It can’t be known exactly what the fourth plague consisted of. It seems to be stepping up the one before. Whatever God sent in the third plague is intensified by what comes in the fourth. Rather than just flies (as is commonly translated) this seems to be a swarm of various insects that also bite, since Psalm 78:46 (using the same Hebrew word) says that Egypt was “devoured” by these insects. In the context of this new plague something is made explicit that would have been the case with all the plagues. God makes a distinction between his people and everyone else. The Israelites are completely untouched. This scenario is expressed in the promise of Psalm 91: “You will not fear…the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday…ten thousand [may fall] at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” The notable thing about these plagues, therefore, is not just the power of God demonstrated in them but the precision of God in protecting his people. People have come up with naturalistic explanations for these plagues, but these explanations cannot account for the fact that these plagues were brought on at Moses’ behest and only upon the Egyptians. God was declaring something here about his people: we are shielded from condemnation. This is not due to anything in ourselves but because we have become God’s people through Christ. The door to join God’s precious and protected family is open to all.
Entrust yourself to Christ today and thank God that you are part of his blessed family.
Read Exodus 8:20-32.
