Observations

1. Nile (7:14-25) – God humiliated the god Hapi, credited for Egypt’s source of strength found in this river. 
2. Frogs (8:1-15) – The goddess Heqet could not remove the frogs, causing all to question whether she could help with fertility.  
3. Gnats (8:16-19) – Gnats rose from the dust, which the earth god, Geb, was supposed to control.
4. Flies (8:20-32) – Khepri, the scarab beetle-faced god, supposedly responsible for creation, was helpless to slow the de-creation of Egypt. 
5. Livestock (9:1-7) – Apis, the cow-faced god, was supposed to provide answers regarding the future, but the Egyptians could find none.

• The sorcerers lacked the power to reverse God’s plagues and eventually became too consumed to attempt replicating them.
• God began to make an observable distinction between His people and His enemies.
• While Pharaoh gradually considered compromises, he remained defiant.

Applications

• Trusting in our affluent accomplishments is an invitation to have them taken away.
• Be careful that your success doesn’t intoxicate you into believing that you’re in control.
• If some obsession has taken God’s spot in your life, it’s time to dethrone it.