Exodus 10:1-20 - The Eighth Mighty Sign - The Land of Egypt Destroyed
Notes
Transcript
The Word Read
The Word Read
Please remain standing for the reading of the Holy Scripture. Hear the Word of the Lord from Exodus 10:16-20:
16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
Behold, brothers and sisters, this is the Word of the Lord. Please be seated.
Exordium
Exordium
Egypt stands at the precipice of destruction. The previous plagues have taken their toll on Pharaoh, his servants, the Egyptians, and the land. However, more devastation lurks around the corner. It’s as if they’ve made their way to the top of the roller coaster and are now peering over the cliff, about to speed downward toward absolute obliteration.
Pharaoh and Egypt have been given warning after warning, yet there is no change. More importantly than outward change, there has been no inward change. They still reject Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews. They still deny the people of Israel their redemption. As He has repeatedly stated, Yahweh will not stand for this reality. He is in Egypt, making His presence known through the mighty signs that bring judgment.
The sermon title is “The Eighth Mighty Sign—The Land of Egypt Destroyed.” My hypothesis for these verses is that Yahweh will destroy the land of Egypt so that both Egypt and God’s covenant people may know Him as the true Liberator of His people.
Exodus 10:1-11 - The Locusts are Coming
Exodus 10:1-11 - The Locusts are Coming
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’ ” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh. Then 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?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?” Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
This might sign is the second longest of the plague texts. Our passage begins with glorious realities. Yahweh reminds Moses that He has hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This time, Yahweh reveals the two purposes of these signs. The first purpose is for God to display these signs among the Egyptians. Egypt is a lost people in rebellion. They have not, nor will they, bow their hearts to Yahweh, the true God of the universe. We’ve already encountered this truth previously (Exodus 6:6).
However, there is a second purpose for these signs in verse 2, that the story of God raining down plagues upon Egypt might be retold generation after generation so that they might know He is their Lord. Throughout the history of the people of Israel, they have been instructed to retell the story of the Exodus. They tell their children and grandchildren of God saving their ancestors from the mighty oppression of Pharaoh and all of Egypt. They declare in Psalm 44:1:
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
Do you tell your children and grandchildren about God’s mighty works? Yes, we are in the lineage of these great people because the true offspring of Abraham are those in Christ (Galatians 3:29). The story of the Exodus is also a story of our spiritual ancestors. Yet, there is a more extraordinary redemption story to tell our children and grandchildren - Christ and Him crucified, which provides forgiveness for our sins. Do you declare the mighty work of Christ to your children and grandchildren? As the third verse of the hymn “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” states:
Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ, the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father's plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold
Look upon Christ on that tree, dear son, dear daughter, and dear grandchild. Look to Him who paid the price for our redemption and brings many sons and daughters to glory. In the graciousness of Christ, He has given us the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be visible signs of the Gospel. As we watch a baptism, we should be grateful, thanking the Lord for saving us and welcoming us into His covenant community. As we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we should come with humble joy, knowing we are unworthy to come to the Lord’s table apart from His grace. These visible signs of the Gospel remind us of Christ’s incredible work - His life, death, burial, and resurrection, whereby He saved us from our sins. Let us continually tell of Christ’s great, mighty work as the Israelites would tell their families of the mighty work of Yahweh in the Exodus.
In verse 3, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and give the Word of Yahweh. “How long will your heart be in rebellion? Let my people go.” This is the seventh and final time Pharoah is commanded to let Yahweh’s people go. The crux of Pharaoh’s issue is not primarily his leadership but his heart. His heart is in outright rebellion against Yahweh, which is the primary issue for those who refuse to repent and call out to Christ to save them. Pride and arrogance of the heart will keep the sinner in their misery even if they mentally know a land of paradise awaits those who repent.
Long before the invention of the Internet, newspapers were published in the morning. However, if there were breaking news of extreme importance, they would publish a second edition later in the day. Pharaoh is about to receive a second edition of damage to the land. The seventh plague was damaging, but more destruction was coming to the land. Locusts will come, cover the land, and destroy whatever vegetation is left from the seventh plague, which would lead to starvation. The locusts will be overwhelming, so much so that not even the elderly have seen anything like what is to come. Yahweh’s judgment will be severe. Pharaoh will say later that this plague has brought death. Keep a pin in that - death has come to Egypt.
Conversations quickly emerge after Moses and Aaron walk out of Pharaoh’s presence. Pharaoh’s servants declare that Moses is a snare to them. The word “snare” carries the idea of a bird being trapped. Yahweh has baited them, and He has trapped them. The servants declare, “Let the men go worship Yawheh because Egypt is already destroyed. Don't you get this, Pharaoh?” Pharaoh made himself an enemy of God with dire consequences.
Moses and Aaron are called back into Pharaoh’s presence. Moses states that everyone, including their livestock, must leave for a pilgrim’s feast to the Lord. Pharaoh’s response, in verse 10, is dripping with sarcasm—“Yahweh will certainly have to be with you if you think I’ll let you leave with your children. You can go worship with just the men.” Pharaoh will hold the women and children hostage, forcing the men to return after their feast. Then Moses and Aaron were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
Here, we see an incredible reality—Yahweh doesn't just want men to worship Him; He wants men, women, and children to worship Him. He desires covenant with individuals and families. This continues into the New Covenant when Peter preaches his sermon at Pentecost.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The promise, God’s covenant, is not just for them but also for their children. Isn't that incredible? God also wants to be in covenant with your children. This is why we freely share the Gospel in our homes. We point them to repentance in Christ so they may know God’s covenantal love in Christ Jesus. We remind them of the God of every grace. This is why the Christian home is one of the safest places in the world. There is a continual reminder of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and God’s willingness to save sinners.
