Exodus 8:16-32 - Swarming Gnats and Flies

Exodus 8:16-32

The Third Plague: Lice

16 So the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so 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 struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

The Fourth Plague: Flies

20 And the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. 23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”’” 24 And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

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

26 And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? 27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us.”

28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”

29 Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”

30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. 31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

The third and fourth plagues of judgment on Egypt for refusing to hear and obey God to let His people go were both small but mighty irritants of gnats and flies.  The gnats or lice were not just ordinary bugs that occasionally fly in your face and annoy you; they were swarming gnats of uncountable numbers, blinding the eyes and invading the nose, ears, and eyes as to blind and choke you.  It was as if the whole landscape turned from dust to gnats all as once and covered every person and animal throughout all of Egypt.  This was more than mere annoyance, for the sheer number of the swarm covered and blinded everyone and brought life to an abrupt halt.  The magicians of Egypt vainly attempted to recreate this phenomenon but were at a loss as to making it work with all their tricks and formulas.  They finally were driven to desperation and told Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”  The king’s heart continued freezing over ever more as he disregarded the work of God’s hand in his land against his persecution of God’s people.  Until Christ returns, while evil is piled upon God’s children for His sake and His word of the gospel is ignored, this pattern of hardening hearts against God’s word will repeat as men’s hearts grow cold (Matthew 24:12-14) and judgment looms closer (2 Thessalonians 1:8, Hebrews 10:30-31) on those who touch His anointed (Psalm 105:15) ones.  When the next plague of judgment came after the swarming gnats, the warning was given to Pharaoh as he came out of the water of the Nile (presumably to wash off the gnats and find some limited relief), that unless he listened and obeyed the LORD, the next swarm of judgment would be flies covering everything and everyone except the people of God.  This meant bigger bugs that were even more annoying and carried diseases with them as well.  The judgments were increasing in size and effect to sway the king to act in obedience to God’s word delivered by Moses and Aaron.  These swarming flies would cover the Egyptians but not the Israelites; they would enter every nook and cranny of their houses and bodies.  The emphasis was on not affecting the people of God to demonstrate that He was the LORD in the midst of the land and had absolute sovereignty over them all.  The Pharaoh was powerless to fight against Him and the case was made to judge him and all of Egypt for putting the people of God in suffering and subjecting them to cruel bondage.  The bondage to the consequences of Egypt’s sins was now thrust upon her sons and the corrupt treatment now corrupted them all with all their land.  Finally, it appeared that Pharaoh would let them go to sacrifice and worship in the place outside of the nation, but he did not allow them to go far so his slaves would not escape him.  When this was agreed, the LORD heard Moses and the swarms of flies were removed.  Of course, the promises of a despotic dictator were hollow and the king reneged on the promise to let them go as he continued to harden his heart as God had said.  How leaders without scruples even today go back on their promises and let God’s people suffer!  But we know that the Lord delivers (Galatians 1:4, 2 Timothy 4:18) us to preserve us for eternity to come in His kingdom where no despot dwells, only the faithful and holy Lord of Heaven who is good, merciful, and true.  What God promises, He delivers and we can trust Him to keep us to the end (Jude 1:24) and through the judgment on the world to all those who are outside of Christ, who have not heard and obeyed the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Peter 4:17-18) of forgiveness from sin and grace to escape the consequences of God’s due wrath of swarming judgment on us.