The Eighth Plague: Locusts

1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardeneda his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, 2and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”

3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 4But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. 5They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields. 6They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’”

Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.

7Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”

9“We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”

10Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil. 11No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.”

13So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts.

14The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. 15They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

16Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”

18So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. 19And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea.b Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.

20But the LORD hardenedc Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”

22So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. 23No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.

24Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

25But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we will not know how we are to worship the LORD until we arrive.”

27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go. 28“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”

29“As you say,” Moses replied, “I will never see your face again.”

1. The Power of God's Command
In Exodus 10, we witness the sheer power of God's command as He instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh. The plagues that follow are a testament to God's authority over creation. As it is written, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, so that I may perform these miraculous signs among them'" (Exodus 10:1). This reminds us that God's word is powerful and effective, and His plans will always come to fruition.

2. The Importance of Obedience
Moses' obedience to God's instructions is a central theme in this chapter. Despite the challenges, Moses faithfully delivers God's message to Pharaoh. This teaches us the importance of obedience in our own lives. As we follow God's guidance, we can trust that He will lead us through any adversity.

3. The Consequences of Hardening One's Heart
Pharaoh's repeated refusal to let the Israelites go highlights the dangers of hardening one's heart against God. "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go" (Exodus 10:27). This serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to remain open to God's voice and not resist His will.

4. The Role of Intercession
Moses' intercession for Pharaoh and Egypt during the plagues demonstrates the power of prayer and intercession. When Pharaoh pleads with Moses to pray for relief, Moses does so, showing compassion even for his adversary. This encourages us to pray for others, even those who oppose us, trusting that God hears and responds to our prayers.

5. The Significance of God's Signs
The plagues in Exodus 10 are not just acts of judgment but also signs of God's sovereignty. "So that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, and so that you may know that I am the LORD" (Exodus 10:2). These signs serve as reminders of God's power and faithfulness, encouraging us to share His works with future generations.

6. The Call to Repentance
Pharaoh's temporary repentance during the plagues shows the importance of genuine repentance. While he acknowledges his sin, his heart remains unchanged. This teaches us that true repentance involves a sincere turning away from sin and a commitment to follow God's ways.

7. The Impact of God's Judgment
The devastation caused by the locusts and darkness in Egypt illustrates the impact of God's judgment. "They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they devoured every plant in the land and every fruit on the trees that the hail had left" (Exodus 10:15). This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need to seek God's mercy and forgiveness.

8. The Assurance of God's Deliverance
Despite the trials faced by the Israelites, God's promise of deliverance remains steadfast. The plagues are a precursor to the ultimate liberation of His people. This assures us that no matter the circumstances, God is faithful to deliver those who trust in Him.

9. The Necessity of Faith
Moses' unwavering faith in God's promises is evident throughout Exodus 10. His confidence in God's plan encourages us to hold fast to our faith, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Faith is the foundation that enables us to persevere and witness God's miraculous works.

10. The Ultimate Victory of God's Will
The events in Exodus 10 culminate in the realization that God's will cannot be thwarted. Despite Pharaoh's resistance, God's purpose prevails. This reassures us that God's will is ultimately victorious, and we can rest in the knowledge that His plans for us are good and perfect.

Ask for God's light to shine in areas of darkness in your life, bringing clarity and direction.

Thank God for His provision and protection, even in challenging times.

Seek opportunities to share the stories of God's faithfulness with others, especially the next generation.

2. What natural or astronomical phenomenon could explain the dense darkness (Exodus 10:21–23) that affected only Egypt?

3. If Pharaoh truly witnessed repeated plagues (Exodus 10), why is there no corresponding Egyptian record of these cataclysmic events?

4. How does the destruction caused by the locusts (Exodus 10:15) align with the later plague of hail in Exodus 9, which supposedly ruined crops earlier?

5. Why does Moses repeatedly request permission for worship yet continue threatening Pharaoh (Exodus 10:9–11) if God had already determined Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened?

1. How does God's power manifest throughout this chapter?

2. Discuss the implications of Pharaoh's hardened heart. How does this affect his decision-making?

3. What do the plagues signify in the context of God's relationship with Egypt and His people, Israel?

4. How does Moses demonstrate his faith and obedience to God in this chapter?

5. In what ways do the actions of the Egyptian officials differ from Pharaoh? What does this reveal about leadership and responsibility?

6. How does the locust plague reflect the spiritual condition of Egypt?

7. Why do you think the LORD allowed the Israelites to have light in their dwellings during the darkness plague?

8. Discuss the importance of the phrase "Let my people go, so that they may worship Me." What does this reveal about God's intentions?

9. How does Pharaoh's reaction to the plagues reflect the human tendency to resist God's will?

10. Why was it important for Moses to insist that the livestock also be allowed to go with the Israelites?

11. How do the plagues and Pharaoh's response to them enhance our understanding of sin's consequences?

12. Discuss the concept of repentance as demonstrated by Pharaoh. What can we learn from his interaction with Moses and Aaron?

13. How can Moses' role as an intercessor for the Egyptians inform our understanding of prayer and mediation?

14. How does the narrative of the plagues influence our understanding of God's justice and mercy?

15. In what ways does this chapter illuminate the struggle between human will and divine plan?

16. If faced with similar plagues today, how would our response be similar or different from Pharaoh's?

17. How might we see and respond to "hardened hearts" in our society today?

18. How can we apply the lessons from this chapter to our relationship with God?

19. How does God's dealings with the Egyptians influence our perspective on His character and commitment to His people?

20. In the light of this chapter, how can we better understand the importance of obedience and worship in our lives?