Exodus 8:16-32

v16: Pharaoh doesn’t get a warning for this plague. He thinks everything is fine and back to normal.

v18: The magicians are neither able to duplicate this miracle and nor are they able to reverse it.

· The word used for beast here has to do with a domesticated animal (cows or sheep/goats). They represent money/the economy. This is not just a plague on man, but also on the economy – it had lasting effects (physically and financially)

v19: The finger of G-d: This can possibly be interpreted in two ways:

1. G-d wrote the commandments on the tablets with His finger (Yeshua wrote with His finger on the ground when He was being called to execute judgement on the women caught in adultery – also related to the commandments). Pharaoh hadn’t been paying attention to G-d’s commands up to this point so why bother to suddenly start to pay attention to them?

2. A very common rabbinical view of this is that the finger of G-d can be seen as such a small part of Him that it’s hardly worth paying attention to.

· Pharaoh possibly thought that what was happening was insignificant so closed up his heart toward it. He did not value the revelation of G-d.

· As the L-RD had said: G-d foreknew.

v20: All of us serve (or are a slave to) something or someone (Romans 6:20-22). G-d wanted the Hebrews to no longer be enslaved by Pharaoh, but He wanted them to become His slaves.

v21: This fourth plague is controversial. Most English Bible translate the word “swarm” as “flies”, but there is a different word in Hebrew for “flies”. In Hebrew, this word is translated “mixed”, and the rabbis say it relates to a variety of wild animals (see biblehub.com) who come into the city and even into the homes of the residents in order to raise havoc/cause chaos (Revelation 6:8 – wild beasts, like a plague, are also involved with killing humans in the last days).

Note: If Pharaoh will not send….G-d will send

v22: “In that day” – refers to judgement day (often the final judgement). We need to see that judgement is coming and we need to respond appropriately.

· Goshen comes from the Hebrew word which means “to approach” or “draw near”.

G-d made a very clear distinction between the people who were in covenant with Him and those who weren’t. This should have caused Pharaoh to take notice and also want to change and be in a covenantal relationship with G-d. But he wasn’t interested in obedience, or the promises and blessings of G-d.

v23: The word translated “difference” is also the word for redemption/deliverance. Redemption involves a payment and a change of ownership. Here we see G-d claiming His possession. Without Redemption we can’t be a vessel of G-d’s glory.

· sign – something miraculous will take place, for the purpose of revealing G-d’s existence and authority/power.

v24: Corrupted: Destroyed. Flies would be more of an annoyance than a destructive force.

v25: Pharaoh has realised the inadequacy of his wise men, so calls Moses and Aaron.

· Pharaoh is trying to get G-d to compromise. He wants the people to sacrifice in the land – not in the wilderness, as G-d had instructed. Even now Pharaoh still wants to exert his authority.

v26: It is not right – G-d’s will is not being performed correctly.

· What Pharaoh was suggesting would have been abominable in the eyes of the Egyptians – who worshipped their G-ds in a different way.

· Stone us – we are never going to be approved by those of this world. Even now the world is becoming more resentful of Biblical truth.

v27: G-d wants to take them into the wilderness. There they demonstrate their trust, submissiveness, and dependence upon Him.

This verse gives us great insight into proper worship – we need to do it just as the L-rd has commanded us to.

v28: Pharaoh again trying to reach another compromise (you can go, but not for the 3 day journey…).

· Intercede (Pray) for me: Pharaoh wants his prayers to be answered – he now understands that G-d is superior to him, yet he still hasn’t realised that G-d NEVER compromises.

v29: Deal deceitfully – keep saying one thing but doing something else.

v30: Entreated: beseeched, interceded for Pharaoh.

v31: G-d spoke one word and every one of those animals went – they had sense enough to obey G-d.

v32: Once the problem was solved Pharaoh continued in his rebellion – because he failed to respond to the revelation of G-d his heart became strengthened with dullness and hardness. At

the end every single one of us will submit to the L-rd – Romans 14:11. Some of us will submit and bow our knee willingly (in this life) and be blessed. Many will only submit and bow when it is too late