Plagues of Frogs and Gnats

Plagues of Frogs and Gnats

Date: Jan. 14, 2026

Passage

Exodus 8:1-19 (ESV)

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” 5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh. 13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 8:19

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Since the plague of blood did not change Pharaoh’s heart, the Lord used Moses to bring a plague of frogs on Egypt. Moses told Pharaoh of this plague in advance so he would know it was the Lord’s doing (2-4). When the frogs covered everything in Egypt, Pharaoh seemed to change his heart, asking for prayer and promising to let Israel go (8). Moses also had Pharaoh choose the time that the frogs would disappear, again showing that this was not just a natural occurrence (9-10).

However, after the land had relief, Pharaoh went back on his word (15). So God sent the next plague, a plague of gnats. This was the first sign that Pharaoh’s magicians could not duplicate. They testified, “this is the finger of God,” which means it was undeniable that God’s power was among them (19). Pharaoh had no excuse for not repenting.

Have you seen the finger of God? When we see an unmistakable sign of God’s power in our life, we need to remember it and make a decision of faith based on what we have seen and understood.

Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing your power to us, especially through your word. Help me respect your power and discern your work around me so I can follow your leading.

One Word: See the finger of God

Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25

Key Verse: 1:24

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

Today's Question

What is the tenth commandment?

See answer and references

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