READ: Ex. 8:16–32: … Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen …
The LORD no longer issues a warning or repeats His command. By now, it should be clear to Pharaoh that the LORD is not to be mocked. The LORD performs another miracle. After Aaron strikes the ground with his staff, He turns the dust into gnats.
The scale of the disaster is enormous. God creates from the dust of the earth billions of gnats—biting midges or mosquitoes that leave painful and itchy welts on both humans and animals.
The magicians, unable to replicate this miracle, warn Pharaoh: “This is the finger of God.” In other words, this can only be the work of the God of Israel. Even Satan cannot imitate it. But even this recognition does not lead Pharaoh to submit to God. Just as the LORD had said, Pharaoh hardens his heart and refuses to listen, even to his own magicians.
Before the next plague, the LORD once again issues a command with a warning:
“Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” If Pharaoh refuses, swarms of biting flies will fill the land—covering the ground and entering all homes—except where God’s people live.
The LORD wants to make it clear that His power protects Israel from the destruction aimed at their enemies.
Pharaoh is given until the next day, but then judgment comes. It is so severe that the land is said to be laid to ruin (v.24; Ps. 78:45). Pharaoh is impressed this time. He pleads with Moses and Aaron to offer sacrifices to the LORD and even offers to let the whole people do so, but only within the borders of Egypt. He just wants the plague to stop.
But Moses refuses. The LORD wants His people to worship Him in the wilderness, after a three-day journey. Pharaoh appears to allow this, but only if they don’t go too far. He doesn’t truly want to submit to God—he just wants the plague to end.
This becomes clear when, after Moses prays and not a single fly remains, Pharaoh again hardens his heart.
Why does the LORD harden Pharaoh’s heart?
Sing: Ps. 78:18