Exodus 8:1-19

“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.’” (Exodus 8:8, NKJV)

With the second plague of frogs, Pharoah showed signs of softening in his stubbornness. If Moses got rid of the frogs, then he would let the people go. So, Moses told Pharaoh to name the time he wanted the frogs to be destroyed.

“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

“Moses replied, ‘Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.’” (Exodus 8:10, NKJV)

So, Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD answered his prayer. All the frogs died, and the Egyptians piled them up in heaps. We can only imagine the stench that filled the land!

“But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.” (Exodus 8:15, NKJV)

There is a difference between remorse and repentance. Some people say, “I’m sorry,” but they do not really mean it. They are not sorry for the evil they have done and for the harm they have caused. They are only sorry because they do not like the consequences of their actions.

Pharoah’s “repentance” was short-lived. As soon as the problem went away, so did his promise, and he refused to let the people go. He said the right words, but there was no genuine change of heart; there was no fruit of repentance.

We must be careful not to be like Pharaoh. When God exposes our sin, do we merely want the discomfort to end, or do we want Him to truly transform us? Are we seeking relief from our problems, or a changed heart?