Exodus 8

The next plague is the frogs.  The Egyptian god Ptha has the face of a frog.  Coincidence?

First, I have to laugh, because the magicians solution to proving they were just as powerful was to bring more frogs.  Ha!  Yup, that's proving your point.  Problem solved.  Not!

I've always understood how gross the plague was.  Yup, they would be everywhere.  I can imagine having to watch where you step.  How unsanitary your kitchen would suddenly be.  Trying to sleep knowing that you are going to be hopped on.  What I didn't think about before now was the noise factor.  It must have been pretty loud with all of that croaking.  No one would have slept.  This brings it from gross inconvenience to a crisis situation.  Pharaoh begs Moses, and promises to let the people go.  The plague is lifted and Pharaoh has a change of heart.  The solution?  Gnats.  The magicians finally admit that this is an act of God, but Pharaoh's heart remains hard.

Next comes the flies.  This time God spares the Israelites.  Flies are everywhere except in the land of Goshen as proof of God's power.  Pharaoh again calls to Moses.  They negotiate and Pharaoh agrees to his terms.  Moses calls on God and the flies are removed.

I wonder how Moses is feeling at the point.  I doubt he feels victorious.  He must be getting a good read on the situation.  I'm sure he is fully expecting for Pharaoh to change his mind, but what about the relationship between Moses and the Israelites.  They can no longer deny that something is happening.  There were probably rumors that the Egyptian magicians had admitted defeat.  Plus, the Israelites were spared the latest plague.  Are they warming up to Moses?  Are they starting to ask questions rather than hurl insults?