The first thing that must be established is the significance of the frog. John gives us a good definition in Revelations 16, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of the devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” The dragon, beast, and the false prophet are Satan, false religion, and the preachers sent to deceive the nations. Frogs are the evil influence of all those who approve of and practice their vain idolatry. Together the dragon, beast, and the false prophet make up what this world worships and follows in every aspect of their life. Because of their long and universal practice of idolatry the Egyptians would not give heed to the demands of the living God or the words of his ambassador. These plagues were not meant to destroy them but to reveal their vain idolatry and to expose its influence over all that he is.
But why frogs? Why would the Holy Spirit of God use frogs to picture false religion and its affects on men? Here are just a few reasons.
Frogs are creatures of the night. They are at home in the dark. You seldom hear a frog in the daytime, but go out at night and their evil crooking fills the air. They live, feed, and share the darkness with all the other creatures of the night.
Why Frogs? Frogs appear as harmless little creatures. All false prophets transform themselves into the apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness. (II Corinthians 11: 13-15) Frogs sit quietly on the bank in a pretended innocence until their unsuspecting victims draw near. Then with lightening speed they shoot out their long sticky tongues and bring in their victims to be swallowed up whole.
Why Frogs? Frogs are camouflaged in appearance. They blend into their surroundings. Frogs are seldom seen because they are overlooked.
Why Frogs? Frogs are slippery to handle. They secrete a slimy covering that makes them difficult to catch. When you think you have a good hold on one he suddenly leaps from your hand and disappears into the dark waters from which he came.
Why Frogs? Frogs are fascinating creatures. They are entertaining to watch. False prophets are entertainers. The magicians in Egypt with their enchantments mocked and mimicked the miracles performed by Moses. It is their enchanting entertainment that causes men and women to overlook them as predators.
Why Frogs? Frogs are all mouth. They come out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet. Pound for pound a frog is the most vocal creature in the kingdom. A tree frog, no bigger than a half dollar, can make a louder noise than a full grown bulldog. He is loud but says nothing. He permeates the night air with his croaking but teaches nothing for all his noise. His songs are left to the imaginations of men and they love to have it so.
The spiritual counterpart of the frog had already infected Egypt but God sent these slimy little devils to expose what natural men cannot see. The frogs were everywhere. They were in the streets, the palace, the bedroom, and the kitchens. They were on the people and on their children and they even filled the troughs where their bread was prepared.
It is ever the way of fallen man to resist the word of God, the gospel of Christ, his providence of purpose, and his revelation of grace. It is this hard hearted obstinacies that brings about the curses that God sent to plague the land of Egypt. (John 3: 19)
May God be pleased to reveal this curse to us in our day to make them obnoxious to us and shut us up to the mercy and grace of God in Christ. -- Darvin Pruitt
Older
Top
