FROGS IN YOUR CHEERIOS?

Moses, in the Book of Exodus, goes before Pharaoh to demand that ‘he let my people go.’ Pharaoh was hard-headed and hard-hearted and refused. But God wanted to do more than just deliver Israel from the slavery of Egypt. He wanted to reveal – show off – His great power and majesty to His children, so that they would know that He alone was the Lord God. Although the Israelites didn’t know it yet, they were about to embark on a 40-year journey through the wilderness, and they would need to rely on God at every turn. So, God, taking advantage of Pharaoh’s hard heart, hardened it even more, and the great battle of Pharaoh and the Egyptians verses God and the Israelites began.

Seriously … who do you think won?

Starting in Exodus 7, going through to Exodus 12, there are 11 times when Moses, and his brother, Aaron, go to Pharaoh and demand that he let God’s people go so that Israel may go into the wilderness to worship their God. Each time Pharaoh says no, or says yes and then changes his mind, the battle escalates. Notice the progression.

Exodus 7. Moses and Aaron meet with Pharaoh. Aaron throws down his rod and a serpent appears. Pharaoh brings in his magicians and wise men, and guess what? They also can turn their rods into serpents! However, Aaron’s rod swallows up their rods.

Next time they meet, Pharaoh, again, refuses to let God’s people go. God tells Moses and Aaron to put the rod over the river and turn the water into blood, which they do. Pharaoh calls for his magicians and wise men. And? They also turn water into blood.

Chapter 8 – Moses and Aaron meet with Pharaoh, and he refuses to let God’s people go. When Aaron stretches out his rod, frogs fill the land. They fill the houses, the beds, the animal stalls. They are in the cupboards, the garden, the bath. Frogs covered the land, and the people, of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:7)

What!? Does the god of this world, Satan, have power equal to God? Can he match God step-for-step?

No, he can’t. He can take a few tottering steps along the way. He will stumble out of the gate, but soon enough he will falter and be revealed for the false, lying, old dragon that he is.

Remember, each time Moses comes before Pharaoh, he demands that Pharaoh ‘let my people go.’ Even when Pharaoh strikes a deal with Moses and says, “Okay, get rid of the frogs tomorrow and you can all leave,” the next day he goes back on his word and refuses to let them go.

But, it’s okay. Things are about to get interesting. You think frogs in your Cheerios are annoying? Just wait …

Exodus 8:18 – and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

What happened when Pharaohs’ boys gave it a try. Nothing! Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God … (Exodus 8: 19.)

Exodus 8:24 – flies covered Egypt. Pharaoh agreed to let them go into the wilderness to worship God, but Pharaoh changed his mind the next day and doesn’t let them go. So…

Exodus 9:6 … and all the cattle of Egypt died, but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Exodus 9: 10 … boils covered both men and beast. Verse 11: and the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

Ummm … where did the power of Pharaoh’s magicians and wise men go? What happened to the magic wands that could conjure up a frog?

Satan’s power is limited. Never – ever – ever – forget that.

God wanted Israel and Egypt to know something. I am the Lord God and I have ALL power.

More plagues.

Exodus 9:11 – hail, mingled with fire, fell on every beast and herb in Egypt. It killed every herb and broke every tree in Egypt.

Exodus 10:10. Locusts! Verse 15: They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail -- everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

Verse 21—23. Darkness! So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

Exodus 12:29. The last plague. The death of the firstborn in every household in Egypt. From the Pharaoh on the throne to the prisoner in the dungeon, every firstborn child would die. Verse 30 -- Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Don’t be obsessed and worried about what Satan is doing. The cross of Christ has defeated, forever, the devil. Satan’s days are numbered and his end is foretold.

Revelation 20:10 … And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Pharaoh was impressed by his own magicians, who were able to do a few tricks. I’m sure after those first 3 visits by Moses and Aaron, he gloated and crowed about how his magicians had as much power as they did, but God was setting him up. And like his master, the devil, Pharaoh’s pride came before his fall.

I don’t need great power. I need the Lord who has all power.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, He is only a prayer away. Ask Him today to come and live in your heart. Your sins are forgiven by the shedding of His blood, and your place in Heaven is secure.