Wednesday: Flies, Livestock, and Boils
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 23rd of July 2025
Read Exodus 8:20-32; Exodus 9:1-12. What does this account teach about however great may be the manifestations of God’s power and glory, humanity still has freedom to reject Him?
The Egyptian god Uatchit was the fly god and of swamps and marshes. The god Khepri (of the rising sun, creation, and rebirth) was depicted with the head of a scarab beetle. These “gods” were defeated by the Lord. In this account (Exodus 8:20-24), while the Egyptians were suffering, the Hebrews were protected. In fact, no further plagues affected them.
Again, all this was an attempt by God to let Pharaoh know that “ ‘I am the Lord in the midst of the land’ ” (Exodus 8:22, NKJV).
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Thus, Pharaoh began to bargain. No doubt the pressure was mounting. He was willing for Israel to worship their God and to sacrifice to Him, but only in the land of Egypt (Exodus 8:25). His conditions could not be met because some of the animals were considered sacred in Egypt, and sacrificing them would have caused violence against the Hebrews. Also, this was not God’s plan for Israel.
Meanwhile, the next plague (Exodus 9:1-7) falls on the livestock. Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and protection, was depicted with the head of a cow. A bull god Apis was also very popular and highly regarded in ancient Egypt. Thus, in this fifth plague, additional principal deities were defeated when the Egyptians’ livestock died.
In the sixth plague (Exodus 9:8-12), the total defeat of Isis, the goddess of medicine, magic, and wisdom, is made manifest. We also see the defeat of such deities as Sekhmet (goddess of war and epidemics) and Imhotep (god of medicine and healing). They are unable to protect their own worshipers. Ironically, now even the magicians and sorcerers are so afflicted that they cannot appear in court, which shows that they are helpless against the Creator of heaven and earth.
For the first time in the story about the ten plagues, a text says that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 9:12, NIV). However confusing this phrase might be, when understood in the full context, it reveals again that the Lord will let us reap the consequences of our own continual rejection of Him.
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Pharaoh’s problem wasn’t intellectual; he had enough rational evidence to make the right choice. Instead, it was a problem of his heart. What should this tell us about why we must guard our hearts? |
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“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age” (1 Corinthians 10:11, NLT).
Many, if not all of us who visit this space, have read and heard the supernatural episode of the ten plagues many…many times. We have likely concluded that we “know it too well”. How “well” do we know this story? How has it impacted our lives? Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Have we insulated our hearts from the spiritual and moral lessons from this story? In the light of the above text (1 Cor. 10:11), let us examine this story with a different perspective.
These plagues are not just history but divine warnings NOW for us who are living at the end times. Let us reflect on the following:
1. The Egyptians idolized the Nile River. Do we idolize our “Niles”?
2. Have we become too comfortable to see our spiritual decay?
3. Have we settled for outward religion with no inward transformation?
4. Have we built our lives on financial security rather than faith in God?
5. Have we become too proud to admit our need for God’s healing and grace?
6. Do we listen only when calamities fall on us?
7. Are we trusting in our religion rather in the Lamb of God?
8. Have we become too familiar with this story but missed its urgency and power? Knowing the story is not good enough, but living the story is the real substance.
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ” (Hebrews 3:12-14, NLT).
God, in His great mercy, allows space for repentance. He is not quick to destroy, even when confronted with human pride and rebellion. The plagues in Egypt reveal this patience. As the severity of plagues increased, there was a divine pause for Pharaoh to change his heart. But Pharaoh continued hardening himself against God’s will. Interestingly, God doesn't destroy him immediately. Indeed , “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love” ( 2 Peter 3:9): “The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
When the plagues of flies, livestock disease, and boils struck, they devastated Egypt—its economy, its health, its pride. These were more than natural disasters; they were meant to be humbling judgments. Apparently in the land of Goshen, where God's people lived, not one swarm, not one dead animal, not one sore afflicted them. God's protection was evident. “On that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen...so that you will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:4). God indeed is a refuge in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).
