November 3, 2024
Exodus 8
“The Plague of Pride”
Service Overview: God continues to confront Pharaoh and his pride as He sends a series of plagues on Egypt to demonstrate His power. Pharaoh’s hard heart reflects humanity’s stubbornness and the consequences of resisting God.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- If we are to understand the full significance of this plague, we must recognize that a goddess of Egypt was involved in the judgment — the goddess Hekt, who was always pictured with the head and often the head and body of a frog. Since Hekt was embodied in the frog, the frog was sacred in Egypt. It could not be killed, and consequently there was nothing the Egyptians could do about this horrible and ironic proliferation of the goddess. They were forced to loathe the symbols of their depraved worship. (James Montgomery Boice, Ordinary Men Called by God, 65)
- The fact that the desert dust became gnats was a judgment against Set, the Egyptian god of the desert. Jehovah was so great that He could give life to insignificant dust and use that life to punish the people who revered Set. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Delivered: Exodus, 43)
- Dust is transformed into insects, which the NIV translates as “gnats,” but they could be lice, a view that may be traced back to the first-century AD Jewish historian Josephus and rabbinic sources. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 81)
- Some Egyptians worshiped Beelzebub as their protector and guardian. Since his role was to protect their land from swarms of flies and other natural disasters, he functioned as a sort of insurance policy. But like the rest of Egypt’s gods and goddesses, Beelzebub actually was a tool of the devil. This is confirmed by the Gospel of Luke, in which he is identified as the “prince of demons” (Luke 11:15). Beelzebub was one representation of Satan’s power over Egypt. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Preaching the Word: Exodus, 250)
- (25–32) Moses’ claim that if Israel sacrificed animals in Egypt, it would be extremely offensive to the Egyptians has been challenged by some commentators as a clever ruse on Moses’ part. Yet Rylaarsdam, documents a violent Egyptian reaction to Jewish sacrifices in the fifth-century BC colony at Elephantine. Thus Moses rejects Pharaoh’s counteroffer to allow Israel to sacrifice in Egypt (v. 25). (Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Exodus, Location 3594)
- The plagues in Egypt were miracles in the true Biblical sense of the word. They were direct acts of divine intervention that superseded the causes of nature. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Preaching the Word: Exodus, 239)
What do we see in Pharaoh’s character that is vital to understanding Exodus and its significance for us?
- A skeptic who gives lip-service with no intent of relent.
(vv. 1-8)
Pharaoh was the kind of man who says anything to get out of trouble, but as soon as his troubles are over, he goes right back to his old selfish ways. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Preaching the Word: Exodus, 234)
The hardening of our hearts overthrows reason. We find excuses for our sinful and proud desires. We find reasons for doing what we want to do. When it all unravels, we wade further into sin, rather than accepting our terrible mistake and backing away from it. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 70)
- The willful ignorance of someone who, despite ample proof, refuses to budge.
(vv. 9-15)
Why did Moses let Pharaoh select the time for the frogs to leave? To prove to him and the nation that Jehovah was the living God who heard their words and responded to the prayers of His servants. (Wiersbe, Exodus, 42)
- An unyielding autocrat; defiant even as his own “experts” concede.
(vv. 16-19)
22–24 By inaugurating a “distinction” between Moses’ people and Pharaoh’s people, God aids those hardened Egyptian hearts who suspect that nothing more than chance or difficult times were involved in the preceding three plagues… The purpose of this preferential treatment of Israel is to teach Pharaoh and the Egyptians that the Lord God of Israel is in the midst of this land doing these works; it is not one of their local dieties. (Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Location 3581)
There is a kind of madness to Pharaoh’s actions. Calamity after calamity is inflicted on Egypt, but he refuses to submit. At one point his officials beg him to relent (10:7)—but he keeps on inviting more suffering on his country. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 69)
- Someone who wants what God can offer without wanting God himself.
(vv. 20-32)
Many desperate people have called for a minister without ever really intending to call upon God. So it was that “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’” (v. 8). (Phillip Graham Ryken, Preaching the Word: Exodus, 231)
Conclusion… How do we fight these traits in us as followers of Jesus?
