Introduction
Today we learn about God’s purposes in the plagues and the Egyptians’ responses to God’s sovereign acts. And we are almost through the biblical description of the ten plagues that marked the end of the slavery of the Jewish people in Egypt.
Pharaoh’s Response and Compromise
Pharaoh's response is fascinating like we saw yesterday. He wanted to compromise, for instance, he said, “Go sacrifice to the Lord within the land.” (8.25) Then here he says tonight concerning the locusts, “OK, the men can go.” One more negotiation: he says, “Go serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds remain here.” (10.24)
Pharaoh is constantly offering us almost the full measure but not the full measure of what Moses was asking. The offer for compromise was continual. Always negotiating. You go or just the men or everybody can go, or just stay within Egypt or everybody but the little ones have to stay which means the mothers did too. Or keep the flocks here so whatever it was Pharaoh's always trying to negotiate and he has no bargaining power
God says that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart SO THAT He may perform these signs among the Egyptians SO THAT you may tell in the hearing of your children how He made a mockery of the Egyptians. (.1-2) SO THAT you may know that I am the Lord.
Purpose of the Plagues
The purpose of the signs was to convince the Egyptians to let my people go and to convince the Hebrews that Moses was the leader and that God was true. Then why we talk about this with our families? So that you may know that I am the Lord.
This is not just an academic exercise that if the kids hear it they'll pass this on the examination. The purpose was so that when you are confronted with similar opponents like a pharaoh or situations like darkness or locusts or water turning to blood that you may have confidence that God is with us!
Moses Before Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron did exactly what they were supposed to do they went to Pharaoh. They said, “Thus says the Lord the God of the Hebrews…” (.3) In other words you're not just dealing with Hebrew slaves you have to deal with the God who is above them. Listen, it's only going to get worse for you. You've already had seven plagues. Believe me, it's only getting worse.
The Coming of the Locusts
Moses predicts that if Pharaoh refuses (a negative commitment), that He is going to bring locusts into the territory. They'll cover the surface of the land such that no one will be able to see the land. The locusts will eat the rest of what has escaped what's left to you from the hail. Complete ruin. (.5)
The servants in the court of Pharaoh get it and appeal to the king to let my people go. (.7) Pharaoh recalls Moses and Aaron. He said, “OK-- go serve the Lord” (.8) then a weird Hebrew phrase, “who and who are going?” It’s as if he’s saying, “I know you've told me before but exactly who do you want to take?”
Moses replies that the entirety of the slave force will be departing for a holiday celebration. Pharaoh says that’s not going to happen; you can take all the guys and have a men's retreat but you will not be taking the women and children, because Pharoah knows that when they all go, that they are gone for good.
The Lord directs Moses to raise his staff and the locusts pour in over the land of Egypt. Again Pharaoh got word about that and hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron.
In a strange confessional, Pharaoh says, “I've sinned against the Lord your God and against you.’ (.16) Amazing language, but it seems that he is living in regret and not repentance. Esau, Jacob’s twin brother, had a similar apology. Remorse not repentance.
His ‘prayer’ continues. “Please forgive my sin… make supplication to the Lord your God” (.17) We are depleted. You see there are a couple of thoughts in there that are added that make it a no-good prayer. He said, “please forgive my sin only this once” and again, “pray to the Lord your God.”
Any believer knows that “just this once’ is never enough. We will sin again, and thus will need to ask for forgiveness again and again. And the Lord “your” God is a dead giveaway that Pharaoh isn’t claiming the Lord as significant in his own life.
Then the next plague is a severe darkness all over the land of Egypt. (.21) even verse 21 it's a weird phrase “which may be felt.” I've been in darkness like that and it is scary and if we've seen several of these over the last several plagues the hail and fire was a darkness the locust was a darkness and now it's darkness just for darkness sake. it is a silent darkness.
The Jews on the other hand, had light in their dwellings. (.23)
Finally, Pharaoh says, I’ll never see you again. For in the day you see my face you're going to die. Moses says you're right I will never see your face again. Finally they agree!
Do you hear the intensification? It is getting worse; it's getting tighter; it's getting more dramatic. The music is getting louder. The rabbis teach that it took a full year for Moses and God to convince Pharaoh to let my people go, and this is the final moment.
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