How does Exodus 10:4 demonstrate God's patience and warning before judgment? The Verse in Context “ ‘For if you refuse to let My people go, then tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.’ ” (Exodus 10:4) Pharaoh has already resisted nine clear commands. Yet before sending the devastating locusts, God pauses once more, spelling out exactly what will happen “tomorrow.” What the Warning Reveals about God’s Character • Patience on display – Nine prior plagues have not broken Pharaoh’s pride, but the Lord still issues another gracious advance notice. • Clarity and certainty – The warning is explicit, leaving no room for misunderstanding. Judgment is never capricious. • Mercy mingled with justice – By specifying “tomorrow,” God opens a final window for repentance. Compare 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is … patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish.” • Sovereign restraint – The locusts will not arrive until the appointed time; His power is under perfect control. Patterns of Patience Throughout Scripture • Genesis 6:3 – God grants 120 years while Noah builds the ark. • Exodus 9:19 – Before the hail, Egyptians are told to bring livestock indoors. • Ezekiel 33:11 – “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” • Revelation 2:21 – “I have given her time to repent.” Each episode echoes Exodus 10:4: warning precedes wrath. Why Patience Makes the Judgment Just • It removes every excuse; the guilty know exactly what is coming. • It highlights willful hardness of heart; Pharaoh’s refusal is deliberate, not ignorant. • It magnifies God’s righteousness; slow anger underscores that punishment is deserved, not impulsive. • It elevates grace; those who heed the warning (e.g., Egyptians who later fear the Lord in Exodus 9:20) are spared. Personal Takeaways • Don’t mistake divine patience for indifference. Delayed judgment is a door of mercy, not a sign of weakness. • Respond quickly to known sin; “tomorrow” may be God’s final call. • Praise the Lord for His long-suffering toward us, and mirror that patience in our dealings with others. |
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