A. By making faith more than mere platitude.
(Micah 6:8; Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46; John 14:15; Galatians 5:6; Titus 1:16; James 1:22; 2:17; 1 John 3:18)
The plagues should serve as a warning not only for those who refuse to believe the gospel but for believers who are tempted to love, serve, and trust anything except the living God. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 56)
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. (Martin Luther)
Jesus did not come so that we might live a life of superficial religion. He came so that we might receive new life through supernatural regeneration. (David Platt, Follow Me, 57)
True conversion is more of an ongoing activity than a onetime experience. It is the act of deliberately and repeatedly turning from vanity, sin and Satan to serve the true and living God. (Mark Talbot, The Signs of True Conversion, 15)
B. By killing the plague of pride that threatens each one of us.
(Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 29:23; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matthew 23:12; Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Philippians 2:3; James 4:6)
It was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the completely anti-God state of mind. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 67)
Underlying this is Pharaoh’s question: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” Why should I let God meddle in my affairs? Why should I let someone else have the final say in my life? And Christians are not immune. We try to limit our obedience. Instead of throwing ourselves, body and soul, into God’s service, we try to limit what we do. “What’s the least I can get away with?” “How far do I have to I go?” “Why should I deny my feelings?” (Tim Chester, Exodus, 68)
Just as pride is the root of every evil, humility is the root of every virtue. (Stuart Scott, The Exemplary Husband, 185)
God has to take our eyes off our kingdom before He can build His. (J.D. Greear, Gaining by Losing, 41)
Some people get so caught up in their own holiness that they look at the Trinity for a possible vacancy. (John MacArthur, Leadership, v. 7, n. 2)
If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both; if it does not encourage the commitment of faith, it reinforces the detachment of unbelief; if it fails to promote humility, it inevitably feeds pride. (J.I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness, 15)
Gospel Connection…
God’s judgment is turned away when we turn from our pride and trust the only One who can save.
(Isaiah 53:5; John 3:16-17; 5:24; Romans 5:1; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:13-14 ; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 1:9)
The plagues were pointers to the cross and resurrection of Jesus—to the ultimate signs of judgment and salvation. On the cross, Jesus experienced the judgment that will fall on all who are outside of him—and he has been raised as Judge of the world to bring that judgment. But his cross also brings salvation to all who are in him, and his resurrection is the promise of our resurrection. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 81)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What is typically your first response to criticism?
- Why did God take the approach of using sign judgments with Pharaoh? Why is this valuable for us to know?
- In what ways were the plagues a judgment not only on the Egyptians but also their gods?
- Why can God still hold Pharaoh responsible for his hard heart when God at times was described as doing the hardening?
- Have you ever, like Pharaoh, made a promise to God in a time of trouble but then did not follow through? If so, what kept you from following through?
Quotes to note…
One goddess named Heqet was pictured with head and sometimes the body of a frog. Apparently, this goddess controlled the frog population and also assisted women in childbirth. Frogs were so sacred that the Egyptians could not kill them. The Nile and the frogs were symbols of fertility. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 57)
Pharaoh is a case study in the deceit of sin. It’s like a slow-motion car crash that allows us to see the tragedy unfold. We want to step in to make it stop. But in the real-time action of our own lives, we ourselves too often get caught up in the insanity of sin. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 70)
People who ask for signs may not want to believe. Although God has preplanned the series of signs and wonders, the first is given in response to a request from Pharaoh. Yet when Moses and Aaron give him a sign, Pharaoh contemptuously dismisses it. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 83)
For the first time in the sequence of “strikes,” Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron to intercede with God (v. 8). While Moses responds graciously, Pharaoh’s true nature shows through when he reneges on his offer to let the Israelites go (v. 15). (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 81)
To the very end of the contest (14:5ff.), Pharaoh was a proud, unrepentant sinner who refused to hear God’s Word, do God’s will, or even keep his own promises to the Jewish people. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Delivered: Exodus, 42)
Pharaoh was not offended by the Israelites having their own God, choosing their own religion, or developing their own spirituality. What he took offence at was the suggestion that the God of Israel might have a claim on him. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 74)
As death is the last enemy; so pride the last sin that shall be destroyed in us. (John Boys, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 224)
Pride is the sin we cannot see in ourselves and yet so detest in others. (Kent Hughes, Luke – Volume 1, 365)
Pride is the presumption that we can be happy without depending on God as the source of our happiness and without caring if others find their happiness in God. Pride is the passion to be happy contaminated and corrupted by two things: 1) the unwillingness to see God as the only fountain of true and lasting joy, and 2) the unwillingness to see other people as designed by God to receive our joy in Him. (John Piper, Desiring God, 281)
Pride is the idolatry of the self. It is the nature of pride as competition with God – the displacing of God by the self at the center – that has led many Christian thinkers through the ages to regard pride (superbia) as the mother sin and the essential element in all sin. (Robert Rayburn, Pride and Humility, Tabletalk, May 2008, p. 64)