Chapter Summary

Plagues of frogs, lice, files. Pharaoh's compromising offer.

Discussion Questions for Exodus, Chapter 8

1. God overruns Egypt with a plague of frogs in Exodus 8. Frogs were symbols of Egyptian gods, including the goddess of fertility. They were seen as good luck by the Egyptians. Why is it significant that God chooses frogs to plague Egypt?
2. Pharaoh asks Moses to have the frogs removed in Ex. 8:9. Moses agrees so that Pharaoh would know how powerful God is. Pharaoh has seen the staffs changed into snakes and the Nile turned into blood already. Why would Pharaoh need to have the frogs removed to know how great God is?
3. Pharaoh immediately hardens his heart after the frogs are removed and refuses to let the children go to the wilderness. God knew Pharaoh would harden his heart, so why did He remove the frogs?
4. We read in Ex. 8:18 that the magicians could not repeat the third plague of the gnats. What does this convince the magicians about the different plagues? How is this significant in the events leading up to the release of Hebrews for Egypt?
5. Modern magic shows use basically sleight of hand and optical illusions to entertain. However, the Egyptian sorcerers actually changed the water and brought forth the frogs. What does this say about spiritual forces in the world? Are there more than one type spiritual forces in our society today and how do they affect our lives?
6. The magicians tell Pharaoh the plague of gnats were the finger of God in Ex 8:19 but Pharaoh continues to harden his heart and not let Israelites go into the wilderness to worship. How do you reach a person that has truly hardened their heart toward God? Is it possible that a person hardens their heart to the extent they cannot become a believer?
7. All indications show that the children of Israel were also affected by the first three plagues. However, the fourth plague of the flies God makes a difference when He says in Ex 8:22 that the flies will not be in Goshen where the children of Israel lived. Why do you think God allowed the children of Israel suffer through the first three plagues? How do you think they reacted toward Moses and Aaron?
8. Ex. 8:25 records that Pharaoh gives permission for Hebrews to sacrifice to God to remove the flies. Moses reminds him that the Egyptians will stone them because it will be an abomination to them to sacrifice to God. Do you think this oversight by Pharaoh is intentional? What does this reveal about the Pharaoh's religious convictions even to his own religion?
9. Pharaoh relents once again to let the Hebrew children to go three days into the wilderness to worship in Ex 8:28. He begs for Moses to plead for him. Moses agrees to go before God to plead for the removal of the flies but warns that Pharaoh not to cheat or deceive again by not letting them go. Even though God knew Pharaoh would harden his heart again and not let the people go, why did God remove the flies?
10. Kings awarded golden amlets in the shape of flies for a warriors persistence in Egypt. Why does God choose flies as a plague in Exodus 8?

Key Words/Phrase

Smitten, v. 2.

Characters

God, Moses, Pharaoh, Aaron.

Strong Verse(s)

1, 2, 19.