Gnat on Your Life

Exodus 8:16-19


So, God shares info for the next plague. He tells Moses to have Aaron strike the ground and bring on the gnats. All the dust of the land becomes gnats. Men and animals are now plagued. I can't imagine being covered in gnats- just being around them is annoying enough, but to have all the dust turned to gnats must have been overwhelming- which, I suppose, was the point.

This time, the magicians couldn't duplicate the task. I'm not sure why gnats were harder then frogs- unless God has turned off their "power supplies" to show his own strength. Even the magicians begin to claim that God's hand is responsible. But Pharaoh will have none of it.

Maybe the lesson here is that sometimes our own pride, arrogance and stubborness prevent us from seeing God in our lives. Whether He's blessing us, leading us, or correcting us- does our own will get in the way?

I'm not real comfortable with the "voice of God" or feeling "called" or "directed." I don't know what that means in practical terms. I don't know how to distinguish God's voice from my own desire, or satan's voice- but I know He's a part of what I do and think and am. And if I don't resist His will, or get in the way of His plans, then good things are in store.

Froggie Went A-Courtin'

Expdus 7:25- 8:15

So a week passes and the drill continues. I don't know if the blood is gone, but at the very least, Pharaoh seems to have adapted to it. So God sends Moses to threaten Pharaoh with frogs. Not just a few here and there- the land will be consumed with them. Then God has Moses tell Aaron to stretch out his staff and start the Kermit-fest.

It's interesting that God has stuttering Moses send the message and Moses's speaker perform the action. Is this God setting up Pharaoh's heart to be hardened, using the less eloquent speaker so His miracle will be displayed- or is He trying to teach Moses that 1) he is good enough to be God's spokesman- and 2) God's will is fulfilled no matter who He chooses?

Once again, the magicians can replicate this occurance. Good thinking guys- as if they're weren't enough frogs in your food, in your beds, in your clothes- let's bring some more. But it works. This time though, Pharaoh isn't impressed with his magician's abilities. He only wants relief. He tells Moses and Aaron pray and get rid of these frogs and you and your people can go and worship.

The next interchange is a little strange. Moses tells Pharaoh that he'll "leave him the honor" of choosing a time for Moses to pray and his response is...tomorrow. Not "right now", not "immediately" but "I'd like another night of reptilian repulsion thanks, and then if you wouldn't mind."

So Moses prays and God kills the frogs except for the ones in the Nile (which I guess implies business as usual in frog-world) except for the mounds of dead frogs everywhere. Seems like an ideal time to plan that family vacation.

When there was relief- Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he would no longer listen to Moses and Aaron- just like God predicted.