Chapters 8-10
Exodus 8:7 - (NOTE: The verse numbering in the English varies from the Hebrew. I am following the English numbering here.) There are two possibilities here: (1) Pharaoh’s magicians could call the frogs up but could not make them go away. (2) Pharaoh wanted to test the power of the Lord to see if He could make the frogs go away. (It was a lot of frogs.)
Exodus 8:18 - Here we see the limit of the magician's power. They could command frogs, but not gnats. Perhaps the reason why is the cognitive power of a gnat is so much lower than a frog by virtue of their place in the food chain. They tell Pharaoh that it must be God (vs. 19, NASB).
Exodus 8:21 - Progression of Plagues: Notice that the plague of frogs and of gnats are relatively harmless. Frogs or gnats will not hurt you. They are more of a nuisance. But Pharaoh bowed under the plague of frogs to ask Moses to remove them. In an effort to retain some dignity, he said, "Tomorrow [ask them to be removed]" (vs. 10). From here on, the plagues become more serious. The insects lay waste tot he land (vs. 24). It seems that the Lord is being gracious even in this. He is giving them the chance to repent using minor plagues of irritation first. If they don't respond to those, the plagues will get more serious, until the last plague brings death - the most utterly serious thing that can happen - the death of a child. I have seen and heard of this very same progression in those who resist the Lord. A man will kick against the Lord until he is miserable inside. Then his business will fail. His wife will leave him. His child will die. Then he will die an untimely death himself. It is the progression of plagues.
Exodus 8:22 - The Lord said, "...that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land." There is great significance to this declaration. In those days, people thought their gods were regionally bound. The gods of Egypt would not have the same power in Mesopotamia, for example, because their territory was Egypt. For the Lord to say, "I am in the midst of the land..." and He is exerting such great power was significant. This proves Him (1) More powerful than the Egyptian gods, (2) Not bound by territory or region, (3) Supremely powerful. The Lord God of the Hebrews had invaded the land of Egypt, and He is not happy with Pharaoh.
Exodus 9:29 - Moses is not having any trouble being before Pharaoh anymore. I think there is a principle that emerges from the plague narratives: The naive of the Lord's power are timid. Those who have never seen the great works of God cannot imagine what He will do for those who trust in Him. To the degree that we trust is the degree to which He will perform His works. In Bethlehem, Jesus did few miracles because of their little faith. Yet to the Roman centurion who had a soldier sick, his miracle was performed from afar on account of his great faith. Once we begin to see what the Lord can do, our faith increases. And as our faith increases His signs and wonders increase. It is a good idea to read books and listen to stories of how God's power has been displayed in other people's lives. This helps the Christian to see how God can work in the modern world. At some point, however, the believer must see God work in his/her own life and not rely on proxy experience.
Exodus 10:8 - It is amazing that the terms were still not clear. Pharaoh had to ask, "Who is it that will go?" It still sounds like Moses is suggesting a temporary departure to Pharaoh with the hidden intention not to return. Pharaoh suspects the same, which is why in vs. 10 he pledges that they will never leave with their children. If they don't take their children, they will have to return.
Exodus 10:12-13 - Notice that the final decision about the plague was made right after the conversation with Pharaoh when he did not comply. The locusts did not appear, however, until the morning as the Lord had said. There are times that our punishment is sealed immediately after our disobedience, but it takes a season before it comes to roost.
Exodus 10:22-23 - The miraculous thing about this plague was that not even candles gave off light. "They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings." Do you suppose that as Moses came to visit Pharaoh (vs. 24) that the Lord allowed him to carry a torch into Egypt proper? Then all the people would know that this was the Lord's servant. They would look with astonishment. Besides, how else would Moses be able to get to Pharaoh if people who had lived in the city all their lives couldn't even find their way around in the dark? Moses must have had the only light in Egypt. Indeed he did. In more ways than one. He carried the light of our Lord into a dark pagan city.
