A case of self-imposed Suffering

 Read Exodus 8. 

The plagues came one by one, mocking and demonstrating the powerlessness of the religious belief system of the Egyptians.  Beside the false god of the Nile, they had an intricate multitude of gods. Frogs: They worshipped two frog goddesses Hapi and Heqt. 

Gnats: This was directed against the false worship of Seb, the so-called earth god. 

Flies: Uatchit, the fly god.

While Satan could counter with a facsimile of the first and second plagues, his power is limited.  The magicians of Egypt could not stop the plagues and, then, could no longer reproduce the ensuing ones.  At that point, the magicians came to realize "this is the finger of God" (8:19). 

The LORD's intent was to answer Pharaoh's question from 5:2, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?" and to prove to the Egyptians "there is no one like the LORD our God" (8:10). 

Pharaoh must have felt smug after his own spiritual leaders copied the initial plagues.  But he finally had to ask Moses for relief from them.  Once the pressure was off, Pharaoh showed no signs of learning his lesson.  He even promised in 8:28 to let the Israel go, but he lied.  After all of these displays of God's power, Pharaoh hardened his heart against the LORD.  His rebellion against God and his ingratitude for God's mercy would prove costly to everyone around him.  Eventually, the exodus of Israel will take place but Egypt will be destroyed in the process.  

Don't miss the LORD's loving care of His own people in 8:23: "I will put a division between my people and your people."  While the Egyptians suffered these plagues, the people of Israel did not.   

God certainly can and does discipline His children, but His wrath is reserved for those who reject Him.  How much better it is for us and everyone around us when we listen and obey the LORD at His first prompting.