How does Exodus 10:5 demonstrate God's power over nature and creation? Verse at a Glance “ ‘They will cover the face of the land, so that no one will be able to see the ground; they will devour the rest of what has escaped—the remnant that remains to you from the hail—and they will eat every tree that sprouts in your fields.’ ” (Exodus 10:5) Backdrop of the Plague • The eighth plague falls after hail has already shattered Egypt’s crops (Exodus 9:25, 31-32). • Pharaoh still defies the command to release Israel (Exodus 10:3-4). • God promises a locust swarm so dense “no one will be able to see the ground,” displaying total mastery over the natural world. God Commands and Creation Obeys • The locusts are ordinary creatures, yet appear in extraordinary numbers exactly when and where God decrees (Exodus 10:13-15). • No geographic or meteorological barrier hinders them; they fulfill the word spoken through Moses. • Psalm 105:34-35 later celebrates this moment: “He spoke, and the locusts came… and devoured every plant in their land.” Nature as an Instrument of Judgment • The insects target “the remnant that remains… from the hail,” finishing what the previous plague began—complete, calculated judgment. • This precision highlights God’s conscious control, not random disaster. • Joel 1:4 echoes the pattern—locusts as divine agents when nations rebel. Superiority Over Egypt’s gods • Egyptians worshiped gods linked to crops and fertility (e.g., Min, Isis). • By stripping every green thing, the Lord exposes these deities as powerless (Exodus 12:12). • Only Israel, dwelling in Goshen, is protected (Exodus 10:23), underscoring God’s covenant faithfulness. Echoes Across Scripture • Job 37:14-15 – “God commands the lightning.” Same principle: the creation is at His beck and call. • Nahum 1:3-5 – Mountains quake, seas roar; consistent testimony of sovereign power. • Mark 4:39-41 – Jesus stills the storm; the incarnate Son exercises identical authority. Lessons for Today • Every element of creation remains under its Creator’s rule; nothing is autonomous. • God’s judgments are purposeful and measured, never haphazard. • The same power that summons locusts also sustains and protects His people (Psalm 121:5-8). |
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