Psalms 78:45 Meaning: When God Sent Flies and Frogs

The Hebrew verb behind “He sent” (shalach) carries the sense of stretching out a hand to dispatch something. God did not allow flies and frogs to wander in by accident. He actively sent them as His agents, demonstrating His direct command over nature. The word for “swarm of flies” (arov) appears only for this plague in the entire Old Testament. Its root suggests mixture or confusion, perhaps a terrifying blend of insects. Some early translations call them “dog-flies” because of their boldness. And the word “devoured” (akhal) is the same verb used when a beast consumes its prey or a fire burns a forest. This was no minor irritation. It was a consuming judgment. Even the smallest creatures, when God sends them, carry His full authority and power.

Christians across traditions read this verse as a historical reference to the Exodus plagues. The Cambridge Bible describes the flies as “some venomous kind of fly,” while the Geneva Bible simply notes God sent a swarm “which devoured them.” Matthew Henry observed that God used the meanest creatures to humble proud Egypt. Gill mentions that the Hebrew word for swarm can mean “a mixture,” and that some interpreters (like Josephus) understood it as a mix of wild beasts. All commentators agree that these plagues demonstrated God's sovereignty over creation, striking at the heart of Egyptian religion, frogs were sacred to the goddess Heqet. The differences in interpretation come down to the exact type of insect, not the central truth that God used these creatures to judge Egypt and deliver His people.

Some readers assume the flies and frogs were brief inconveniences, like a passing pest. In fact, the Hebrew words describe devastation. The flies “devoured them” (akhal) and the frogs “destroyed them” (shachat). These plagues caused widespread corruption and ruin, not just annoyance. God's judgment through these small creatures was thorough, bringing a mighty kingdom to its knees. They were not minor plagues but powerful acts of God's sovereignty.

The God who commanded flies and frogs commands every detail of your life. This week, pay attention to the small, persistent struggles you face, a hard conversation you keep avoiding, a worry that lingers, a task that feels too small to matter. Bring those to Him. The same God who used tiny creatures to shake Egypt can work through the small pieces of your day. Nothing is too minor for His power or too lowly for His attention. Trust Him with the details.