Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Exodus 8:16-19 (NIV)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said.
Exodus 8:16-19 (MSG)
God said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and strike the dust. The dust will turn into gnats all over Egypt.’” He did it. Aaron grabbed his staff and struck the dust of the Earth; it turned into gnats, gnats all over people and animals. All the dust of the Earth turned into gnats, gnats everywhere in Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats with their incantations but this time they couldn’t do it. There were gnats everywhere, all over people and animals. The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is God’s doing.” But Pharaoh was stubborn and wouldn’t listen. Just as God had said.
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“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become [biting] gnats (lice) throughout the land of Egypt.’” They did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were [biting] gnats on man and animal. All the dust of the land became gnats through all the land of Egypt. The magicians (soothsayer-priests) tried by their secret arts and enchantments to create gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats on man and animal. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the [supernatural] finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.” -AMPLIFIED
We ended yesterday with Pharaoh once again hardening his heart toward God; refusing to listen to Moses and Aaron. God then brings upon Egypt the third plague, gnats. Speaking to Moses, God orders Aaron to take his staff and strike the dust, which Aaron obediently did, and all of Egypt was filled with gnats. Gnats on the people, gnats on the animals, gnats everywhere throughout all of Egypt; including in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived.
Remember that reference made to the fetish of cleanliness among the Egyptians of this time? Once again they are about to be tested. Gnats, are not pleasant, we all know this. Some Bible translations actually refer to these insect pests as lice or even mosquitoes; they are both even more unpleasant than gnats, if that is possible.
This plague was an affront or insult to the Egyptian god called Geb; also known as: Seb, Keb, Kebb or Gebb. Geb was the god of the Earth and was supposedly the great protector of the Earth. He was also thought to be a healer. We find that he was none of these things; for he failed miserably.
Once again we find Pharaoh’s magicians trying to duplicate or counterfeit what God did through Moses and Aaron, but this time they failed miserably. Scripture tells us, “But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.” In fact, the magicians were so confounded by this miracle that even they said to Pharaoh, “This is the [supernatural] finger of God.”
Pharaoh’s response to all of this was to harden his heart even more. One may wonder how hard someone’s heart can become; apparently much harder. We are only on plague three and there is a total of ten. Oh how the patience of God is so greatly demonstrated in this story. God could have very easily moved the Israelites out of Egypt without all of this, but He chose to do it this way for two reasons: 1. To demonstrate His mighty power to both Israelite and Egyptian and 2. to give both Israelite and Egyptian a chance to repent and turn from their wicked ways. The Israelites turned to God, most Egyptians did not. (There were a few that did leave with the Israelites.) Pharaoh continued to have a calloused heart toward God.
My Prayer: Jehovah, may my heart always be tender and true to you. Stubbornness is not a good quality; especially when it is directed toward you. Help me to have a tender heart in tune to you and your direction for my life. I surrender my will, have your way. I am yours, Lord, here is my heart.
Growing with God 