The Plague of Flies
March 11, 2021
Commentary
In the previous plagues, of turning water to blood and the frogs, the Egyptian magicians were able to imitate Moses. Today’s plague, however, of turning the dust into lice could not be imitated (vv.16-18). In fact, the magicians even told the king that God had done this but again he was too stubborn to listen (v. 19). The Egyptian priests, the temples, as well as the people, could not worship their gods unless they were spotlessly clean. Can you imagine the terrible blow the plague of the lice and flies were to them?
The Lord tells Moses to meet the king the next morning and tell Him that He commands him to let His people go and if he doesn’t He will send flies to cover everyone (vv. 20-21). In this passage God is showing a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians in marking His people for deliverance and the others for judgment (vv. 22-24). Pharaoh agreed again to let Israel go but gave them a compromise by requiring that they sacrifice in the land (v. 25). Then when that was rejected he tried another compromise but Moses warned Pharaoh of deceiving them (vv. 26-29). Moses then left Pharaoh believing he might keep his word (v. 30). Moses prays and God takes away the swarms of flies until there was not one fly left in all the land (v. 31). But again Pharaoh’s heart is hard and he will not let the people go (v. 32).
Application
Pharaoh agreed to let Israel go but requiring them to make their sacrifice in the land. This was not acceptable as God is not interested in compromise but in complete obedience. I must always give the Lord my complete obedience and never try to work out a compromise in what He asks me to do for Him.
Exodus 8:16– 32 (NET)
16 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Extend your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.’” 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. 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. 19 The magicians said to Pharaoh, “It is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.
20 The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and position yourself before Pharaoh as he goes out to the water, and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord has said, “Release my people that they may serve me! 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. 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. 23 I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.”’” 24 The Lord did so; a thick swarm of flies came into Pharaoh’s 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.
25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “That 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? 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.”
28 Pharaoh said, “I 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.”
29 Moses said, “I 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.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord, 31 and the Lord did as Moses asked —he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained! 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not release the people.
Illustration: An Agreement For Selling a Thousand Acre Farm
A. T. Pierson gives the following illustration: Suppose you had a thousand-acre farm and someone offered to buy it. You agree to sell the land except for one acre right in the center which you want to keep for yourself. Did you know that in some areas the law would allow you to have access to that one lone spot? And that you would have the right to build a road across the surrounding property in order to get to it? So it is with us as Christians if we make less than 100-percent surrender to God. We can be sure that the devil will take advantage of any inroad to reach that uncommitted area of our lives. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #1775).