Exodus 10

God spoke to Moses again, as He had throughout this amazing series of judgment events. The Lord's servant knew what was going to happen each time he went to Pharaoh. But the Lord hardened the hearts of the king and his servants. Why? To show forth His great signs before their eyes. They had thought it safe to abuse the Hebrews, the people of the Lord. They had esteemed the God of Moses as nothing, or as just another god in a pantheistic world. But Israel's Lord was vindicating His own glorious Name.

These events would be remembered by the Israelites for many generations. Fathers would tell their sons about the mighty acts of the Lord. Their descendants would speak of the power and glory of their God. They would know that their God is the Lord of lords.

All Pharaoh needed to do was to let the Israelites go. But he would not do this. He would not humble himself before the God of Israel. God warned Pharaoh again. This time the Lord would bring a massive plague of locusts upon the land of Egypt.

When Pharaoh's servants heard the advance notice of what would take place, they spoke to their king: “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?”

This shook Pharaoh enough for him to summon Moses and Aaron. Yet even as he appeared to give in, he spoke as one who still had options, and who still wielded authority over his lowly slaves. He questioned Moses and Aaron. “Which ones are to go?” He was not pleased with their answer. He would not permit them all to go. Suddenly, the Lord's messengers were driven away from His presence.

Through the power of God working by the outstretched hand of Moses His servant, the Lord brought a plague of locusts upon an east wind that blew upon the land day and night. In the morning the locusts were everywhere. They darkened the land of Egypt and consumed every green thing.

Pharaoh quickly called Moses and Aaron before him, again using the word sin to describe his actions: “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.” He pleaded for forgiveness and relief from this plague.

Moses turned to God again, and the Lord heard. As the locusts came, so they now went. They came in on an east wind. They left on a west wind. But then Pharaoh would not let the people go after all. God hardened Pharaoh's heart.

Next the Lord brought a miraculous darkness upon the land of Egypt, a darkness that could be felt. This darkness lasted three days. But amazingly the people of Israel had light where they lived. Once again Pharaoh was ready to let Israel go. Yet he still imagined that he could set conditions. They had to leave their flocks and herds behind.

But Moses was insistent: “Not a hoof shall be left behind.” Once again God hardened Pharaoh's heart, and the king would not let them go. Furthermore, he was enraged with the Lord's ambassadors. He had pursued his policy of oppression against them. But they hade frustrated him with their God's Word and His deeds of judgment against Egypt. Pharaoh was not humble before the Lord of all the earth. He was angry. He hated the God of Israel. He hated the Lord's spokesmen. And he hated all the people of Israel. He spoke forth from a heart that despised the Lord: “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.”

So be it. This was what Moses' response to Pharaoh amounted to. You don't want the Lord's messenger? As you wish. Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

The sovereign God of all power and authority was able to accomplish His will while still seeming to give the proud their own way. Did they hate Him and His messengers? So be it.

When the Messiah came, He was despised and rejected by men. He was hated without a cause. Even after He had performed undeniable acts of mercy, and signs of great heavenly power, His own people took counsel together against Him concerning how they might kill Him. Finally, when the Roman governor tried to release Him, they stirred up a crowd to demand His crucifixion.

With all of this hatred and lawlessness, the religious leaders who stood against Him imagined that they would be done with Jesus, and that they would never see his face again. Instead, in His death, an indestructible power was unleashed upon the earth. Down to the present moment, millions all over the globe testify to the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

His enemies got what they wanted. They saw that Jesus was put to death. Yet the sovereign Lord of all the earth won. One day everyone will see Him, even those who pierced Him.