Ditch the Frogs … Hello weekend readers. My musing is on frogs and the reason is because I watched the old movie ‘The Ten Commandments’ the other night. I couldn’t sleep and so I thought the movie would put me to sleep…that didn’t happen. It’s been so long since I watched it that my mind was fully into it. No sleep, but questions, yes—questions about frogs. Hang on, I do think I can put this together that hopefully makes sense!

In Exodus 8:1-4 using the Message translation, we encounter the second plague God brought upon Egypt—FROGS. “God said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘God’s Message: Release my people so they can worship me. If you refuse to release them, I’m warning you, I’ll hit the whole country with frogs. The Nile will swarm with frogs—they’ll come up into your houses, into your bedrooms and into your beds, into your servants’ quarters, among the people, into your ovens and pots and pans. They’ll be all over you, all over everyone—frogs everywhere, on and in everything!’”

The movie showed that frogs were literally everywhere! And they’re not something you’d want to keep around for very long because if a frog is out of water for an extended period (like one day), it will likely become dehydrated and die due to its permeable skin which quickly loses moisture if not kept damp. When frogs die they stink—and that stink is so bad you’ll gag and it is hard to cover the smell! Worst of all, they also spread disease.

So, I said out-loud to myself “this is crazy, why did the Pharaoh ask Moses to take them away tomorrow instead of right now?” Perplexed, I went diving into some of my theology books and found no real answer, but here’s a few scenarios: 1) Pharaoh did-not-want God’s help; 2) Pharaoh was tightly holed up in his fancy palace so he could have cared less about the stink and disease; or 3) Pharaoh thought it was such a stupid stunt that it was beneath his intelligence. I suspect there is a bit of wisdom in each of these questions but truly, none of them really make sense. As I continued to muse on this second plague, I realized that the Pharaoh’s response reveals an important aspect of our own humanity. Believe it or not, his reaction is how we can all be regarding our issues and the baggage we seem to not be able to get rid of. We’d like it to clear up on its own so we don’t have to ask anyone—especially God, to deliver us from our junk. As usual, we are going to do it “my way” and there again is the “Sinatra problem!”

In essence, we are enjoying our frogs, even if they are dead, stinky, and spreading disease. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like a good thing! Holding on to things that hurt us is about as dumb as a box of rocks, yet we do it. So I ask, what are we afraid of? I took some time with myself on this question and stayed confused until I asked the Holy Spirit for wisdom. Her presence was heavy in the room and I found myself in prayer but to be honest, I wasn’t the one praying—she was, through me in my mind, heart and soul. What I heard was ‘I am here, give it to me-give it to me’…so I did. I shared, I poured out everything and I mean everything! I was on my knees–even the dog was scared by my posture! But I knew in the presence of God that the junk I was clinging to was no longer there. I stood up and shouted “I have been liberated!” and it felt so good (and the dog barked happily, too!).

So friends, I want you to know this right now: God is ready and prepared to deliver you from your junk. No more hanging on to your baggage any longer. Just reach out and ask “O Lord, take away my frogs and deliver me from myself. Only in you can I be whole. Shower me with your grace and mercy, I ask in your holy name, Amen. Don’t be surprised if the room has a new delightful smell and your body, soul, mind and heart are doing a happy dance, AMEN.