Exodus 8

Summary

Now Moses (and Aaron), at God’s instructions, tells the Pharaoh that he will send frogs to cover the land if he doesn’t let them go and worship. Then he sends the frogs (I guess the Pharaoh said no) and they cover everything. The magicians could do this too, but Pharaoh begs for relief and Moses prays the frogs away. Then Pharaoh hardened his heart again (or did God).

God and Moses then turn dust into gnats to plague Egypt. Pharaoh didn’t change his mind this time, even though the magicians could do it and even told his that is was the finger of God.

Then it’s flies. God and Moses send flies. Pharaoh tried to compromise by asking that the Israelites worship and sacrifice in Egypt, but Moses said the Egyptians wouldn’t put up with it. Pharaoh gives in and agrees, but as soon as the flies are gone he hardened his heart (maybe God) and refused to let them go.

Commentary

This is fairly simple, I suppose. Moses (still lying) and God are ratchetting up the pressure to get the Pharaoh to let them go. Pharaoh, either being a jerk or under the influence of the God of the Israelites (they kinda look the same by now) won’t let them.

So, by now it’s blood, frogs, gnats and flies that have plagued Egypt and Pharaoh still won’t let them go. God really hates slavery. Must be a pretty bad crime and I’m sure we’ll learn more about how bad it is in the future.