READ: Ex. 10:1–20: … We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds … for we must hold a feast to the Lord …
Now the LORD speaks with great wrath of a new plague. He brings it because Pharaoh and his servants still withhold from God the honor and obedience He alone deserves. At the same time, God reminds His own people: they, with their children, must honor Him because of His mighty works. The LORD has every right to demand that.
Through Moses, the LORD now threatens a massive locust plague if Pharaoh still refuses to let the people go to serve Him.
After Moses and Aaron deliver this message, something new happens: Pharaoh’s own officials plead with him, warning that Egypt will be ruined if he doesn’t let the men go. Moses and Aaron are brought back. But Pharaoh refuses to allow the women and children to go worship God.
Moses and Aaron insist: everyone, including the livestock, must go to celebrate a feast to the LORD. Pharaoh becomes angry and threatens them, driving them away.
The next morning, the plague comes: a locust swarm larger than ever before or ever again. The locusts darken the land and devour every tree and crop left after the hail.
Once more, Pharaoh begs Moses to pray for the plague to stop. Moses prays, and the LORD removes every single locust, drowning them in the Red Sea.
But again, we read: “The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart,”
and he refuses to let the Israelites go.
Is there a connection between the ten plagues and God’s judgments today?
Sing: Ps. 105:12