Then HaShem said to Moses, “S
Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” And they did so…and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats… The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not…Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said (8:16-19)
The plague of gnats was the first time that Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t replicate a miracle, and they told Pharaoh that this is the finger of God (8:10). But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened – he didn’t care about the facts. He did not yet realize whom he was dealing with.
Because of this, he and his people had to endure another plague – that of flies. When Moses and Aaron were warning Pharaoh about this, he was told that no swarms of flies would be in Goshen, where God’s people dwell, because as God said, “So you may know that I am HaShem in the midst of the earth” (8:22).
When this occurred, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and told them to sacrifice to God within the land of Egypt. After some negotiations, Moses went and prayed to HaShem. And HaShem did as Moses asked. He removed the swarms of flies – not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
So Moses, following God’s instructions, told Pharaoh of a very severe plague that would be on all their livestock, but not on Israel’s livestock. This happened: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died (9:7). But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
So, there is a sixth plague. Following God’s instructions, Moses threw handfuls of soot from the kiln into the air, and it became fine dust over all Egypt, which then became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. However, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened again.
How discouraging this must have been for the Israelites! Six plagues and they were still not free. God had not delivered them. Pharaoh was inexorable. And what are Moses and Aaron feeling and thinking? We don’t know, but however they were feeling, they continued to obey.
And what about Pharaoh’s heart that keeps being hardened? Is it Pharaoh’s fault? Is it God’s? Some Scriptures say that Pharaoh hardened his heart while others they say God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Which is it? If Scripture says both, I believe it is both. When we deal with God, who we are is exposed. And we become even more of whatever we are unless we humble ourselves before God and allow Him to work in us and change us.
Pharaoh’s initial response was not humble or receptive to God. He said, “Who is HaShem that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know HaShem, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (5:2). And he increased their workload. Pharaoh started with a hard heart. He was unrepentant and his heart just became harder.
God is light. When we are near Him, our sin is exposed. We can either run away from God to the darkness or humbly confess and repent of our sin, be cleansed, and keep walking in the light. When I was a new follower of Yeshua (Jesus), God would show me a little bit of my sin now and then. I would be horrified. At that time, I had no idea what a sinner I was – I thought I was pretty good, so seeing my sin devasted me. But each time my sin was revealed, I confessed and repented and continued walking with God, knowing that because of Yeshua’s sacrifice on our behalf, when we confess and repent, we are forgiven and cleansed.
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua his son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth his not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John I:5-9).
Prayer: God, thank You that I can walk in the light, in Your Light! Thank You that You expose my sin, for the purpose of cleansing me and making me more like You. Help me to always have a humble, receptive heart to You. Amen.
