lord said to Moses, âGo to Pharaoh and tell him, âThis is what the Lord has said: âRelease my people in order that they may serve me!Â
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[[#Verse 01.]] (7:26) Then the Lord said to Moses, âGo to Pharaoh and tell him, âThis is what the Lord has said: âRelease my people in order that they may serve me!
[[#Verse 02.]] But if you refuse to release them, then I am going to plague all your territory with frogs.Â
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[[#Verse 03.]] The Nile will swarm with frogs, and they will come up and go into your house, in your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading troughs.
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[[#Verse 04.]] Frogs will come up against you, your people, and all your servants.âââ
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[[#Verse 05.]] The Lord spoke to Moses, âTell Aaron, âExtend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds, and bring the frogs up over the land of Egypt.ââÂ
[[#Verse 06.]] So Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
[[#Verse 07.]] The magicians did the same with their secret arts and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt too.
[[#Verse 08.]] Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, âPray to the Lord that he may take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will release the people that they may sacrifice to the Lord.âÂ
[[#Verse 09.]] Moses said to Pharaoh, âYou may have the honor over meâwhen shall I pray for you, your servants, and your people, for the frogs to be removed from you and your houses, so that they will be left only in the Nile?âÂ
[[#Verse 10.]] He said, âTomorrow.â And Moses said, âIt will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â The frogs will depart from you, your houses, your servants, and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.â
[[#Verse 12.]] Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord because of the frogs that he had brought on Pharaoh.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] The Lord did as Moses askedâthe frogs died in the houses, the villages, and the fields.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] The Egyptians piled them in countless heaps, and the land stank.
[[#Verse 15.]] But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.
## Plague Three: Gnats
**Destruction of the false god Geb- god of the Earth. God over dust.**
[[#Verse 16.]]  The Lord said to Moses, âTell Aaron, âExtend your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.ââ
[[#Verse 17.]] They did so; Aaron extended his hand with his staff, he struck the dust of the ground, and it became gnats on people and on animals. All the dust of the ground became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] When the magicians attempted to bring forth gnats by their secret arts, they could not. So there were gnats on people and on animals.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] The magicians said to Pharaoh, âIt is the finger of God!â But Pharaohâs heart remained hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.
## Plague Four: Flies
**Destruction of the false god Khepri- god of creation and movement of the sun. (Head of a fly)**
[[#Verse 20.]] The Lord said to Moses, âGet up early in the morning and position yourself before Pharaoh as he goes out to the water, and tell him, âThis is what the Lord has said, âRelease my people that they may serve me!Â
[[#Verse 21.]] If you do not release my people, then I am going to send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and in your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground they stand on.
[[#Verse 22.]] But on that day I will mark off the land of Goshen, where my people are staying, so that no swarms of flies will be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of this land.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.âââ
[[#Verse 24.]] The Lord did so; a thick swarm of flies came into Pharaohâs house and into the houses of his servants, and throughout the whole land of Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.
[[#Verse 25.]] Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, âGo, sacrifice to your God within the land.âÂ
[[#Verse 26.]] But Moses said, âThat would not be the right thing to do, for the sacrifices we make to the Lord our God would be an abomination to the Egyptians. If we make sacrifices that are an abomination to the Egyptians right before their eyes, will they not stone us?Â
[[#Verse 27.]] We must go on a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, just as he is telling us.â
[[#Verse 28.]] Pharaoh said, âI will release you so that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness. Only you must not go very far. Do pray for me.â
[[#Verse 29.]] Moses said, âI am going to go out from you and pray to the Lord, and the swarms of flies will go away from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only do not let Pharaoh deal falsely again by not releasing the people to sacrifice to the Lord.âÂ
[[#Verse 30.]] So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord,Â
[[#Verse 31.]] and the Lord did as Moses askedâhe removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!
[[#Verse 32.]] But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not release the people.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Plagues show Yahwehâs power over all âgods.â
Frogs- false god Heket- goddess of fertility.
Gnats- false god Geb- god of the Earth and dust.
Flies- false god Kherpi- god of creation and movement of the sun. (Head of fly)
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## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Egyptian goddess Heqet was pictured with a frog's head and was linked to fertility and childbirth.
2. The magicians could bring up frogs, but they could not get rid of them (8:7-8).
3. Moses let Pharaoh choose when the frogs would leave (8:9-10), so the timing would prove the Lord's power.
4. The gnats came from the dust of the ground (8:16-17), and this time the magicians failed (8:18).
5. The Hebrew word for "gnats" is uncertain. Translators have suggested lice, mosquitoes, or gnats.
6. "The finger of God" (8:19) is later used of the tablets of the law (31:18) and by Jesus when He casts out demons (Luke 11:20).
7. The word for "flies" (*arov*) means a swarm, so it may refer to flies or a mix of insects.
8. Beginning with the flies, God makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel (8:22-23).
9. Moses refused to sacrifice inside Egypt because Israel's sacrifices would be offensive to the Egyptians (8:26).
10. Pharaoh's offers here (8:25, 28) are the first of several compromises he tries before letting Israel go (10:11, 24).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who drives out evil by the finger of God (Luke 11:20). Pharaoh's magicians admitted God's finger was at work (8:19), and Jesus' power over darkness shows that God's kingdom has come.
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Pharaoh asked for relief "tomorrow" (8:10). Why do we sometimes put off dealing with what God is confronting in our lives?
2. The magicians admitted, "This is the finger of God" (8:19). Why do you think Pharaoh still refused to listen?
3. God made a distinction between Egypt and His people in Goshen (8:22-23). What does that tell us about His care for those who belong to Him?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 10: Moses says the frogs will leave so Pharaoh will know there is no one like the Lord.
- đ verse 19: The magicians tell Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God."
- đ verses 22-23: God sets Goshen apart so no flies will be there.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Luke 11#Verse 20.|Luke 11:20]] - Jesus casts out demons by the finger of God.
- đ [[Exodus 31#Verse 18.|Exodus 31:18]] - Tablets written by the finger of God.
- đ [[Psalm 105#Verse 30.|Psalm 105:30-31]] - Frogs and swarms filled Egypt.
- đ [[Romans 09#Verse 17.|Romans 9:17-18]] - God displays His power through Pharaoh.
- đ [[Revelation 16#Verse 13.|Revelation 16:13]] - Unclean spirits like frogs.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Exodus 08- SOAP|What Have You Done For Me Lately?]]
## đ Internal Notes