Bugs – Lots of Them


Exodus 8:16-32
16Then 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.’” 17And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 20Then 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. 21Or 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 filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22But 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. 23Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.” ’ ” 24And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. 25Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” 28So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 31And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

Ever notice on a hot summer day when you’re driving through town that the gnats congregate by the car window while you’re stopped at a light? I often look at those gnats and think that I’m glad I’m in the car because I hate being swarmed by the little buggers. That’s maybe 2 dozen gnats at the most and I’m bothered. Imagine swarms so great you wouldn’t be able to walk without stepping on them. You wouldn’t be able to breath without breathing them into your nostrils! It’s gross to even think about it! That is where the Pharaoh finds himself with the 3rd and 4th plagues; so many insects you can’t do anything. The “dust of the ground” becomes bugs. There’s no way you’re going to escape this one; not even inside of your house. And the translation of the word “gnats” and “flies” probably refers to more than just those little bitty bugs we call gnats. It is probably better translated “mosquitoes”! Now the pain is great indeed.

There are two emerging difference in the Egyptian’s response to these two plagues. First, the magicians are unable to duplicate the plagues anymore and even they recognize that this is “the finger of God.” That doesn’t make them believers, but it certainly points to their change of attitude. The Pharaoh even concedes, albeit briefly, to let the Children of Israel go into the desert to worship. This is the first time he breaks even a little. But his change of heart is very short lived and of course it doesn’t happen.

What does God have to do to you to get your attention? Would a swarm of mosquitoes or other flying insects cause you to pay attention? Would a car accident or an illness serve the purpose? How about a falling out with your spouse or a child’s defiance? God can and does use everything to communicate His sovereignty to us; even mosquitoes and flies. How about the death of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ and the subsequent resurrection of Him as well? Does that get your attention? It gets mine every single day.

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