Exodus 8: The Plagues Continue

Key Verse: Exodus 8:10"And he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ Moses said, ‘Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.’"

Pharaoh refuses to listen, and so the plagues continue. What started with water turning to blood now escalates into a series of disasters that cover Egypt, showing the power of the one true God.

First come the frogs. Not just a few, but swarms—covering the land, filling homes, even climbing into beds and kitchens. Pharaoh, overwhelmed, begs Moses to pray for relief. But when Moses asks, “When shall I plead with the Lord to remove the frogs?” Pharaoh gives an unusual answer: “Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Why not now? It’s a moment that reveals Pharaoh’s pride—he would rather endure another night of suffering than humble himself before God.

This is how the human heart often works. We delay obedience. We put off repentance. We tell ourselves, “I’ll change tomorrow,” while choosing to stay in our struggles today. But God’s call is always for now.

Then come the gnats. Without warning, dust turns into tiny, biting insects that swarm the people. For the first time, Pharaoh’s magicians fail. They try to copy the miracle, but they can’t. They turn to Pharaoh and say, “This is the finger of God.” But still, Pharaoh will not listen.

Then come the flies—thick, relentless, covering everything. But this time, something changes. The land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, is untouched.

God is making a distinction. He is not sending random disasters; He is making it clear that His people are different, set apart, under His protection.

Pharaoh starts to crack. He offers a compromise: “You can worship your God, but stay in Egypt.” Moses refuses. Worship requires full surrender, not partial obedience.

Pharaoh tries again: “Fine, go—but don’t go too far.” Again, he tries to negotiate with God.

But God does not compromise. He calls for total obedience. Partial surrender is still disobedience.

For a moment, it seems like Pharaoh will give in. He asks Moses to pray, and Moses does. The flies vanish. But once the relief comes, Pharaoh hardens his heart again.

This is a warning for us. How often do we seek God only in hardship, only to forget Him when things get better?

God is not just asking for our obedience in crisis—He is asking for our hearts. The question is, will we surrender today? Or will we, like Pharaoh, say “Tomorrow”?