One More Night
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.” And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.” So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.” – Exodus 8:8-10.
Last night we attended a Christmas event with several pastors, staff members, and their families from this area. The entertainment was the Lambert family, and they sang many old Gospel songs including one about Pharaoh wanting one more night with the frogs. If you remember the story, you know that Pharaoh had refused to let God’s people leave Egypt. In response, God sent plague after plague upon the Egyptians, including a plague of frogs. When Pharaoh had all he could take of the frogs, he called for Moses and Aaron; to ask them to ask God, to remove the frogs. When Pharaoh was asked when he wanted them to be removed, strangely, Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” Apparently, Pharaoh wanted one more night with the frogs!
The Bible makes it clear that the plague of frogs was a most unpleasant thing, as also in Exodus 8 we read about what would happen if Pharaoh refused to let the people go, as Moses through Aaron was to say this to Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants (Exodus 8:1c-4).” The frogs were everywhere, there was no escape from them, and it was so horrible that even the hard hearted Pharaoh needed relief.
The response of Pharaoh, waiting in misery one more night, when he could have been immediately free from the frogs, is the response of many when asked to give up the misery of their sins. One of the most common responses that I receive after sharing the Gospel with someone is this “I’m not ready yet.” What does that mean? It means for one thing that they are not yet ready to give up their frogs; they want to spend some more time in the misery of their sins.
Look at the misery of addiction whether it is substance abuse, se_x_ual addictions, or gambling. Often it is a combination of those addictions that force people down into the gutter of misery. If that is where you are, you don’t have to stay there! You don’t have to spend another night with the frogs! Cry out to Jesus and ask Him to take away the frogs now! If you are lost and without Christ, then now is the time, before it is eternally too late, to receive Jesus as your Savior.
I don’t know about you, but I surely do not want to spend even one more hour with those stinking frogs!!
(If you are lost and without Christ, then now is the time, before it is eternally too late, to receive Jesus as your Savior.)