In light of this, I ask myself: what will it take for God to get my attention? How many plagues have I ignored? Today, Lord, I open my heart. Soften the hardened places that resist Your Spirit. Help me see clearly the cost of life lived apart from You. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Let me walk in obedience, trusting in Your patience not as an excuse to delay, but as a holy invitation to return, repent, and be restored. Amen
In Monday's comments, we have been discussing the clay/butter object lesson. How one isn't "born" clay or butter with a predictable future and with no choice to change. But rather, it's God's mercy that is the same warming up everyone, and each one has within themselves the gift of free will to decide whether to be like butter or like clay, to melt or to harden.
I bring that up here because I see a similar theme in today's lesson. Actually, this one might be a bit more challenging to understand because it seems like there may have been no choice. God sorts the people into two camps, literally, so that the Goshen-dwellers receive no plague while everyone else in Egypt does. I suppose we could speculate, "Is THAT fair? Couldn't there have been unbelievers among the Hebrews living in Goshen who got off Scot-free? While there may have been non-Hebrews living in the rest of Egypt who had hearts open to God's Spirit who were hurt by Plagues 4-9?" I will leave that to God to answer and I trust that everything He does is fair and good and right. He makes no mistakes.
But I do think God WOULD want us to discuss the distinction He makes publicly between His covenant people and everyone else. "I will distinguish between My people and your people" (Ex.8:23). God wants everyone to know that He sees one group of people as separate and apart from the others. And He treats these two groups differently (Ex.8:22).
Are we uncomfortable with this? People usually hate it when one group is treated differently. Even 3-year-old's will whine "that's not fair" if they perceive someone is getting an advantage over themselves. Bringing it home to our topic, has anyone told you that you're arrogant to think that YOU have a special knowledge of God because you read the Bible and believe it. That you are bigoted to believe that all the world must believe in a Jewish Messiah, and to believe that at one time God offered special blessings and wisdoms and favors to one nation that the rest of the nations did not have. I've been told that. The world hates the Church because it proclaims that faith in Jesus is essential, and that faith in just any spiritual path or being or name is not good enough. To the unbeliever, tolerance and distinction between a right and a wrong are mutually exclusive. The world says that all paths lead to truth, that being loving is to say that all worldviews are valid, that we all are headed toward "awakening" and "enlightenment" no matter if you worship Jesus or Allah or Buddah or Shiva or Yahweh or no god at all. They would say that Pharaoh was not doing anything evil, he was just in an Egoic state and ignorant to have slaves. They may even say that he and Moses worshiped the same God just known by different names.
But throughout the Bible, God tells us that there will be a Judgment Day and on that day, He WILL distinguish between two groups. Wheat and tares. Sheep and goats. Those in the Ark and those outside. Those in Sodom and Gomorrah and those outside. Those who trust in the Savior He provided and those who don't. Those who paint the blood on the doorposts and those who don't. Right now, His mercy falls on the just and the unjust, his blessings on the proud and on the meek. But one day, it will be clear who each person's god/God is. And only those who turn from all gods and cling to Him as the one true God will receive His protection from condemnation and eternal life (John 3:18).
So deep and practical. Thank you @Esther Pelletier.
There definitely were unbelievers among the Israelites - it wouldn't be long before they were murmurring and worship the golden calf. And there were believers among the Egyptians - probably those in the mixed multitude who left Egypt were in this camp.
You are right that it could appear unfair for God to separate the two camps this way. And if the judgments were eternal, I would agree. But sometimes God has to be a bit "unfair" to wake people up. If everyone was struck or spared based on their faithfulness, the plagues would look random and Pharoah would pay no attention. For Israel to clearly be an "ark of safety", this distinction would have to be made.
We can be misled by what we feel. The reasonable is usually clear, but pride can get in the way. That's why Christ's invitation is "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29)
What should the fact that Pharaoh was intelligent enough to make the right decision and let God's people go tell us? It was a heart problem, a heart of stone. He refused to let God create in him a new heart. He relied on his gods rather then the true living God. Who do we rely on? What is the answer to guarding our hearts? Who have we surrendered to? The first two plagues are the only one's his magicians could bring about. He could see that fact, yet his heart was hardened. Exodus 8:18-19. Put on the armor of God. Rely on God rather than other gods. Ephesians 6:11-18. And as God said, I will create in you a clean heart. David taught us to ask, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spitit with in me. Psalm 51:10.
Most people's problems aren't intellectual, they are spiritual, emotional, and mental. When we reject or refuse to acknowledge the Lord of all, in all aspects of our life, we set ourselves up for these issues.
