Exodus 8:4
The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.'"
The frogs
The Hebrew word for "frogs" is "צְפַרְדֵּעַ" (tsephardea). In the context of ancient Egypt, frogs were associated with fertility and life, often linked to the goddess Heqet, who was depicted as a frog or a woman with a frog's head. This plague, therefore, was a direct challenge to the Egyptian pantheon, demonstrating the LORD's supremacy over their deities. The presence of frogs in such abundance would have been both a nuisance and a symbolic dismantling of Egyptian religious beliefs.

will come up
The phrase "will come up" is derived from the Hebrew verb "עָלָה" (alah), meaning to ascend or rise. This verb is often used in the context of something emerging or appearing in a significant or overwhelming manner. The imagery here is of an unstoppable force, emphasizing the power and authority of God in executing judgment. It signifies not just a physical rising but a divine intervention that cannot be ignored or resisted.

on you
The phrase "on you" indicates a personal and direct impact. The plague was not just a distant event but something that would affect Pharaoh personally. This personal touch in the judgment underscores the LORD's intimate knowledge of and involvement in human affairs. It serves as a reminder that God's actions are purposeful and directed, aiming to reach the heart of Pharaoh and the Egyptian people.

and your people
"Your people" refers to the Egyptians, who were under Pharaoh's rule. The inclusion of the people in this judgment highlights the collective nature of sin and its consequences. It serves as a reminder that leadership carries responsibility, and the actions of a leader can bring repercussions upon the entire nation. This phrase also emphasizes the widespread nature of the plague, affecting every level of society.

and all your officials
The term "officials" is translated from the Hebrew "עֲבָדֶיךָ" (avadeka), meaning servants or ministers. This indicates that the plague would reach even the highest echelons of Egyptian society, sparing no one from its effects. It underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, which does not discriminate based on status or position. This serves as a humbling reminder of the equality of all people before God and the futility of relying on earthly power or status for protection against divine will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who is obstinate and refuses to let the Israelites go, despite the plagues sent by God.

2. Moses and Aaron
God's chosen leaders to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

3. Egypt
The land where the Israelites are enslaved and where God demonstrates His power through the plagues.

4. The Plague of Frogs
The second plague sent by God as a judgment against Egypt, demonstrating His power over creation and the Egyptian gods.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Creation
The plague of frogs demonstrates God's control over nature, reminding us that He is sovereign over all aspects of life.

Judgment and Mercy
While the plagues are acts of judgment, they also serve as opportunities for Pharaoh to repent, illustrating God's patience and mercy.

The Consequences of Hardness of Heart
Pharaoh's refusal to heed God's command leads to increased suffering, teaching us the dangers of a hardened heart.

God's Power Over False Gods
The plague challenges the Egyptian god Heqet, associated with fertility and water, showing that the God of Israel is the true God.

The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites' eventual deliverance is tied to their obedience to God's instructions, highlighting the blessings of following God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the plague of frogs illustrate God's power over the Egyptian gods, and what does this teach us about the nature of idolatry today?

2. In what ways can we see the consequences of a hardened heart in our own lives, and how can we guard against it?

3. How does the account of the plagues, including the frogs, demonstrate both God's judgment and His mercy?

4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' experience in Egypt about trusting in God's timing and deliverance?

5. How can we apply the principle of God's sovereignty over creation to our current environmental and ecological concerns?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:28
This verse speaks of humanity's dominion over animals, contrasting with the plague where frogs dominate the Egyptians, showing a reversal of order due to sin.

Psalm 78:45
This psalm recounts the plagues, including the frogs, as a reminder of God's power and judgment.

Revelation 16:13-14
Frogs are mentioned as unclean spirits, symbolizing deception and judgment, drawing a parallel to the plagues in Egypt.
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Exodus 8:1-14
Superstitions Respecting FrogsT. S. Millington.Exodus 8:1-14
The Folly of Delaying Till TomorrowExodus 8:1-14
The Plague of FrogsJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 8:1-14
The Procession of FrogsA. McAuslane, D. D.Exodus 8:1-14
To-MorrowG. A. Sowter, M. A.Exodus 8:1-14
The Seared Plague: the FrogsD. Young Exodus 8:1-15
The Plague of FrogsJ. Orr Exodus 8:1-16
Three Plagues - Frogs, Lice, FliesJ. Orr Exodus 8:1-32
People
Aaron, Egyptians, Moses, Pharaoh
Places
Egypt, Goshen, Nile River
Topics
Bondmen, Frogs, Officials, Servants, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 8:1-4

     5435   ovens
     8833   threats

Library
Mary, Future Mother of Jesus, visits Elisabeth, Future Mother of John the Baptist.
(in the Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 39-56. ^c 39 And Mary arose in these days [within a week or two after the angel appeared to her] and went into the hill country [the district of Judah lying south of Jerusalem, of which the city of Hebron was the center] with haste [she fled to those whom God had inspired, so that they could understand her condition and know her innocence--to those who were as Joseph needed to be inspired, that he might understand--Matt. i. 18-25], into a city
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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