The Third Plague: Lice Exodus 8:16- 19 READ

• Infestations are Bad. An overabundance of critters can have detrimental effects on humans
• Did I ever tell you the story about the garbage cans in the Army? Jumped out of HMMWV
• I will be very surprised if some of you do not scratch your head or itch during this sermon
• Most of us have had lice infestation on us or our kids or ourselves
• The annoying troublesome infestations of these creatures become immediately ubiquitous. 
• Once again, we’re covering the plague, the corresponding false God, and God’s commandment

1. The Third plague

• Interesting points about this plague which is different than the others- namely- that the Pharoahs magicians could not bring forth an enchantment to mimic this plague
• So impacted were they by this plague they declared- “This is the finger of God”
• So you have Pharoahs own magicians declaring that YHWH is real, and the source of this plague and its not enough to get pharoah to heed the warning. 
• You would think after the blood and the frogs, but no. here come the lice. 

2. Lice

• An infestation of lice, such as head lice or body lice, can have several significant effects, both physical and psychological, on individuals. Lice is a parasite that feeds off blood of the Host
• I have had lice. At least two times that I can think of. Its why I shave my head (jk)
• Itching and Discomfort: Lice feed on human blood, and their bites can cause itching, irritation, and discomfort. Skin Irritation: The constant scratching can result in skin irritation, redness, and sometimes open sores. Sleep Disturbance: can disrupt a person’s sleep, leading to restlessness and fatigue. Anxiety and Stress: embarrassing, stigmatizing, causing anxiety, stress, and a decrease in self-esteem, Transmission to Others: highly contagious, easily transmit lice to others through close physical contact, Secondary Infections: Intense scratching can break the skin, Bacterial infections can occur when the skin is compromised by the continuous itching and irritation. Allergic Reactions: Some hives, rashes, or more severe allergic responses in rare cases. Loss of Productivity: miss work/school Family and Community Impact: social stigmatization, impacting daily routines and activities.Financial Costs: upon workers and animals who are infested and need to be cleaned!
• Years Ago, there was a girl we watched who had it and Crystal went scorched earth. Cleaned everything. I remember her waking me up from a dead sleep to look in her hair. (our kids no)
• You can agree, that this plague upon the Egyptians must have been devastating! YUCK
• No local pharmacy to rid you of the infestation! Just pain and misery! (itching, pain etc)
• God used this cataclysmic infestation to get the Pharaohs attention to no avail. 

3. The False God

• The False God that was correspondingly being attacked was Geb (Jeb) They had many gods
• written in hieroglyphs as a goose or a man lying on the ground with green plants growing from his body, symbolizing the earth’s fertility. personification of the earth itself, and he is associated with the physical land and its bounty. 
• Considered a benevolent deity responsible for the earth’s fertility, making it possible for crops to grow and providing sustenance to all living beings.
• Geb is the son of the sky goddess Nut and the air god Shu. In Egyptian mythology, he is also the brother and husband of the sky goddess Nut. connection between the earth (Geb) and the sky (Nut).Geb represents the solid, stable, and fertile earth, while Nut symbolizes the sky and heavens.
• According to Egyptian mythology, the separation of Geb and Nut was essential to allow creation and the existence of life. Nut was said to swallow the sun at night and give birth to it in the morning, symbolizing the cycle of day and night. venerated as a deity who provided the fundamental resources necessary for survival, such as fertile soil for agriculture.
• The Egyptian pharaohs were often seen as the intermediaries between the gods and the people. They believed that they ruled with the divine blessing of the gods, including Geb.
• The pharaohs were considered to be the earthly representatives of Geb, responsible for maintaining the harmony of the land. 
• So to the Egyptians, this God was seen as the God in control of the Earth and Sun
• Very central to their worship. Pharaoh was go-between but could not do the lice thing. 
• What is interesting is that this is the plague that could not be replicated and it shows the power that God has to the infinitesimal degree. It minimizes the influence of the Pharoah. 
• The smallest parasite can be the most powerful, if given enough leeway. You can’t stop it. You cannot overcome it. You will be destroyed by it
• If you’re faith is in a God of the Earth, you would assume that calling on this God would eradicate a parasite from which the earth came, but this would not be the case. 

