Bibledoorajar: Understanding Frogs

"And Smiley says-----it's only a frog.' And the feller took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it around this way and that, and says, 'H'm___so 'tis. Well, what's he good for?'
"Well, Smiley says----'he's good enough for one thing, I should judge---he can out jump any frog in Calaveras County.'
-----'Well, he says, 'I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog.'
                The Celebrated Jumping Frog by Mark Twain

It is said that Mark Twain would collect tall tales and retell them with his own panache. They were so captivating that he delighted audiences with the telling. The lead character in this story thought he had a lucky frog, but when time came for him to be tested in a betting competition, he would not even jump!

The Egyptians forgot to honor their Creator and went on to celebrate parts of His creation. One of the things they celebrated was the frog. For God, the frog became a symbol of uncleanness. And so, the second plague was a reminder to them of their uncleanness. Frogs went everywhere, in their food and even to bed with them. And when the magicians tried to prove their point all they could do was make MORE FROGS. Just what folks needed. More uncleanness.

In the book of Revelation (chapter 16) John says he saw demon spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon. This is what Satan, the old dragon does; he spews uncleanness. When his followers try to mimic him they spew even more. And just as in the Twain story, there is not one frog that is better than any other frog. They are all unclean.

Jesus said He understood all about frogs for He was tempted by them all but succumbed to none. He gave Himself so that any of God's creation who believed in His gift of love could celebrate much more than "frogs". That's a remarkable story we can all be retelling.