Exodus Chapter 8
As you read through this chapter you may find yourself scratching your head as you think about the insects that crawled all over the people in the plagues sent by God. I’m sure word quickly spread throughout Egypt as to what was happening when the first plague sent by God caused all of their water sources to turn to blood. But imagine how confused some would have been who lived in places far away from the Pharaoh, wondering what was happening to their beautiful country. You will see the words repeated in this chapter as in the last “that you may know that I am the LORD.”
Let's Reflect
1. The second plague was a plague of frogs. This was not just a few frogs but a ton of them. How extensive was the plague of frogs?
2. Who was the agent used by God who stretched out his arm to cause the frogs to come out of the Nile?
3. We learn that Pharaoh’s magicians were able to recreate this to some extent. They obviously were using powers of the occult to be able to reproduce frogs. In reality, they only made the problem worse. What did the Pharaoh request Moses and Aaron do to stop the infestation of frogs? And what promise did the Pharaoh make?
Egyptians worshipped the frog as a female goddess because frogs were common around the Nile, because they reproduced rapidly, and because being amphibians they are part of two worlds, creatures of both land and water. [Guzik]
4. Moses agreed to do as the Pharaoh had asked. What reason did Moses tell the Pharaoh that he would do what he requested?
5. When the trouble was over, what did the Pharaoh do?
6. The third plague was that of gnats or some versions might say fleas. This time the magicians of Pharaoh were not able to repeat the miracle sign. What was their conclusion? This proves that while Satan is powerful, his powers are limited.
7. The fourth plague will be that of flies. But the Bible says that God is going to do something even more miraculous this time. What did God say he would do and why?
8. After the plague of flies the Pharaoh wanted to strike up a bargain with God. What was it?
9. Moses agreed to bring the request of the Pharaoh to God, and he also added that the Pharaoh should not do what this time?
10. When Moses prayed God responded in kind. When the trouble was over, requests made to God were quickly forgotten. What does the Bible say that the Pharaoh did? Was this a surprise to God?
