Exodus 4:1-15

 What was the difference of the 3rd plague- the plague of the frogs, with the previous 2 plagues?

(1) 8:8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray 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.”

(NET) sn This is the first time in the conflict that Pharaoh even acknowledged that Yahweh existed. Now he is asking for prayer to remove the frogs and is promising to release Israel. This result of the plague must have been an encouragement to Moses.

What makes this change? Pharoah turned his back to went back to his house after Moese and Aaron turned the water into blood 7:23. However, this time, the frogs went up to his house.

v.3 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.8:4 Frogs will come up against you, your people, and all your servants.” ’ ”

Note the details of where the frogs would go in his house.

(NET) This verse lists places the frogs will go. The first three are for Pharaoh personally—they are going to touch his private life. Then the text mentions the servants and the people. Mention of the ovens and kneading bowls (or troughs) of the people indicates that food would be contaminated and that it would be impossible even to eat a meal in peace.

In other words, trouble sought him to the extent that he would not have any peace. 

Reflection: There is no where we can go to escape God. Being humble and asking for help were the natural responses. (continue in point #2 below). 

(2) Moses asked Pharaoh to choose the time of prayer. 

v.10 8:10 He said, “Tomorrow.” And Moses said, “It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 

In other words, Pharaoh should know God was the one in control. He could give the plague and take off the plague at His will. However, Pharaoh's heart did not get closer to God as expected. 

8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.

(NET) [hardened] The meaning of the word is “to make heavy,” and so stubborn, sluggish, indifferent. It summarizes his attitude and the outcome, that he refused to keep his promises.

Reflection: Being humble and asking for help were the natural responses, but our hearts are all deceiving. Maybe we expected the unsaved friends to turn to God if they see some "miracles" in their lives, but they dont. Do not trust heavily on " if they see the miracles they will believe." They should, but they may not.

How about ourselves? Have we forgotten how God had helped us in the past? Do we purposely "forget" them? Is our heart deceiving like Pharaoh?

(3) Yesterday, we compared the stubbornness of Pharaoh with the obedience of Moses and Aaron. Not only they obeyed God, God also listened to them.

8:13 The LORD did as Moses asked—the frogs died out of the houses, the villages, and the fields.

In v.1-4, God only told them that He would send the plague to Egypt. He did not promise that He would remove that. However, God did remove that when Moses prayed. 

Reflection: We thank God that He is willing to listen.  He did not have to, but He did. The question is, are we like Moses who listen to God and obey Him?

Audrey