One More Night With The Frogs

Exodus 8:1-14

Intro: In this story, the frogs are a type of sin.  Notice the way sin can get out of hand if we are disobedient to the Word of God.  God forbid that we have frogs staying at our house!!

I. It was a Definite Problem - v. 2 seemingly small and insignificant, it took over the land!

            A. It was definite in its presence - vs. 2 all her borders

                        Frog Fact: Frogs live "dual lives"--part in the water, part on land. Job 8:13  So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

• I Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

                        Frog Fact: Frogs are dark on the top and light underneath, making them difficult to detect

• Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

            B. It was definite in its purpose

                        1. Because of disobedience (refused to obey God)

• II Cor. 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

                        2. Because of desire (the magicians brought them up on purpose)

• Prov. 6:27,28 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

Note: They could produce the frogs, but they couldn't get rid of them! You better watch it!

II. It was a Damaging Problem - vs. 3,4

            Frog Fact: Frogs start out in the water as a tadpole and end up on land as a frog. James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

            A. It damaged the entire household (even the children were affected by the frogs)

                        1. Noah's sin hurt his children

                        2. Jacob's sin was deceit  - his sons deceived him about Joseph

                        3. Eli's sin hurt his children

                        4. David's sin was sexual lust - his sons both had that same problem

            B. It damaged the marriage (frogs on the bed and in the bedchamber)  With sin in your heart, as a wife, you can't follow properly, and as a husband, you can't lead properly. If your love toward God is not right, your love toward others can't be right.  A sinful life is a selfish life!!

            C. It damaged their appetite (they probably just skipped meals with frogs in the oven!)

III. It was a Distracting Problem

            A. It distracted their focus (whatever their job was, it just got neglected)

• Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

            B. It distracted their fellowship (probably didn't have the preacher over for coffee!)

• 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
• 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
• 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

IV. It was a Delayed Problem "Delay is the most deadly form of denial." -C. Northcote Parkinson

            A. Disappointing in his request (tomorrow may never come!)

• Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
• James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Illustration: Once a mighty eagle was seen to land on a carcass that was floating down a northern winter during a bitterly cold time of winter. As the bird feasted on the flesh of the dead animal, the river was taking the eagle and the dead carcass steadily closer to a great falls. The eagle seems to pay no attention to the fact that danger was getting closer by the second. Apparently, the eagle knew that with one powerful flap of its great wings, it could rise off the carcass at the last second and fly to safety. As the carcass finally reached the edge of the falls, the eagle spread its great wings and tried to fly away. However, because of the cold and the water, its talons had frozen fast to the dead animal. Try as it might, it could not lift itself free. In just a moment, both the dead animal and t he screaming eagle plunged over the falls and the eagle fell to its death, crushed by millions of tons of water.  Delay can be deadly!

            B. Disappointing in it's reminders

                        1. The stacks- even after the frogs were dead, there were constant reminders to Pharaoh of his disobedience.  He saw the results with his eyes of his rebellion and delay.

                        2. The stink - the Bible says the land stank.  Everybody knew it!

If they had gotten rid of the frogs immediately, the long term effects wouldn't have been so bad.

Sin always ends up with stacks of stink!  The prodigal son can vouch for that!!

Illustration: In New York City a fifteen year old boy was found living in a sewer pipe down underneath the streets of New York. He had had a falling-out with his daddy, felt that he was no longer wanted at home, and had taken up lodging in a huge old abandoned sewer. Police found him two weeks later sleeping on a dirty old mattress, trying to cook on a one-burner oil stove, keeping company with the rats in a sewer pipe! He had had two weeks of that! When the police carried him home, his father said, "Why, son, I would have forgiven you the very next day if you had only come home!"

Conclusion: Don't let sin in your life. It grows, it is impossible to hide, from man or from God, and it hurts your family and your testimony, and the longer it stays, the longer it takes to get rid of the effects. Repent and ask God to forgive you. And the sooner the better!

Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.