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Exodus 10:3–11
“Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?’” (v. 7).
Matthew Henry, commenting on Exodus 10:1–2, writes, “These plagues are standing monuments of the greatness of God, the happiness of the church, and the sinfulness of sin, and standing monitors to the children of men in all ages not to provoke the Lord to jealousy nor to strive with their Maker.” Over the course of history, the ancient plagues on Egypt have achieved the purpose God had for them to prove that He is Lord (Ex. 10:1–2). It is no wonder that the exodus story continues to be told. What the Lord did in that era is so impressive that one cannot honestly walk away with any other conviction than that the God of Israel is the one true God.
Even though the plagues are plain demonstrations of the truth of the God of Israel, not everyone in history has been quick to accept what they teach us. Most notable among these figures must be the pharaoh who reigned when the judgment of God fell on Egypt during the plagues. Seven plagues have passed, and Pharaoh has yet to fully submit to the Lord, for his heart is hard against God (7:14–10:2). Thus, in today’s passage, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh to announce the eighth plague: an invasion of locusts (10:3–6).
The mere threat of this plague may have caused great fear to overcome Pharaoh. Because swarms of locusts invaded Egypt on occasion, causing much destruction, the Egyptians knew the trouble these insects could be. Yet what Moses promises will be far worse than anything Egypt has seen before. These locusts will fill house and field, gobbling up any food left over after the plague of hail (vv. 5–6). The vast number of locusts will demonstrate that they have been sent from God, as will their arrival at the exact time predicted (see v. 4), for only the Lord can accurately predict the point of arrival for the swarm.
Pharaoh has not yet submitted to the Lord, and his servants disagree with him. They ask the king how long he will allow Moses to be a snare to Egypt (v. 7). A snare is a small trap that is much deadlier than it first appears, so this metaphor indicates that Moses has brought far more trouble on Egypt than anyone could have anticipated just by looking at him. A mere shepherd from the land of Midian (see 2:11–22) has brought the mighty Egyptian empire to its knees—but only because God has been with him, of course. Pharaoh attempts to bargain with Moses so as to send out only the men of Israel, but to no avail. Instead of releasing all the Israelites as God has demanded, he drives Moses and Aaron away from the court (10:8–11).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
It has always been God’s way to do great things with those who do not appear to be very much to the world. He called a nearly forgotten shepherd boy to be the king after His own heart (1 Sam. 16). He used men of no great reputation, such as Paul and Silas, to proclaim His gospel to the ends of the earth and to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:1–6). God can and will do awesome things with ordinary people.
For Further Study
- Exodus 4:1–17
- 2 Kings 5:1–14
- John 1:43–51
- Acts 4:1–22