Frogish Experience

Exodus details the interactions Pharaoh had with his adopted step-brother Moses. An unusual conversation is recorded in Chapter 8 as the frogs plagued Egypt. The slimey, squishy amphibians were everywhere and in everything. They were all over the people and their houses. The critters were in the ovens, cabinets, and beds. Can you imagine stepping on and sleeping with a mob of mushy frogs? That was the unbearable situation.

It was so intolerable that the king quickly summoned Moses and Aaron back to the palace. He promised to release the Israelites to worship their God. The Message records the dialogue like this:

Pharaoh pleaded, "Pray to God to rid us of these frogs."

Moses replied, "Certainly. Set the time. When do you want the frogs out of here?"

Without thinking the king suggested, "Make it tomorrow."

Moses said, "Tomorrow it is."

The next day the frogs died. Houses, courtyards, and fields were free of live, pestering frogs. Egyptians piled the frogs in heaps, so sanitation engineers of the day could dispose of them. For some time the country reeked of dead frogs. The stench lingered in the land but not in Pharaoh's mind. He stubborned-up and renewed his refusal to release God's people. That had become predictable.

The amazing part of this story is that the king could've picked today rather than tomorrow. Moses had told Pharaoh to "Set the time. When do you want the frogs out of here?" The obvious answer was, "Now, this minute, immediately!" Not Pharaoh. His choice was, "Tomorrow." I imagine that got some eye rolls, sighs, and moans from his ever-present magicians. These "yes" men were probably used to their king's thoughtless decisions.

Pharaoh's poor timing selection brought more hours of torture on an already troubled and soon to be ravished people. Consider how timing has played an important role in your life's everyday happenings. I hope there wasn't a frogish experience!