Exodus 8: “False Repentance and the Danger of Compromise”
1. God Repeats His Demand
“Thus says the Lord: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” (Ex 8:1)
God’s message does not change.
He does not negotiate the goal.
This teaches a key Catholic truth:
God may be patient, but He is not vague.
Freedom is for worship.
Service to God is the purpose of liberation.
St Augustine writes:
“God frees us not to wander, but to worship.”
(City of God)
2. The Second Plague: Frogs Everywhere
“If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs.” (v. 2)
Frogs were associated with Egyptian religious symbols and fertility.
Once again, God strikes what Egypt trusted.
The frogs invade:
Houses
Bedrooms
Beds
Kitchens
There is no private space left untouched.
St Gregory the Great explains:
“When sin rules the soul, it multiplies until it fills even the places meant for rest.”
(Moralia on Job)
Spiritually, frogs represent intrusive sins — habits that overwhelm daily life and destroy peace.
3. False Power Again Imitates
“The magicians did the same by their secret arts.” (v. 7)
They can add frogs, but cannot remove them.
This teaches an important lesson:
Evil can worsen problems, but cannot heal them.
St John Chrysostom:
“The demons can imitate pain, but only God can bring peace.”
(Homilies on Exodus)
4. Pharaoh Begins to Crack
“Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Pray to the Lord to take away the frogs.’” (v. 8)
This is the first time Pharaoh asks for prayer.
But notice carefully:
He wants relief
Not conversion
This is fear, not faith.
St Augustine warns:
“To fear punishment is not yet to love righteousness.”
(Sermons)
5. Pharaoh Promises Obedience — Conditionally
“I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” (v. 8)
This sounds good — but it is temporary and forced.
Catholic teaching distinguishes:
Contrition (sorrow for sin because it offends God)
Attrition (sorrow because of fear of punishment)
Pharaoh shows attrition only, not true repentance.
6. Moses Gives Pharaoh a Choice of Timing
“Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you.” (v. 9)
This is remarkable.
God allows Pharaoh to choose the time —
so that there can be no doubt who removes the plague.
St Gregory of Nyssa:
“God leaves no room for chance, lest pride excuse itself.”
(Life of Moses)
7. “Tomorrow” — The Strange Delay
“Pharaoh said, ‘Tomorrow.’” (v. 10)
This is one of the most spiritually revealing moments in the chapter.
Pharaoh wants relief — but not yet.
This mirrors a common spiritual trap:
“I will repent later.”
St Augustine famously says:
“Tomorrow is the devil’s favourite word.”
(Confessions)
True conversion does not delay obedience.
8. God Removes the Frogs — Completely
“The frogs died out… and the land stank.” (v. 13)
God answers prayer fully.
But sin leaves consequences:
The frogs are gone
The stench remains
This teaches a Catholic truth:
Forgiveness removes guilt, but healing may take time.
9. Pharaoh Hardens His Heart Again
“But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart.” (v. 15)
Relief becomes an excuse for renewed resistance.
This is the danger of conditional repentance:
Pain pushes us to God
Comfort pulls us away
St John Chrysostom warns:
“The heart that seeks God only in suffering abandons Him in peace.”
(Homilies on Exodus)
10. The Third Plague: Gnats (or Lice)
“All the dust of the earth became gnats throughout the land of Egypt.” (v. 17)
This plague is humiliating rather than dramatic.
Tiny creatures torment everyone — rich and poor alike.
Spiritually:
Frogs overwhelm
Gnats irritate constantly
This represents small sins that never leave us alone.
St Gregory the Great:
“Lesser faults, when unrepented, become greater torments.”
(Moralia)
11. The Magicians Fail Completely
“They tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not.” (v. 18)
This is a turning point.
False power reaches its limit.
12. “This Is the Finger of God”
“The magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’” (v. 19)
Even the enemies of Moses recognise divine action.
But recognition is not conversion.
St Augustine explains:
“To admit God exists is not yet to obey Him.”
(City of God)
This phrase will echo later in Scripture:
The Law written by God’s finger
Jesus casting out demons by God’s finger
13. Pharaoh Still Refuses
“But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.” (v. 19)
Knowledge without humility does not save.
This warns Catholics:
Knowing doctrine is not the same as submitting to truth.
14. The Fourth Plague: Flies
“I will send swarms of flies on you… but on that day I will set apart the land where My people dwell.” (vv. 21–22)
For the first time:
Israel is protected
Egypt alone suffers
This shows God’s distinction between His people and the oppressor.
St Bede comments:
“God knows how to strike the guilty without harming the faithful.”
(Commentary on Exodus)
15. God Makes a Separation
“I will put a division between My people and your people.” (v. 23)
Salvation involves separation:
From sin
From false worship
From slavery
This anticipates:
Baptism
The Church as a distinct people
16. Pharaoh Tries to Compromise
“Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” (v. 25)
This is extremely important.
Pharaoh offers:
Worship
Without freedom
Without obedience
This is compromised religion.
St Augustine warns:
“The devil does not forbid worship — he corrupts it.”
(Sermons)
17. Moses Refuses the Compromise
“It would not be right to do so.” (v. 26)
True worship cannot coexist with idolatry.
Catholic faith requires:
Full commitment
Public obedience
Separation from sin
18. Pharaoh Offers a Second Compromise
“I will let you go… only you must not go very far away.” (v. 28)
This is subtle and dangerous.
Pharaoh allows obedience — but limits it.
This mirrors temptation:
“Be holy — but not too much.”
St Gregory of Nyssa:
“The enemy fears holiness only when it is complete.”
(Life of Moses)
19. Moses Agrees to Pray — But Warns Pharaoh
“Do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully again.” (v. 29)
Moses already knows Pharaoh’s pattern.
20. God Removes the Flies
“Not one fly remained.” (v. 31)
God’s power is total.
21. Pharaoh Breaks His Word Again
“But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also.” (v. 32)
This is now a habit.
Repeated refusal becomes character.
St Augustine:
“What we do repeatedly, we become.”
(Sermons)
Key Catholic Themes in Exodus 8
| Theme | Catholic Meaning |
| False repentance | Fear without conversion |
| Delay | A spiritual danger |
| Compromise | Worship without obedience |
| Small sins | Constant irritation of the soul |
| Separation | Holiness requires distinction |
| Perseverance | God remains faithful |
Christ at the Centre of Exodus 8
Pharaoh → the voice of temptation
Frogs and flies → enslaving sins
Separation → the Church
Compromise → rejected by Christ
Deliverance → complete or nothing
St Augustine sums it up:
“Christ does not free us halfway; whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”
(Sermons)
Spiritual Application
Do not delay repentance.
Seek healing, not just relief.
Reject compromised faith.
Take small sins seriously.
Choose full obedience.
Closing Prayer
Lord God of truth and mercy,
deliver us from false repentance
and from the temptation to compromise.
Purify our hearts of every sin,
great and small,
and give us the courage to serve You fully.
Set us apart as Your people,
faithful in worship and obedience,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 