4. The commandment

• See, God had told Moses to tell the Israelites and Pharoah that “I AM” had sent him
• Ex 6:29 that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”
• Yahweh (I AM) is a statement of God’s self-existence that indicate that God had no beginning and does not depend for continued existence on anything other than his own self.
• He is self existent and has always been. He was not created. He always was, and is and will be
• So the demand of Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
• Is important. Its important because his NAME describes not only who he IS but what he encompasses as our God. His name is his POWER his name is the embodiment of who he is
• Names are important! If you’ve named a child, you think about because you know its importance. When someone misuses or mocks your name, it irks you. (stinky stanley)
• Don’t misuse my name! Putting your name on the line for someone means something!
• Even MORE so for GOD
• Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 111:9 Holy and awesome is His name. Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Malachi 1:11 “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations. Matthew 6:9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 12:21 “And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
• Look throughout your Bible and see the POWER that comes through his NAME
• He tells people his name, tells them to use his name, to be identified by his name
• It should be of vital importance when we USE his name or IDENTIFY with his name
• Its not something to be toyed with or taking lightly. It’s a HUGE DEAL

5. Your responsibility

• He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If you are in that Blood line it means something that you are associating yourself with his name when you call yourself a CHRISTian. Little CHRIST 
• See, when God sent these lice, he was saying something about the holiness of his name
• You have faith in Geb? Using his name? Go ahead and try to see if you can stop this
• Nope. There will be no other name above the name of the Lord. None. 
• So we have a responsibility here How we use our mouth matters
• James 3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
• I think people are flippant with what they say and what their mouths do

1) Don’t have a dirty mouth. Cussing and carrying on- Taking his name in vain

• Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of filthy language from your lips.
• Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, 
• Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
• Don’t take his name in vain! Don’t act as if it doesn’t matter because you’re ‘under grace’

2) Don’t used the name of God to justify who you are for your gain

• 1 Timothy 6:5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 
• This is saying you’re a Christian to get business deal, a spouse, an in-road, a benefit
• People do this- say they are when they are not-
• Saying you belong to a church to impress people and you don’t. Coming once a year. 

3) Don’t speak on behalf of God when its for your benefit 

• 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
• Will not hold guiltless. There has been issues and problems I have heard of where people in this church are saying that “God told them”. I believe that God can speak to you. I also think it is a sword to be wielded very very very carefully. Don’t be going around saying who should be dating or marrying, what job, where to move, what to do. You get it wrong, you’re defaming God and his name. and many people do it to appear spiritual and influential. NO
• Everything God shows you does not need to be shared. I have seen much and held much. 

4) Don’t Say that God told you and then go back on it

• These are the people who say that God told them and then when it goes sideways they change
• There are people out there who do not like me because I held them accountable to this truth

5) Don’t profane the name of God by disobeying his commands

• You say you’re a Christian? Act like it! Follow his commands do what his word says
• Very simple basic parts of who he is that should be followed. 
• Its not hard follow
• Don’t take his name in vain by identifying as his, when you are not. Just admit- I aint his yet

6) Don’t use your mouth for gossip, slander and destruction

• This is the worst thing you can do with your mouth. Salt and fresh water flowing from the same spring. My friends, this should not be so! 
• Remember the lice? At the smallest level to the greatest detriment, God will not be mocked
• He cares about his name. You take on his name- You are a CHRIST-ian. Little Christ. 
• He says he will not hold blameless those who misuse his name. Think of getting lice. 

6. His name

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• And this is important! There is SALVATION in the NAME of JESUS
• Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Its by the NAME of Jesus that we are SAVED because his NAME encompasses all his POWER and all his HOLINESS and all HIS SALVATION (Rolling the van- JESUS)
• Yes, we are not ‘saved’ by his name, we are saved by the blood that was shed on the cross
• But when we call upon his NAME we’re calling upon that salvation! We are declaring our allegiance, belief and commitment to who he IS and what he has DONE
• Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
• There is POWER in that name of JESUS
• ACTS 3:6-8
• Notice it was the NAME of Jesus that brough healing!
• Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
• It is THROUGH the NAME that we cast out Demons! 
• Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;The righteous run to it and are [a]safe.
• It is through his NAME that we find safety and security
• Again, this isn’t divination and sorcery. No one can just simply say that name and watch the earth move. It’s a declaration of a Child of God of WHERE their faith and belief is IN
• 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
• Its not faith in his NAME its faith in HIM and HIS power to be able to DO THAT WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD DO
• We are told to pray IN HIS NAME
• John 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
• You’ll notice this- People who don’t know the Lord will often Just talk about “God” they wont say Jesus, The Lord, The Father etc. 
• Live in his name. Don’t get lice. Follow the command