How does this verse connect to the plagues in Exodus 8:16-24? Verse in Focus “He spoke, and insects came—gnats throughout their territory.” (Psalm 105:31) Overview of Exodus 8:16-24 • Third plague: dust becomes gnats (vv. 16-19) • Magicians fail to replicate it and confess, “This is the finger of God” (v. 19) • Fourth plague: swarms of flies fill Egypt, yet Goshen is spared (vv. 20-24) Where the Threads Tie Together • Same events, two literary forms – Exodus gives the historical narrative. – Psalm 105 turns the history into worshipful remembrance. • Identical sequence – Gnats first, then swarming insects/flies, matching Exodus’ order. • Divine initiative highlighted – Psalm: “He spoke, and insects came.” – Exodus: The Lord commands Moses; at once the plagues appear. • God’s uncontested power – Exodus: magicians concede defeat. – Psalm: no mention of human resistance—only God’s sovereign word. • Covenant faithfulness – Psalm 105 frames the plagues within God remembering His covenant (vv. 8-10). – Exodus 6:6-8 already promised redemption; the plagues fulfill that pledge. Broader Theological Links • “Finger of God” (Exodus 8:19) = unmistakable divine signature; echoed by Jesus in Luke 11:20 when He casts out demons. • Judgment-and-deliverance pattern – Egypt judged, Israel preserved (Exodus 8:22-23). – Psalm emphasizes the same split: God protects His people while striking their oppressors (cf. Psalm 78:45-51). • Spoken word as creative force – Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6, 9; here again a divine utterance instantly reshapes the natural order. Practical Takeaways • History remembered fuels present faith—what God once spoke into Egypt He can speak into today’s crises. • God’s judgments are precise and purposeful, never random; Exodus and the Psalm both showcase targeted plagues that expose false gods and free God’s people. • The same God who controlled dust and insects still rules every molecule, assuring believers of His supreme authority in all circumstances. |
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