Exodus 8:1-14

“And he said, To morrow…” (Exodus 8:10)

How many times could we have instant relief from our deplorable, detestable, and destructive condition, if we would only obey the Lord? But no, many times we choose to spend one more night – let us stay a few more moments – in our predicament.

Pharaoh had been petitioned by Moses and Aaron to release the children of Israel out of bondage, and to allow them to go three days journey and sacrifice unto God. This is the second plague that God had brought upon Pharaoh for his refusal to let the people of God leave. Pharaoh’s entire water system had been turned into blood by Moses; and yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not hearken unto Moses and Aaron, and do as the Lord had said.

Now Moses petitioned Pharaoh the second time, “…Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Exodus 8:1). Moses told Pharaoh, if he refused, God would send frogs upon the entire land; in Pharaoh’s house, his bed-chamber, upon his bed; and into the house of his servants; and upon his people. Then God did so; and frogs were everywhere.

The frogs were the Judgment of God upon sin and rebellion. The frogs were like sin: widespread; a heavy burden; and very destructive. When God’s hand stretches out in judgment: it is widespread; it is a grievous burden; and it destroys. Frogs were everywhere, in Pharaoh’s house, and in his bed, everywhere he stepped, there were frogs.

Moses asked Pharaoh in Exodus 8:9, “…when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses…?” Pharaoh’s answer revealed his love for his gods; Pharaoh and Egypt worshipped the creature and not the Creator. They deified reptiles, creeping things, and animals. Pharaoh was choking on one of his gods, the frog. He wanted them gone. But he wanted one more night with his gods; even though he knew they were destroying him.

People today have sexual gods, chemical gods, and material gods. They know that these false gods are slowly but surely draining the very life out of them. Yet, they say, ‘Let us have one more night with our frogs.’

Notice, specifically these three general categories of “frogs” that are destroying people:

• The sexual gods are devastating. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life, are destroying the very souls of men, as men are totally driven by evil lust, adultery, and fornication. Even, in many cases, the burning for the same sex is rampant in the world. Sexual gods (frogs) have destroyed, and are continuing to destroy, the very fabric of men’s souls; the sanctity of the very foundation of the order of the home; and causing diseases, for which men have found no cure. The Apostle Paul recorded in (1Co 6:18)“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” The cost to the home, to the individual body, and to those around the ones who are totally captivated and consumed with sexual sins is staggering. In many cases the cost is so high, it can never be paid in this life. In many cases, the scars and sorrow brought on by sexual sins can never be remedied.
• The chemical gods are destroying the bodies of men. The enslavement of drugs is unbreakable by the strength of mere men. Families are being wrecked. Prisons are full of talented men in bondage to drugs. Society is being touched by murders of innocent people by people whose minds are crazed by chemicals (drugs). Rapes are committed by people who, if they were not high on drugs, would never do such a thing. And innocent people are being slaughtered by drunken minds that are so numbed by alcohol that they cannot see or react with any clarity of mind. The result that comes to those enslaved by chemicals is, in so many cases, so devastating and affects so many people adversely, there is nothing but the mercy and grace of God to salvage anything good from the situation.
• The material gods are deceivers. “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:5). They promise that which cannot last. People are selling their bodies, souls, and spirits for the tinsel and gold of this world, which will rust and waste away. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and then they fly away – either by theft, or by riotous living, or by death. Either way, they will not help you in eternity. Hope in riches is founded on sinking sand; and will not, and can not, stand in the storm. The desire for more and more of material gain has been the source of every sin and crime dreamed up by man. “For the love of money is the root of all evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10). A good example of one controlled by material gain is the man Lot (read Gen. 13 – 19 to see the cost of material gain to Lot).

There is relief, mercy, and grace in Jesus Christ. There is immediate relief in His Power. The Gospel Message has gone around the world over and over and over again. Men are convicted of their evil way. They know they are being destroyed in body, soul, and spirit; and yet they want one more night with their god (with sin).

As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I point you today to the brazen serpent on the pole that Moses lifted up in the wilderness. I point you to Christ Jesus being judged on the Cross for your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-25). Look to Him for Salvation, for the Cure. Call upon Him; confess Him. Acknowledge Salvation in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Read Romans 3:10-25; 5:1-21; 6 – 8. Read Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-25; 2:22-25; John 3:1-21; Romans 10:8-13.)

Find yourself a local, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, Bible-practicing church. Request baptism as a public confession of your identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Then walk in peace and holiness daily; as you study, submit to, and obey His Word; and endure unto the end, being sanctified by His Spirit that dwells in you.

If you have been regenerated and converted by Jesus Christ; and you can see and hear the message of Hope (of Christ) – then repent, confess, and come out from among the frogs today if you are hiding unconfessed sins. Don’t spend one more night with the frogs; they are false gods. They are deplorable, detestable, and destructive. They can only hurt, steal, and destroy. They are deceivers, and the end result is total destruction of your body, soul, and spirit.

They gathered up the dead frogs and they did stink (Exodus 8:14). Sin, when finished, brings forth death: (Jas 1:15) “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Leave the frogs today, and come to Christ. Why spend one more second in the grip of misery, when you can have sweet relief in Christ today?

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

Reader, if you can see and hear the Gospel message (Romans 1:16-17). If you are thirsty; if you are hungry for relief; if you are being drawn to Christ, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44); if you know you are a sinner; if you know Christ died for you, paid your sin debt, took your place, and suffered the wrath of God for you – then come. Come now and confess Christ as your Savior (Rom. 10:9-10). Come and drink of the water of life freely, for you are free in Christ; yes, free indeed. And then, the stench of the dead frogs (sin) will no longer be on you.

This devotion is taken from one previously posted on January 31, 2012.