Exodus 10:12
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text highlights the completion of destruction. Not only would the locusts consume every plant, but specifically all that the hail had left, emphasizing that nothing edible would remain. This detail underscores the thoroughness of God's judgment, leaving no room for doubt about His power.
After the plague of hail, which devastated crops and livestock, God commands Moses to bring a plague of locusts to finish what the hail started. This intense, all-consuming plague will devour every remaining plant, leaving nothing green, demonstrating God's escalating power and Pharaoh's continued stubbornness. When Pharaoh finally begs for mercy, promising to let Israel go, God removes the locusts, only to harden Pharaoh's heart once more.
Imagine a plague that doesn't just destroy, but meticulously finishes the job. The locusts didn't just arrive; they were sent to complete what the hail started.
God's judgments are not random acts of chaos. In this plague, we see a divine precision at work.
A Complete Devastation
The hail had already shattered crops and plants. The locusts were sent to consume everything that remained. This wasn't just about causing damage; it was about bringing about a total loss.
God's Authority Over Nature
This plague highlights that even the smallest creatures, like locusts, are under God's command. He uses them as instruments of His will, just as He used the hail and the wind. It shows that nothing in creation operates outside of His sovereign control.
In the face of utter ruin, Pharaoh cries out, 'I have sinned!' But how genuine is a repentance that only lasts as long as the terror?
Pharaoh's reaction to the locusts reveals a crucial truth about the nature of true repentance versus mere fear.
The Cry of Desperation
When faced with the complete destruction of his land and the potential for widespread starvation, Pharaoh finally admits his sin. He calls for Moses and Aaron, begging them to intercede.
A Superficial Change
However, his confession is qualified with 'only this once.' He wants the immediate threat removed, not a fundamental change of heart or a lasting relationship with God. This is a common pattern: people may cry out to God in times of crisis but fail to truly turn from their sin when the danger passes.
The Deception of a Hardened Heart
The text notes that 'the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart.' This doesn't mean God forces sin, but that Pharaoh, having repeatedly rejected God's commands, was left to the hardness of his own will. His 'repentance' was a response to overwhelming pressure, not a genuine, internal transformation.
Understand the original words
arbeh · Hebrew Noun
A migratory insect known in the Bible as a symbol of divine judgment and devastation upon crops and resources. They represent the overwhelming, unstoppable nature of God's discipline.
This plague of locusts, coming immediately after the devastating hail, highlights God's escalating judgment and His precise targeting of Egypt's resources. It shows how God uses natural phenomena, intensified by His power, to bring about His purposes and demonstrate His sovereignty over creation.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites enslaved in Egypt
The Israelites, descendants of Jacob, had settled in Egypt and grown into a large population. Over time, a new dynasty rose to power, and the Egyptians grew to fear the Israelites' numbers, leading to their enslavement.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues begin
After Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, God sent ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and force Pharaoh's hand. These plagues progressively worsened, affecting different aspects of Egyptian life and economy.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Hail
The seventh plague, a severe hailstorm, destroyed crops and livestock that had survived the earlier plagues. This plague caused immense devastation and fear among the Egyptians and their king.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Plague of Locusts
The eighth plague, a massive swarm of locusts, was sent to consume any remaining vegetation. This plague directly followed the hail, leaving the land barren and the Egyptians in despair.
This passage describes a plague of locusts that are released from the abyss, mirroring the destructive and overwhelming nature of the plague in Exodus, illustrating how God's judgment can manifest through terrifying creatures.
Joel 1:4This verse speaks of different types of locusts consuming what the previous ones left behind, showing a pattern of devastating plagues that leave nothing untouched, similar to how the locusts in Exodus consumed what the hail spared.
Psalm 105:34This psalm recounts God's mighty acts, including sending locusts and devouring insects that consumed the land of Egypt, directly referencing this plague as an act of divine power and judgment.
Exodus 7:11-12This passage describes the plague of frogs, which also involved God stretching out His hand through Moses to bring about a plague, highlighting the consistent method God used to demonstrate His power over Egypt through Moses.
Deuteronomy 28:38This verse prophesies that the Israelites will face plagues of locusts in the future if they disobey God, showing that locust infestations were recognized as divine judgments and a consequence of unfaithfulness.
calvinExodus 10:12-20: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left."
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.
Tunc dixit Jehova Mosi, Extende manum tuam super terram AEgyp…
gillExodus 10:12: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left."
And the Lord said unto Moses, stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt,.... First one way, and then another, towards every quarter, and every part of the land, to signify that the following plague would come upon the whole land: for the locusts, that they may come up upon…
The text highlights the completion of destruction. Not only would the locusts consume every plant, but specifically all that the hail had left, emphasizing that nothing edible would remain. This detail underscores the thoroughness of God's judgment, leaving no room for doubt about His power.
After the plague of hail, which devastated crops and livestock, God commands Moses to bring a plague of locusts to finish what the hail started. This intense, all-consuming plague will devour every remaining plant, leaving nothing green, demonstrating God's escalating power and Pharaoh's continued stubbornness. When Pharaoh finally begs for mercy, promising to let Israel go, God removes the locusts, only to harden Pharaoh's heart once more.
After the plague of hail, which devastated crops and livestock, God commands Moses to bring a plague of locusts to finish what the hail started. This intense, all-consuming plague will devour every remaining plant, leaving nothing green, demonstrating God's escalating power and Pharaoh's continued stubbornness. When Pharaoh finally begs for mercy, promising to let Israel go, God removes the locusts, only to harden Pharaoh's heart once more.
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Moses doesn't just command the locusts; he stretches out his hand. There's a profound partnership here between divine power and human action.
This plague demonstrates the authority God gives to His messengers and the way He works through them.
A Sign of Authority
God instructs Moses to 'Stretch out your hand.' This wasn't a suggestion; it was a command that carried divine authority. The stretching out of Moses' hand, or rod, becomes a visual cue, a signal that God's power is about to be unleashed.
God's Power, Moses's Instrument
While Moses acts as the visible agent, the power itself is purely God's. As commentators note, Moses had no inherent power to conjure locusts. His hand, or rod, was merely the instrument through which God's sovereign will was executed. This underscores that true spiritual authority comes from God, not from the person wielding it.
Obedience and Efficacy
Moses's obedience in stretching out his hand is crucial. It shows that even when God's power is absolute, He often works in conjunction with human obedience. The efficacy of the command is directly linked to Moses's willingness to act as God's representative.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's plea and continued hardening
Overwhelmed by the locusts, Pharaoh finally acknowledged his sin and pleaded with Moses and Aaron to intercede with God. However, as soon as the locusts were removed, his heart was hardened again, and he refused to let the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Darkness
The ninth plague brought a thick, palpable darkness over Egypt for three days, a supernatural event that only affected the Egyptians, while the Israelites had light. This plague intensified the Egyptians' suffering and dread.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's final defiance
Despite the plague of darkness and a final negotiation with Moses, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. He threatened Moses and refused to allow the Israelites to leave, leading to the final, most devastating plague.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.”" — The text highlights the completion of destruction. Not only would the locusts consume every plant, but specifically all that the hail had left, emphasizing that nothing edible would remain. This…
