The Fourth Plague: A Blanket of Flies

Sermon 19 in Series

Exodus 8:20-32
[20] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. [21] Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. [22] But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. [23] Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” [24] And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

[25] Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” [26] But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? [27] We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” [28] So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” [29] Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” [30] So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. [31] And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. [32] But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How do we see God’s judgment serving an evangelistic purpose in Exodus? What are the implications for how we share our faith with others?
2.   What does God do to Egypt in the fourth plague? How is it an escalation?
3.   How and why does God protect his people during this plague?
4.   If it is the case that the Israelites had to endure the previous plagues, how does this help us to manage our expectations in this life? What promises / assurances do we have that God will shield/protect us?
5.   How does God’s control of time and space encourage you not to worry?
6.   What does this passage say about Pharoah’s character? How is God drawing a contrast in order to glorify himself?
7.   What does Moses’ reply to Pharaoh in v. 27 teach us about worship?

References: Exodus 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 21:8; Psalm 78:45; Genesis 46:34.