Seder 51: Exodus 10---Plagues of Locusts and Darkness

 Exodus 10:1-2 brings out the evangelistic purpose of the plagues of Egypt.  The plagues would show everyone---Israelites, Egyptians, and the rest of the world---the identity of the true God who is faithful to those who keep his covenant and the judge of those who don't.

On April 10, 2021, Rob Wilson reflected on these verses in a sermon on the identity of the true "King of Glory."  

The eighth plague would be an invasion of locusts which would consume the vegetation that had survived the hailstorm.  By this point, Pharaoh's advisers could see the devastation that previous plagues had wrought upon Egypt.  Ironically, Egypt's slaves had put Egypt in a situation where its options were severely limited (v 7).  It was time to let the Israelites go. 

Pharaoh did not completely ignore his advisers.  He began a half-hearted bargaining session with Moses, still hoping to keep the Israelites from leaving for good, but those negotiations broke down quickly (vv 8-11).    

The locust plague was devastating.  The text does not mention explicitly that the Israelites were spared in this plague.  Again, though, I agree with Douglas Stuart's assertion that the Israelites were spared from all of the plagues.  

Pharaoh soon begged Moses to ask God to remove the locusts.  When the locusts departed, Pharaoh's stubbornness returned, as usual.   

Then God announced a ninth plague:  "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt" (v 21).   

What exactly is a "darkness to be felt"?  Stuart explains that this is "a darkness that will require groping around or feeling around."  The Hebrew root for "to be felt" is elsewhere used for the actions of blind people---e.g., in Deut 28:29 ("And you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness...")  With no light at all for three days, people would quickly fall into panic, disorientation, and depression. 

Pharaoh summoned Moses after these three days and resumed negotiations, which again quickly broke down.  Irrationally, Pharaoh lashed out at Moses, even though Moses wasn't the cause of his problems:

"Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die" (v 28).

Commentators point out that the wording in verse 28 can mean "don't come ever again," or it can mean "don't keep coming."  Some propose that Pharaoh in verse 28 meant the first of these, while Moses in his reply in verse 29 ("As you say!  I will not see your face again.") intended the second.  Moses in verse 29 may have been affirming that indeed, Moses and Pharaoh would not keep on meeting indefinitely, because the Israelites would be leaving soon.