The annoyance of the fly plague

Exodus 8:20-32; 2/22/2026; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

 Introduction

One thing is certain: a person will often struggle repeatedly with the same wrongdoing — sometimes even bringing trouble upon themselves.  When it comes to the fourth plague, Pharaoh shows some signs of softening.  Yet he is still deceitful and stubborn.  Now let us look at the first point:

Filled with swarms of flies

Disaster has feet. It slowly climbs into your heart and step by step enters the life of the rebellious.  First, the progression of the disaster.  In the first plague, the water turned to blood.  Pharaoh did not even raise his eyelids. He simply turned and went back into his palace.  In the second plague, frogs covered the land of Egypt.  Pharaoh seemed slightly moved.  But when the relief came, he hardened his heart and would not listen.  In the third plague, all the dust of Egypt became gnats.  Now the fourth plague comes: swarms of flies fill the land of Egypt.  What is striking is that the flies know where to go.  They enter the houses of the Egyptians — “into your houses, the houses of the Egyptians, and the land where they live.”  But in Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there were no swarms of flies at all.

Second, the function of the disaster.  What we may not expect is this: God sent the plagues in order to set His people apart.  Sanctification begins with election.  That choice began in Christ before the foundation of the world.  To be set apart is a theme that runs through the whole Bible.  Almost every book speaks of it in some way.  When God sent plagues upon Egypt, He was doing the same thing.  He said, “I will make a distinction between My people and your people.”  This was God’s primary purpose in coming to Egypt at that moment.  And it is also the first step for us, as God’s children, walking the heavenly path: to be set apart from this world —to leave Egypt, to step into the wilderness, to turn away from worldly values, to take up our own cross, and to follow the Lord Jesus.

Finally, the purpose of the disaster.  What we may not expect is this: God sent the plagues for two reasons.  First, to bring His people out of Egypt.  Second, to make the Egyptians know the LORD.  God kept the flies away from Goshen for a clear purpose: “So that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.”  This should have deeply moved Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Why?  Because the LORD is not only the God of Israel — He is also the God of Egypt, indeed the God of all the earth.  Of course, God is not like Santa Claus.  He is not only merciful and loving, but also holy and righteous.  The Bible says, “And the LORD did so. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his servants. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the flies.”  Now let us look at the second point:

 Pharaoh let you go into the wilderness

Who is Pharaoh? Is he someone you can just go and see?  Forget an emperor — even the CEO of a company is not easy to meet, right?   But with God, nothing is impossible!  First, Pharaoh came to the water’s edge.   How he got there, we may not know.  Yet his coming was according to what the LORD had spoken to Moses.  More than that, God told Moses to stand before Pharaoh.  This is very important: except for God, no one should kneel or bow — Even things like bowing in New Year greetings.   You might say, “I’m used to it,” but being used to it doesn’t make it right!   Habits or bad practices must be repented of.  Moses’ ministry began with standing firm.  God’s people should be strong and courageous before others, stand their ground, and speak God’s command: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me!”

Second, Pharaoh called Moses.  This is during the fourth plague. The Bible says: “Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his servants. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the flies.”  Pharaoh, once distant and unapproachable, now came to seek out Moses and Aaron.  Here we must admit: Pharaoh had changed — but it was by God’s mighty hand, not because of Pharaoh’s sincerity or intentions.  When Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, he still had his own plan.  He did not want God’s will to be fulfilled; he wanted to keep it under his control.  Pharaoh said: “Go ahead, but why not stay here in beautiful Goshen and worship your God?”  Doesn’t that sound reasonable?

Finally, Pharaoh says, “Don’t go too far.”  By now, he’s afraid. He’s shaken, even speaking carelessly.  He tells Moses, “Fine—go worship the Lord. Just do it here in Egypt.”  But Moses replies, “That’s not possible. You worship idols; we worship the true God. We are not the same.”  And besides, the Egyptians would never allow them to worship the true God freely in the land.  Just like today—the state-controlled Three-Self church, under an antichrist authoritarian regime behind it, does not allow house churches to worship God freely.  House churches refuse to join because God calls His people to be set apart—to keep a holy distance, like the three-day journey into the wilderness.  Pharaoh then compromises: “Go—but not too far.” And he asks Moses to pray for him.  Now, let’s look at the third point.

This time the Pharaoh hardened his heart again

Pharaoh’s heart was never changed. So everything he said was empty.   He said, “Go,” but in his heart he just couldn’t stand the plague of flies anymore. He was tired of the suffering—that’s all.  First of all, false repentance.  This is already the fourth plague.   And even as readers today, we feel the urge: “Pharaoh, just repent! Why not?  If you repent, God will accept you.  Egypt and Israel could be reconciled.  Maybe even have a farewell celebration!”  But listen carefully to what Pharaoh actually says: “Go, sacrifice to your God—here in this land.”  “Let the Israelites go”—it sounds as if Pharaoh’s life has changed.  But then comes the condition—he will not let them leave Egypt. That still goes against God’s will.  Then he says, “Fine, you may go—but not too far.” And he even asks Moses to pray for him.  Words that sound right but aren’t—that is false repentance.

Second, the faithfulness of God.  Pharaoh, do you think God does not know the deceit in your heart?  Did Moses and Aaron know? Maybe not. But that’s not the point.  What matters is this: Moses says, “I will go out and pray to the Lord, that the swarms of flies may leave Pharaoh tomorrow—only let Pharaoh not deal falsely again and refuse to let the people go.”  Pharaoh can play tricks. He can act deceitfully.  But God’s servant must act justly, love mercy, walk humbly, and walk with God.  Moses didn’t just speak—he acted.  The Scripture testifies: he left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.  And God honored that prayer.  He removed the flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people—not one was left.  When you think about it, it’s moving. God was truly patient and gracious, even to Pharaoh.

Finally, Pharaoh hardened his heart again.  Faced with God’s vast faithfulness, Pharaoh chose to ignore God’s patience and mercy, directly rejecting His grace.  He used the authority God had given him without restraint, without process, without leaving any room for change—continuing in hardness of heart.  The Bible says, “But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time, and would not let the people go.”  Clearly, God still left Pharaoh a way out.  God didn’t say Pharaoh’s heart would be hard forever—only that this time, and again, he hardened his heart.  The message is clear: how long will you continue in stubbornness?  Why refuse to let God’s people go?  Don’t you realize these are God’s people?  Any antichrist power that blocks God’s people from worshiping Him must ultimately face the challenge of self-examination and the conscience of the soul.

Conclusion

Praise the Lord!  Pharaoh, tired of the swarms of flies, began to waver.  A mission that seemed impossible was now unfolding before Moses and Aaron.  Even Moses began to feel his heart encouraged—he realized God’s call was truly real!  What seems impossible to people is always possible with God.  Whenever people go out to share the Gospel or do mission work, it often feels like nothing is possible—that it’s completely unrealistic.  But the Great Commission is real, Jesus Christ is real, and the Bible is real—therefore, the Way, the Truth, and the Life are real too!

Let us pray together……

 

20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.

22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.

23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’”

24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.”

26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?

27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.”

28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.”

29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.

31 And the Lord did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained.

32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.