Exodus chapter 10 begins with God telling Moses that these plagues are “that you may tell your children and your grandchildren how I performed… signs among them that you might know that I am the Lord“. These signs are as much for you and I as for Pharaoh! How many of us continue to harden our hearts toward God when life’s “plagues” come? God uses the circumstances in our lives to bring us to repentance. God asks Pharaoh and me, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?“. We can see the futility of Pharaoh’s resistance, but are we any less stubborn? Moses declares, the “God of the Hebrews” says, if you refuse to let My people go, “I will bring locusts… they will devour what little you have left“. Amazingly, when we are in rebellion to God, we tend to hold onto our sin even when it has lost all its joy to us. People around us may see our circumstances, just as Pharaoh’s officials ask, “Let the people go, do you not realize that Egypt is ruined?” Again, Pharaoh tries to bargain with God, “Have only the men go and worship the Lord“. But God does not accept conditional worship. If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. We read the locusts “devoured all… nothing green remained“. Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and again offers false repentance, “Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the Lord to take this deadly plague away from me“. With true repentance comes the understanding that we owe a debt that we cannot pay. Only then can we receive the perfect forgiveness through Christ.
Moses prays and a very strong west wind carries the locust into the Red Sea; “not a locust was left in Egypt“. Once again, the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not let the Israelites go. The ninth plague comes without warning. God tells Moses to “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt- darkness that can be felt“. This was no ordinary night, this darkness lasted three days and “no one could leave his place“. Apparently even candles did not overcome the darkness; “Yet all the Israelites had light in their places“. What a vivid picture of what can happen when spiritual darkness takes over lives; it can even blind those to the light of help that is offered to them. But there is one light that can penetrate the darkest soul; Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). And Ephesians 5:8 reminds you and me, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light“. We are even instructed to place our light high on a lamp stand “in order that those that come in may see the light“. We are to live out our faith in full view of the world, or they will continue to live in darkness.
Pharaoh again summons Moses and again tries to negotiate with God, “Go and worship the Lord. Even your women and children… only leave your flocks and herds behind“. But Moses remembers God’s promise that they will leave with all their possessions and will not back down.. Pharaoh shouts, “Get out of my sight! Do not appear before me again! The day when you see my face you will die.” What a contrast to our glorious hope! Jesus gave us this promise; “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s house” (Matt 26:29). We that have accepted Christ have a reception in heaven awaiting us! Why don’t you invite someone to join you there!