June 13, 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING

Exodus 8 – The Plagues in Egypt – Frogs, Gnats, and Insects

When God’s Voice Calls Through Judgments

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Bible Text – Exodus 8 (KJV)

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:

4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.

9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.

11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.

13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.

15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.

23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.

24 And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us.

28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.

30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.

31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

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Introduction

Chapter 8 of the Book of Exodus continues the confrontation between the God of Israel and Pharaoh. After the transformation of the Nile into blood failed to lead to the people’s release, God intensifies His judgment through successive plagues: frogs, gnats, and swarming insects. Each plague reveals God’s power over creation and false gods, yet Pharaoh’s heart grows harder. This chapter teaches us how God’s patience and wrath interact—and how we should respond to His invitation to turn back to Him.

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Commentary

1.The Plague of Frogs (Verses 1–11)

• God’s Command: Aaron is told to stretch out his staff over the waters (v. 1).

• Execution: Frogs flood Egypt—even the magicians replicate the plague (vv. 2–3).

• Pharaoh’s Request: He asks for prayer and promises to let the people go (v. 4).

• God’s Timing: Moses lets Pharaoh choose the time to demonstrate God’s uniqueness (vv. 5–7).

• Removal and Hardening: The frogs die, are gathered into stinking heaps—but Pharaoh hardens his heart again (vv. 8–11).

2.The Plague of Gnats (Verses 12–15)

• Command to Aaron: Strike the dust with the staff (v. 12).

• Effect: Dust turns into gnats tormenting people and animals (v. 13).

• Magicians’ Reaction: They acknowledge “the finger of God” but can’t replicate it (v. 14).

• Pharaoh’s Stubbornness: Despite the clear sign, his heart remains closed (v. 15).

3.The Plague of Swarming Insects (Verses 16–28)

• Warning: Moses is to meet Pharaoh early and deliver another warning (v. 16).

• Threat: Insects will infest homes and fields throughout Egypt (v. 17).

• Exception for Goshen: God’s people are spared to show His sovereignty (vv. 18–19).

• Fulfillment: Massive swarms spread across Egypt, devastating the land (v. 20).

• Pharaoh’s Offer: He allows sacrifices—but only within Egypt (v. 21).

• Moses’ Refusal: Israel must worship away from Egyptian idolatry (vv. 22–23).

• Temporary Agreement: Pharaoh agrees under pressure, asks for prayer—but once again breaks his word (vv. 24–28).

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Summary

Chapter 8 intensifies the divine judgments to lead Pharaoh toward recognition: first frogs, then gnats, then swarming insects. Despite repeated displays of God’s power, Pharaoh hardens his heart and breaks his promises. Yet God’s strategy remains consistent: to show His authority over nature and idols, to deliver His people, and to invite all to repentance.

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Message for Today

We, too, encounter trials and challenges that are meant to remind us of God’s greatness and our dependence on Him. His discipline does not aim to destroy but to refine and draw us to bold faith. The real question is: Do we, like Pharaoh, seek only temporary relief without real change—or are we willing to humble ourselves and truly follow God’s way?

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Reflection Questions

• What “plague” are you facing today? Are there recurring issues in your life that you only address on the surface—then go back to old patterns?

• Heart change vs. symptom control: What deeper steps might help—repentance, reorientation, real decisions to follow God?

• Seeking God’s place of refuge: How can you practically dwell in your own “Goshen”—a place of protection and communion with God, where the “insects” of life can’t reach you?

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/13-06-2025-exodus-chapter-8-believe-his-prophets/

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/13-06-2025-truth-in-the-hidden-places-heart-anchor-youth-devotional/