Exodus 8: 1-15

Exodus 8: 1-15

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’ ” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land. But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.” “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.” After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. And the LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields. They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

Message:

The second plague reminds me of those who pray to God for relief only in times of trouble but after it they get back to what they used to be and forget God. Pharaoh learned to recognize God and decided to release the slaves in a condition that Moses would do something for the frogs to be wiped out. Moses did pray to God about the plague and the land of Egypt was relieved. However, as God willed it, Pharaoh’s decision remained unchanged.  I was like Pharaoh then. During trials I prayed really hard and promised to God that I would be doing those which I knew God would want me to. Conversely, as I had been granted of the favor, I got back to my old self and forgot all that I said; hence, I suffered more. 

Application:

I will pray unceasingly for wisdom and strength, especially for God’s guidance that I’d be reminded of my Christian duties and vows and do them for God’s glory.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that recognizing You should be observed every day of my life, that praying must be done unceasingly and not only when I’m in trouble. Lord I know I have the tendency to be like Pharaoh. I have the tendency to forget my promises to You and go back to my old self. Lord, just like Pharaoh I am a sinner and have offended You. Hence, I ask Your forgiveness God and pray for Your mercy and undying love. Make me overcome pride and selfishness Lord. Let me forget the pain brought by those unpleasant experiences and unlovable people for I myself might have done the same and have been unlovable for others, too. Unlike Pharaoh, make me think not only of my own gain but of others’ as well. Let me realize Lord that before I expect others to extend me favor, I myself need to do the same. Enable humility and empathy in me Lord that I may realize the value of fellowship and fellowshipping. Let me not just enjoy my friends' and lifegroup's company and take these ideas for granted but above all Lord enable me to practice what Paul advocated. Make me a blessing to others Lord. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.