Someone Get the Fly Swatter!

Exodus 8:20-32

I don’t think the fly swatter is going to be the answer here

I’m sure you have noticed as we have talked about the three previous plagues, there have been some differences and some similarities between them.

What should be clear at this point is the clear evidence of God in all these acts.

Let’s start in verse 20

The New International Version Chapter 8

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them.

This time Pharaoh receives a warning again.

“let my people go, so they may worship me” if not

then we see again there is a consequence if he does not.

How many of you have kids in here or online?

How many have done the counting to three method?

Several years ago a friend of mine and Jolie’s, came to me because of a problem she was having with a student in children’s church.

She stated that most of the kids listened to her but one girl refused to do so.

then when she tried the counting to 3 method, the young girl stood there, crossed her arms and stuck out that foot on 2 like she was daring our friend to get to 3.

Now this friend of ours was small, quiet and very sweet and i’m not sure she would be intimidating to a mouse.

She hesitated and got to 3 and the little girl said now what?

Our friend said, she was lost, she didn’t know what to do at 3 because she and her sisters never got to 3 when their parents or teachers would do this.

I said, you always have to have something in mind for when 3 happens and you should probably tell them ahead of time what will happen so they understand you are serious.

With every warning God sent with Moses and Aaron, there was a consequence in store for Pharaoh if he failed to follow.

vs. 22

The New International Version Chapter 8

“ ‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’ ”

With these last three plagues, we saw the pain and suffering that came on the people

something we often may not realize is these things not only affected the Pharaoh and the Egyptians

but they affected the Israelites as well

they had to deal with these plagues too

in this fourth plague, that is not going to be the case

God shares here that He will make a distinction between His people and Pharaoh's

the specific way He plans to perform this plague, it shows further the strength and power that God has.

vs. 24

The New International Version Chapter 8

And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.

25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.”

This plague prompts Pharaoh to try to bargain.

Worship your God here.

The plague came precisely as God had commanded

and once again his magicians obviously had no power over what God had done, this king wouldn’t have tried to bargain.

Again, there was a specific god they worshiped that was represented here.

it could have either been Re or Uatchit

something else important to note

Egyptians at this time, especially the upper escalation, prided themselves on cleanliness

so to deal with blood everywhere for a week

invasion of gnats

dead frogs everywhere and now a pounding of flies

this must be completely disgusting and unnerving

their land was now corrupted and ruined.

vs. 26

The New International Version Chapter 8

But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us.”

Moses was not sent there to haggle with Pharaoh

He was there to bring the people out to be able to worship God

Moses points out, if the Israelites would be stoned by the Egyptians because they would detest the sacrifices that the Israelites had to make.

bulls and cows were representation of specific gods

so it would be blasphemy to see these animals sacrificed.

therefore this was not a bargain that could be made.

vs. 28

The New International Version Chapter 8

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31 and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

There are a few things to recognize here

We can see clearly in verse 28 that for the Pharaoh, it is still all about him.

He is saying what needs to be said to get them to do what he wants.

In verse 29, Moses shares he will pray and God will relieve them.

then we see the warning to keep the king from being deceitful and going back on his word again.

Every last fly left yet Pharaoh's heart was hard again.

I want to look back at verse 25 for a moment

The New International Version Chapter 8

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.”

Like Pharaoh, we are all way to often seeking compromise.

we try to bargain with God

if you take care of this, i’ll go to church more

if you remove this from me I’ll teach Sunday School

If I can get this promotion, I will serve you more

The lists can go on and on

God is interested in obedience not compromise

God deserves obedience not compromise

When we ask for forgiveness of sins, it does not stop there.

We don’t compromise by continuing and just keep asking forgiveness

He wants us to repent

That means to turn away from our sins Completely

Is your life built on compromise?

Are you willing to commit fully and be obedient.