I believe that is primarily why the enemy of our souls often uses trauma and/or drama, chaos, disappointment, even abuse of various kinds, especially early, in our lives. He does this to drive a wedge between us and God. To make us distrustful, and hateful against a God that would allow these things into our lives.
People often then gravitate to a self protective mode of becoming God in their own minds. A "God complex" if you will. They will determine what is right or wrong for themselves, not some outside deity that didn't, for whatever reason protect them from harm.
It's been said that the longest short distance is the 12 - 18 inches from the head to the heart. There is a bridge to cross the great divide. It's called the cross. The cross, where Jesus took all that "junk" upon himself, and died to set us free from it all.
We don't have to live like prisoners of our past. Because of Calvary, our chains have been broken and the door to our personal prison house has been opened. We have been set free.
Do we believe it or deny it? Will we let what Christ has accomplished be that bridge that crosses the great divide of our head to our heart? We need a new understanding, a new heart. One has been provided and offered. Will we let the mind that was in Christ be in us? (Philippians 2:5) Will we be like the psalmist of old and ask to have a new and clean heart to be created within us? (Psalm 51:10-12)
Heaven is counting on, and waiting on us to say, yes. To step down from the throne of our hearts and to let the Lord of Glory take the throne.
We need to be steadfast as Job. How did God know Job would be steadfast. He is our God the only living God. That is another reason we fall in love with Him. We are drawn to the foot of the Cross of Christ and if we do not resist that drawing, joy fills our heart. Our attitude is lifted and then our altitude goes higher. Thank-you Tim for your astute observations and your heart felt testimonies.
Tim raises many important questions about the spiritual, emotional, and mental struggles we face in life.
Considering the sovereignty of God, His judgments, in my view, are not necessarily a sign of either His Wrath or His Love — nor of acceptance or rejection. They are neutral in that they are designed to promote LIFE.
However, when we judge others — or even our own experiences — especially from a heart steeped in pride, we will miss the deeper lessons those experiences are meant to provide us. A prideful heart tends to assign a diminished value to that which it judges. As Jesus warned in Matthew 7:1–25, if judging at all, any type of judgment must be approached with humility and self-awareness.
Only God alone judges with perfect Wisdom grounded in His Justice - Mercy and Grace. Regardless of how or why Pharaoh hardened his heart, it is not our place to judge him. Instead, I suggest to marvel at not only how, but that God used Pharaoh’s resistance to reveal His power and purpose for His people.
The mighty acts of His Love and determination, demonstrated to all the world that Yahweh is the God who claims His people by removing them from the influence of false gods — and through this rescue, establishes Himself as the God who saves and receives all, into His Life of never ending Love and care - John 6:36-38.
Tell me what more can Jesus do for us to believe and trust Him. Sadly, man has come up with tales, fables, and science to explain Jesus away. Man still seeks after sight in spite of seeing great signs and wonders from the Lord and thereby turning to the inanimate to worship.
It's a terrible thing to fall under God's condemnation.
So we ought to remain under the umbrella of God's protection
Was it fair for God to put a wall of protection around Goshen to shield the Israelites from the last seven plagues?
Maybe it's to help us remember that God will put a wall of protection around His people in the last days to protect them from the seven last plagues of Revelation 16.
Will that be fair?
There's the question, why didn't God protect the Israelites from the first three plagues? Well, maybe it's because they didn't believe at first. Remember when things got rough and they had to gather their own straw, they had turned against Moses wishing he hadn't come with the promise God was about to deliver them for it had only increased their trouble and they had not been delivered.
They too needed some affirmation that God was truly God.
They too needed their faith strengthened and to start trusting in God. I believe their faith WAS strengthened as they co-operated with all Moses told them to do and were ready to leave Egypt when the time had come.
We may also be lacking God's full protection because of doubts and unbelief, maybe the first three plagues show that sometimes we too need to be made aware that sin brings trouble with no future, before we are willing to give up our idols and our clinging to the flimsy realities that hold us to this earth, and are willing to leave all and follow Him.
By the end of the third plague they may well have put their doubts away and now, as a nation, believed and trusted that God would deliver them, while the Egyptians, as a nation did not believe. Thus the Israelites were shielded during the seven last plagues.