Chapter 4: The Finger of God

God told Moses to have Aaron strike the dust of the ground. Aaron did, and the dust became gnats across all of Egypt, covering every person and every animal. The magicians tried to do the same, but this time they could not.

MAGICIANS“This is the finger of God.”— Exodus 8:19

Pharaoh ignored them. But the men who had matched Moses sign for sign had just admitted they were outmatched. From this point on, they never challenged Moses again.

God sent Moses to meet Pharaoh at the water the next morning. This time, the message carried something new.

GOD (through Moses to Pharaoh)“I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there. I will make a difference between My people and your people.”— Exodus 8:20-23

The flies came the next day. Thick swarms filled Pharaoh's house, his servants' houses, and the entire land. But in Goshen, where the Israelites lived, not a single fly.

PHARAOH“Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”— Exodus 8:25

MOSES“It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice before their eyes, will they not stone us?”— Exodus 8:26

Some of the animals the Israelites would sacrifice were considered sacred by the Egyptians.

PHARAOH“I will let you go, that you may sacrifice in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”— Exodus 8:28

Moses warned him not to go back on his word. Then he prayed. God removed every fly from Egypt. Not one remained. But the moment they were gone, Pharaoh did exactly what Moses warned him not to do.