Yahweh was not looking for a partial liberation of His people. He demanded a total liberation of the people of Israel from Egypt. Christ demands total liberation for His people as well. When Christ secured redemption, He did not become a partial Liberator. No, He is the true Liberator. When Christ saved you from sin, He did not save you from some of your sins. He paid for all your sins - past, present, and future. Your salvation was not a partial salvation that now hangs on how well you live. Christ, the great Redeemer, brought you total salvation. As Yahweh demanded total liberation, so Christ brought total freedom from the power of sin and all our enemies. We won't get to experience total freedom until Christ returns because we still war with sin and the enemy, but the assurance of your salvation does not rest in you but in Jesus. Jesus is your Liberator.
Exodus 10:12-15 - The Locusts Destroy the Land
Exodus 10:12-15 - The Locusts Destroy the Land
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
Yahweh instructs Moses to stretch his hands over the land of Egypt, so the locusts may come to eat every plant leftover from the hail. The Lord drives an east wind upon the land, and the next morning, locusts cover the land from border to border. Nothing like this has ever been seen before in Egypt.
One might be reminded of the Dust Bowl from 1930-1936. These great storms caused hundreds of thousands of people to relocate. At the peak, the damage reached 25 million dollars daily, 507 million dollars in today’s currency. Or you may think of the Great Blizzard of 1888, which killed 400 people and created snow drifts up to 50 feet. Both were tremendous storms with devastating effects.
The swarms of locusts devastated Egypt. All the plants and all the fruit were eaten. No doubt, starvation is a very real concern. The nation is obliterated as Yahweh’s wrath is poured out on them.
Exodus 10:16-20 - Death in Egypt
Exodus 10:16-20 - Death in Egypt
Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
The narrative picks up speed as Pharaoh demands that Moses and Aaron meet him. Pharaoh offers a confession of sin, but it is not true repentance. An easy confession with shallow and hollow repentance will never do. Confession and repentance must be genuine and from a heart that the Spirit has humbled. Pharaoh has not experienced this truth.
Notice in verse 17 that Pharaoh looks to Moses to mediate between him and Yahweh. Pharaoh understands that he has no standing with Yahweh on his own. He doesn’t even dare come before Him. Instead, he asks Moses to plead with the Lord to remove this death.
Moses, as a mediator, is not new. Pharaoh has already asked Moses to intercede on his behalf. Part of Moses’ identity is his being an intercessor. We also know that Moses interceded on behalf of the people of Israel. As Psalm 106:19-23 states:
They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
God’s wrath would have consumed them if Moses had not stood in the breach. Had Christ not stood in the breach for us, we would also be consumed by God’s wrath. Pharaoh looked to Moses and pleaded, “Save me from this death.” So we look to Christ and plead, “Save me from eternal death!” We cling to the promise found in 1 Timothy 2:5.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Notice what Pharaoh clearly stated about the land of Egypt; it has become a place of death. The Lord has brought the land to utter ruins. Livestock have been killed. People have been killed. Vegetation and fruits have been destroyed. Death has occurred in the land of Egypt.
Do you remember Yahweh’s promise to Moses about where they will go after the mighty signs?
and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’
As the Israelites look around, they see a land devastated by the plagues, but this is not their home. They are going to a land that is spacious and fertile—a land where God’s presence will richly dwell with them. They do not need to have a single concern about the land of Egypt, for they are heading to the Promised Land—a land beyond their wildest dreams.
As a result of the fall, all creation was subjected to corruption and now groans, waiting for the Second Coming of Christ when it will be freed from sin (Romans 8:21-22). As Moses is to lead the Exodus generation to the Promised Land out of the land of death, Christ leads us to the Eternal Promised Land out of this world of death. He provides spiritual protection for those who are His while demonic forces, depicted as locusts in Revelation 9:1-11, currently persecute their own worshippers. We live in a world currently suffering from the consequences of Adam’s sin. Christ is the Good Shepherd who leads us home to New Creation.
Do you cling to this world and all it has to offer, or do you have eyes on heaven looking forward to the Eternal Promised Land? Are you, like Lot, unwilling to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, or are you like Abraham, who longed for heavenly Jerusalem — a city whose builder is God Himself (Hebrews 11:10)? Do you labor for this world, or do you long to see Heaven — the place that Christ is preparing for you (John 14:2-3)? This world suffers under the bondage of sin; do not live for it. Instead, look heavenward and live for the world that will be once Christ returns.
Christ - Our Liberator, Our Mediator, and Our Savior
Christ - Our Liberator, Our Mediator, and Our Savior
Egypt is potentially facing total elimination. God will use this plague to show the Egyptians and the people of Isreal that He will liberate His people. Mighty sign after mighty sign proves that Yahweh is victorious over Pharaoh and the measly gods of Egypt. Likewise, we run to Jesus, who is our true Liberator. He is our only Mediator. He is our only Savior who is more willing to save than to condemn and who leads us to Mount Zion.
