How does Exodus 10:14 connect with God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28:38?

God’s Use of Locusts in Exodus 10:14

• “The locusts swarmed across the entire land of Egypt and settled in very great numbers. Never before had there been so many locusts, and there never again will be.” (Exodus 10:14)

• A literal, historic judgment on Egypt for defying the command, “Let My people go.”

• Devoured every green thing left after the hail (Exodus 10:15), stripping Egypt of food security and exposing the impotence of its gods (Exodus 12:12).

• Demonstrates the Lord’s absolute control over creation (Psalm 105:34–35).

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The Covenant Warning of Deuteronomy 28:38

• “You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because the locusts will devour it.” (Deuteronomy 28:38)

• Spoken to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before entering the land.

• Part of a series of covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:15–68) that flip the earlier blessings (28:1–14) on their head if Israel abandons the Lord.

• Locusts, once a sign of Egypt’s downfall, would become Israel’s experience if they copied Egypt’s unbelief.

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Connecting the Two Passages

• Same Instrument, Different Target

– Exodus: locusts humiliate Pharaoh.

– Deuteronomy: the same plague awaits Israel if she hardens her heart.

• Reversal of Roles

– In Exodus, Israel watches judgment fall on others; in Deuteronomy, Israel is warned that judgment can fall on her.

• Principle of Reciprocity

– What God inflicts on His enemies He will not spare from His people when they act like enemies (Romans 11:21–22).

• Underscores Total Dependence

– Without God’s favor, even diligent sowing yields empty barns (Psalm 127:1–2).

• Foreshadows Future Prophetic Calls

– Joel 1:4–6 echoes both Exodus and Deuteronomy, using locusts to summon Judah to repentance.

– Amos 4:9 records God actually sending locusts on Israel, fulfilling the warning.

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Key Takeaways for Today

• God’s Word is consistent: His historical acts (Exodus) become covenant warnings (Deuteronomy) and later prophetic realities (Joel, Amos).

• Blessing hinges on obedience; rebellion invites the same judgments once reserved for the ungodly.

• The Lord uses creation—small insects or mighty storms—as precise tools of discipline and deliverance (Job 37:12–13).

• Remember Paul’s counsel: “Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11).