(1) Overview
a. The last 2 plagues before the last, deadly, 10th plague. The severity of the plague was increasing and so was the resistance of Pharaoh's heart. He drove out Moses and Aaron and answered them with contempt.
10:10 He said to them, “The LORD will need to be with you if I release you and your dependents! Watch out! Trouble is right in front of you!10:11 No! Go, you men only, and serve the LORD, for that is what you want.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.
10:28 Pharaoh said to him, “Go from me! Watch out for yourself! Do not appear before me again, for when you see my face you will die!”
In other words, he knew he did not have the control but he did not want to concede. He wanted to resist with his last breath.
In other words, he knew he did not have the control but he did not want to concede. He wanted to resist with his last breath.
(2) Repeated phrases-locusts will cover the entire surface, eat everything, when they were taken away by God, not 1 remain.
v.5a They will cover the surface of the earth...
v.5c They will eat the remainder of what escaped... eat every tree that grows for you from the field
10:6 They will fill your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses of Egyptv.12b the locusts, that they may come up over the land of Egypt and eat everything that grows in the ground, everything that the hail has left.”
v.14 The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt
v.15 They covered the surface of all the ground, so that the ground became dark with them, and they ate all the vegetation of the ground and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green remained on the trees or on anything that grew in the fields throughout the whole land of Egypt.
(NET) One of the words for “locusts” in the Bible... which comes from... [the word which means] “to be much, many”. It was used for locusts because of their immense numbers.
After Moses prayed to the LORD
v.19b Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt
Same result for the plague of flies
Same result for the plague of flies
8:31b he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!
For the plague of darkness,
v.21 darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.
v.22 there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.
These 2 plagues and some of the plagues before show the same property: they covered the whole areas of Egypt. Yes, it seems to be addendum, but why did Moses do that? Perhaps the mention of the coverage related to the purpose of the plague, namely, God is sovereign. He is sovereign over every single entity.
v.22 there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.
These 2 plagues and some of the plagues before show the same property: they covered the whole areas of Egypt. Yes, it seems to be addendum, but why did Moses do that? Perhaps the mention of the coverage related to the purpose of the plague, namely, God is sovereign. He is sovereign over every single entity.
b. What was the purpose of the plagues
10:2 and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the LORD.”
(NET) Yahweh explains that he has done this so that he might show his power, so that in turn they might declare his name from generation to generation. This point is stressed so often that it must not be minimized. God was laying the foundation of the faith for Israel—the sovereignty of Yahweh.
Reflection: We know that God was sovereign, but from this passage we know vividly what it meant. It means every single locust or every tiny little fly will obey Him. Every single inch of the earth of Egypt was under His control. Every ray of light was covered by His will. He did not rule just with power, but with awe. We could not help not to submit to Him.
Reflection: We know that God was sovereign, but from this passage we know vividly what it meant. It means every single locust or every tiny little fly will obey Him. Every single inch of the earth of Egypt was under His control. Every ray of light was covered by His will. He did not rule just with power, but with awe. We could not help not to submit to Him.
Is God the master over your heart and your life? Your entire heart and your entire life? Which part of your heart/life that you have not submitted to Him? What does the awe produce in you? Is He not enough to rule over you?
Audrey
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