A flight from Los Angeles to New York was diverted to Phoenix was diverted due to a medical emergency on 15 June 2024. Two girls, saw bugs (lice) crawling out of the woman’s hair and alerted the flight attendant.” (CNBC TV18 5 August 2024) Lice are tiny, wingless insects that feed on human blood. Lice spreads from person to person through close contact and by sharing belongings.
Plague in Egypt: God commanded Pharaoh to release the Children of Israel from slavery through His servants Moses and Aaron. However, Pharaoh hardened his heart and even demanded to know who that God was. God sent a series of judgments on Egypt. Ten plagues ultimately made Pharaoh realize his powerlessness and God’s righteousness and let God’s people go. Lice or gnats was the third plague that came upon Egypt. (Exodus 8:17) Unlike the two previous plagues, this came unannounced or without warning.
Punishment: God used lice or gnats as instruments of punishment in Egypt. Exploiters of other humans are described as suckers of blood. In fact, Egypt was sucking the blood of the Children of Israel. So, God rightly sent tiny insects that suck the human blood of oppressive Egyptians.
Hygiene and Panic: In many countries where there is prosperity, priority is given to Hygiene. The priests of Egypt were very careful about hygiene. Because of lice, they cannot go into temples. The lice were also upon every beast. The traditional sacrifices and daily rituals were all stopped in the temple of Egypt. The gods were powerless to keep themselves pure from corruption and pollution.
Finger of God: The magicians could not produce lice. The magicians confessed to Pharaoh: This is the finger of God. (Exodus 8:19) Nevertheless, Pharoah was not willing to listen to his magicians and acknowledge Jehovah as God and Lord.
Fear and panic: People are scared by small insect-like lice, as they are afraid of death. However, they fail to realize, repent, and turn to God. All these are God’s ways of reminding humans of their need for God.
Do I just panic or repent to seek God?