How should Exodus 10:15 influence our understanding of God's authority over earthly rulers? Setting the Scene • Egypt’s fields were already damaged by hail (Exodus 9:24-25). • Pharaoh still refused to release Israel. • God sent a locust swarm so vast that “the land was blackened” (Exodus 10:15). • Every remaining green thing vanished, exposing Pharaoh’s helplessness. What Exodus 10:15 Shows About God’s Authority “Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.” • Absolute reach – From palace to pasture, the plague spared no corner. • Precise timing – The locusts arrived exactly when Moses warned (Exodus 10:12-14). • Total control – God wielded mere insects to cripple the world’s superpower. • Inescapable judgment – Pharaoh’s army, magicians, and gods were powerless. Patterns of Divine Supremacy over Rulers • God hardened and humbled Pharaoh (Exodus 10:1; 12:30-32). • He turned Nebuchadnezzar into a creature of the field until the king confessed, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 4:34-35). • Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” • Psalm 2:1-6 reveals nations raging while God “sits in the heavens” and laughs. • Romans 13:1 affirms, “There is no authority except from God.” • Revelation 17:17 shows God steering even hostile leaders to fulfill His purpose. Key Truths to Embrace • Earthly power is delegated, never independent. • God can employ the smallest agents—locusts, illnesses, dreams—to unseat the proud. • Delayed obedience by rulers invites escalating judgments. • Deliverance of God’s people rests on divine sovereignty, not political negotiations. • God’s authority remains unchanged; modern leaders answer to the same Lord who darkened Egypt’s sky with insects. Practical Takeaways • Trust God’s ultimate rule when human governments seem unrestrained. • Intercede for leaders, knowing God can turn hearts or topple thrones (1 Timothy 2:1-2). • Stand on God’s side even when it conflicts with civil commands (Acts 5:29). • Live confidently: the One who commanded locusts still directs history toward His redemptive goals. |
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