God sent the frog plague as a direct act of divine judgment against Egypt for its evil and as a demonstration of His power over their gods.
The Purpose of Divine Judgment
The plague of frogs, the second of the ten plagues, was specifically unleashed to bring disorder and chaos upon Egypt. This act served as a clear message from Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the Egyptians and their Pharaoh that He was supreme and was bringing judgment upon their land.
The Symbolism of the Frogs
The choice of frogs for this plague carried significant symbolic meaning. Frogs inhabit both land and water, representing a disruption of the natural, ordered separation between these two fundamental elements. By bringing an overwhelming swarm of frogs into every part of Egyptian life—their homes, beds, ovens, and even food—God was:
- Undoing Natural Order: Returning Egypt to a state of primordial disorder and chaos, contrasting sharply with the ordered creation.
- Demonstrating Control: Asserting His dominion over nature, which the Egyptian gods were believed to control.
- Targeting Egyptian Deities: Some scholars suggest the plague targeted specific Egyptian deities associated with fertility or water, such as Heket, a frog-headed goddess of fertility and childbirth, by making the very creature associated with her a source of immense suffering and disgust.
Context Within the Plagues
The frog plague followed the first plague, the turning of the Nile River into blood, and preceded the third plague, the gnats. Each successive plague escalated in intensity and invasiveness, demonstrating God's increasing pressure on Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. The frog plague, by infesting intimate spaces and daily life, served as an inescapable and revolting manifestation of divine displeasure, compelling Pharaoh to acknowledge a power greater than his own or that of his kingdom's gods.
