TEN PLAGUES (3)

1. What are the 10 plagues that strike Egypt?

a) The 3rd plague: Lice (Exodus 8:16-19)

i) ¹⁶ 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 (lice).” ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, ¹⁹ 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 NIV)

2. What is the text all about?

@1. Some people think, "If only I could see a miracle, I could believe in God." God gave Pharaoh just such an opportunity. When lice infested Egypt, even the magicians agreed that this was God's work ("the finger of God") - but still Pharaoh refused to believe. He was stubborn, and stubbornness can blind a person to the truth. When you rid yourself of stubbornness, you may be surprised by abundant evidence of God's work in your life.

3. What has happened?

@1. All the dust of Egypt becomes a massive swarm of lice.

4. What has resulted?

@1. Magicians are unable to duplicate this; they say it is the "finger of God," but Pharaoh's heart remains hard.