When I was a little girl, I would chase frogs and pick them up by using my thumb and pointer finger. What a delight! They were cold to hold in the palm of my hand on a hot summer day. I loved to chase them until I caught them. Guess what happened next. There was the frog sitting in the palm of my hand, and what did it do? It peed on me! So much for kissing that frog! Then I would let it go.
When I was a kid, I thought frogs were the most fascinating things on earth. Not now. Those things creep me out! If you’re not familiar with the Bible story, let me give you the short version. The Israelites (God’s chosen people) were in slavery to the Egyptians. The Israelites cried out to God every day to release them. Moses was chosen to lead his people to the Promised Land but first they had to get away from Pharoah. Every time Moses asked Pharoah if they could leave, Pharoah’s heart was hardened and said no. God sent 10 plagues in Egypt. Each plague represented one of the pagan gods of Egypt. God sent to the Egyptians the plague of frogs.
There were frogs EVERY WHERE in Egypt. They covered the roads, they were in the kitchens, in their beds. There were millions of frogs. Why didn’t the Egyptians just kill the frogs and get rid of them? The frog was considered sacred. The goddess Heka had a human body and the head of a frog. She was considered the goddess of fertility so they couldn’t just kill the frogs.
The magicians at that time could produce more frogs but didn’t know to get rid of them. So, the magicians actually brought more misery by acting like God. Pharoah asked for Moses to come to him and asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take the frogs away. Moses asked Pharoah when he would like to have this happen. Guess what Pharoah said? He said tomorrow! Can you believe that? Let’s live in misery until tomorrow.
Moses prayed to God about the frogs. The frogs didn’t suddenly disappear like it had all been a dream. Oh no. The frogs DIED! According to exodus 8:14 “They (frogs) were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them.
Then Pharoah decided that wasn’t so bad after all. He hardened his heart again and would not let Moses and his people go.
Let’s just stop right here a minute. One more night with frogs. Procrastinating. Maybe Pharoah was hoping they would all disappear if he gave it enough time. I really don’t know what he was thinking when he said to wait until tomorrow. I find it amusing that the frogs were in heaps and piles and that it smelled horrible! What a reminder!
Sometimes we procrastinate. What? Yes. About God. We procrastinate about God. For those who aren’t Christians, they may be thinking about becoming one. What is holding them back? Heart hardened? Fear of the cost of following Jesus? Afraid they aren’t good enough? The Bible is full of stories about people who weren’t good enough, but God used them anyway.
For those of us who are Christians, what are we procrastinating about? Don’t like the people at the church next door so you don’t attend at all ? You don’t want a mega church so you don’t attend at all. You don’t like a small church so you don’t attend at all. Sunday is your only day off? You’re too busy? Is God too busy for you? What if you cried out to Him in your deepest despair and he said, “Sorry not right now, I’m busy taking care of another lost sheep.”
Maybe you procrastinate getting out of bed on Sunday morning. I’m sad to say that’s me sometimes. Maybe you don’t read your Bible anymore. Been there, done that. Pray for a thirsting that can’t be quenched.
Don’t spend another night with frogs! Your life won’t magically become a bed of roses, but God will be there to take the thorns for you. He took the thorns and worse when He died for you.