Friday, June 4, 2010

A Plague of Frogs


Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh once again and tell him, "This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse, then listen carefully to this: I will send vast hordes of frogs across your entire land from on border to the other. The Nile River will swarm with them. They will come up out of the river and into your houses, even into your bedrooms and onto your beds! Every home in Egypt will be filled with them. They will fill even your ovens and your kneading bowls. you and your people will be overwhelmed by frogs!"

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to point his shepherd's staff toward all the rivers, canals, and marshes of Egypt so there will be frogs in every corner of the land." Aaron did so, and frogs covered the whole land of Egypt! But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their secret arts. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, "Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let the people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD."

You set the time!" Moses replied. "Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. I will pray that you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. Then only the frogs in the Nile River will remain alive."

Do it tomorrow,"Pharaoh said.

"All right, "Moses replied, "it will be as your have said. Then you will know that no one is as powerful as the LORD our God. All the frogs will be destroyed, except those in the river."

So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses pleaded with the LORD about the frogs he had sent. And the LORD did as Moses had promised. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. They were piled into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. But when Pharaoh saw that the frogs were gone, he hardened his heart. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.
Exodus 8:1-15

0 comments: