LICE, FLIES, & FOLLY

EXODUS 8:16-32

Pastor Rick Jackson

The Egyptians had gods for everything. We have already seen in the first two plagues several false gods defeated. The Nile, the crocodile god,the frog god and other ancillary gods connected with those areas. The plagues so far have been closely associated with water. These next two plagues will come from the land and from the air. The God of the Hebrews is the God of everything that He created and since He created everything He is the God of everything. Later enemies of Israel would learn the God of the Hebrews is not only the God of the mountains, He is also the God of the valleys!

8:15 is a "know better" verse. Pharaoh knew better than to promise something and then go back on it, and God knew better than to believe Pharaoh in the first place but God has a greater purpose in mind!

I. THE LOUSY LICE [v. 16-19]

1. The Swift Command [v. 16] remember- Pharaoh knew better!

2. The Strange Catastrophe [v. 17]

3. The Satisfying Capitulation [v. 18]

II. THE "FRIENDLY FLIES" [v. 20-24]

1. Here We See Swarms [v. 20-21]

(note the Bible doesn't say "flies" but this was added by the translators, the Psalmist under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit actually tells us it was different kinds of flying insects--- possibly including the sacred scarab beetle of Egypt!)

Psalm 78:45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Psalm 105:31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.

2. Here We See Separation [v. 22]

3. Here We See A Sign [v. 22-24]

III. THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD [v. 25-32]

1. Be Part of the World [v. 25-27]

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever ° therefore will be ° a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2. Don't Be Very Different [v. 28-30]

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

3. The End Justifies the Means [v. 31-32]

Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

JAMES 3:13-18