There are certain places that are off-limits, things that you just don’t mess with, whether it’s in a family or in life. Then there are places like the White House, the Pentagon, and Area 51 – places you better not fly over. But guess what? Sometimes, as Christians, we have our own ‘no fly over zone’ in our lives.

Let me tell you about the Israelites. They had a ‘no fly over zone’ in their life. Can you believe it? No flies from that terrible plague were allowed to cross over to Goshen, the place Joseph had chosen for his family and descendants.

Now, let’s talk about the plagues. First, there was the blood plague. Fish died, and the water turned to blood. Then, a horde of frogs came out of the Nile. And finally, a swarm of gnats filled the air. Some versions of the Bible say it was lice, but most ancient writings and scholars agree that gnats is more likely.

I know what you’re thinking. No matter what political party you’re on, if your workers are causing you sleepless nights because your wife keeps getting up in a chair screaming, I’m going to change my vote.

And then, the fourth plague came. Flies everywhere! A swarm so big that you couldn’t step without squishing one.

So, what did the cats do with all those flies? They flew all over Egypt, except for one place – Goshen. Why? Because that’s where God’s people lived.

Imagine driving down the fancy streets of Pharaoh, but you can barely find your way because of flies. Then, you reach Goshen.

Goshen was God’s chosen place, but the Israelites were still slaves. Their homes were slave houses, and they lived in the rough part of town. But guess what? They didn’t have any flies!

Why no flies in Goshen? Well, God drew a line.

The Israelites were slaves, their lives weren’t perfect, but there was a line they wouldn’t cross. Why? Because God said so!

Now, why is that a bad question? It’s a great question, but it can be a trap. If you keep asking “why,” you’ll never move forward and focus on the future.

The people in Goshen were sitting on their porches, sipping lemonade, while the Egyptians searched for their fly swatters.

They went through the water-blood, the frogs, and the gnats. But God said enough is enough.

Why did they have to go through all that? Well, because of the mixed multitude.

You see, the mixed multitude followed the Israelites out of Egypt. Not many people follow slaves. But people like to follow courage, like to follow a positive attitude.

People don’t follow complainers, naysayers, or the ordinary.

This world isn’t looking for ordinary people. They want real, authentic, inspirational people. They want someone who will quit with the excuses and start with their knees, who will grow in their faith and praise.

The phrase “misery loves company” comes from Christopher Marlowe’s play, “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.” In the play, the demon Mephastophilis uses a Latin phrase that simply means “misery loves company.”

This suggests that unhappy people find comfort or solace in the unhappiness of others, or they want others to share their suffering. 

The people who witnessed Israel’s response to the first three plagues were shocked. They couldn’t believe that while everyone else was complaining about the frogs, Israel had turned them into frog soup and still praised God.

You know what misery loves company, but praise gets company.

When the water turned to blood, Israel still praised God.

Paul and Silas in jail, singing in the middle of the night. Everyone else was upset and angry, but Paul and Silas were joyful. Why? Because they knew that God was with them.

We all have our struggles and pain, but we can’t give up. We have to keep praising God, even when it’s hard.

Even the jailer wanted what Paul and Silas had, because Paul and Silas would  let that anything stop them. They kept praising God and serving Him.

Praise is a powerful weapon. It can turn our lives around. It can give us strength and courage. It can help us overcome even the toughest challenges.

I can’t promise you that you won’t go through tough times. I can’t promise you that you won’t cry. I can’t promise that you won’t be attacked by your family. But I can promise you that God is with you. He will give you joy for mourning. He will turn your pain into praise.

So, let’s start singing that song, “Shoo fly, don’t bother me.” Let’s let God take care of us. He’s greater than we can ever be. He’s more than a conqueror. He’s our God, and He’s with us every step of the way.

When depression tries to sneak in,

When sickness comes knocking,

When someone gives you the cold shoulder,

Why flies, you ask? Well, one of the names for Satan is Beelzebub, which means ‘lord of the flies.’

Flies are attracted to dying things, decaying things. And we’re alive! You might be just a bump on a log, but I’m a child of the king, bought with blood.

How you suffer determines where you end up after the valley you’re facing. Do you give up or do you keep going?

The Proverbs says there’s death and life in the power of the tongue. If you spend your time complaining, you’re like a circle, going around and around, and you’ll end up having to go through the same things again.

You can’t graduate until you pass the test. Sometimes, God wants to show us how we go through things compared to how the world goes through things. The Israelites went through hardship one way, and the Egyptians another.

The question is, how did you live during pressure? Did it inspire anyone to come out of Egypt?

The mixed multitude had their problems, just like you do. But can someone walk into your world and say, ‘I might or might not want to be a Christian, but if I become a Christian, that’s who I want to be like.’

When we go through hardship, are we suffering inside in a way that brings glory to Jesus? Has my suffering been wasted on my complaints, or has God seen that I’ll be faithful to him no matter what? Will an unbeliever see my praise and be amazed?

When most people suffer, they turn to things, like a bottle, an affair, a drug. They lose their minds and sometimes their lives. Honestly, how would I suffer if I didn’t have hope?

But I have hope beyond hope because Jesus is with me.

When you pray, you’ll stay. When you fast, you’ll last. When you praise, you’ll be raised.

You can’t have pity and power at the same time. You can’t have whine and win at the same time.

God knows how to turn a mess into a miracle. He’s the God of turn-around.

Job’s story is a powerful example. He lost everything – his family, his job, his health, and his business. But amidst all this hardship, he didn’t lose his faith in God. Instead, he raised his hands in prayer, and everyone around him saw his suffering.

Job said, “My God is not just a God of the mountains, but He is a God of the valleys.”

The Lord gives and takes, but either way, I will praise the Lord.

When you reach a point where you can still worship even when you’re suffering, even when life seems unfair, even when life is difficult, even when life is hard, you’ve reached a place where nothing can shake you.

So, my dear friend, if you’re struggling or feeling lost, I urge you to come to the altar. Come to the place where you can be refreshed and renewed. Make an altar, make an altar where you are. If you’re tired of the same old way of life, day after day, it’s time to make a change.