Exodus chapter 10 draws us deeper into the dramatic confrontation between Yahweh, the living God, and Pharaoh, the self-proclaimed god-king of Egypt. Two powerful plagues dominate this narrative: the locusts (verses 1-20) and darkness (verses 21-29). Each plague intensifies the previous message: God alone is sovereign, and all human pride that defies Him ultimately crumbles.
In ancient cultures, locust infestations represented an existential threat, capable of consuming a year’s laborious harvest in mere days—an economic and social disaster. But here, the plague is more than a mere agricultural calamity. In Exodus 10:2 (English Standard Version), God instructs Moses to pass the lessons down through history:
“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.”
The Hebrew text emphasizes the importance of memory and testimony. The phrase “that you may tell” (וּלְמַעַן תְּסַפֵּר lu-ma’an t’saper) implies intentional conversation across generations. Sharing stories of God’s faithfulness isn’t merely historical—it’s deeply spiritual. Remembering God’s power to liberate and discipline shapes our identity as His people.
Notably, Pharaoh’s counselors begin to plea for reason, realizing Egypt’s ruin is imminent (10:7). Pharaoh continues to waver between hardness and apparent remorse, but ultimately chooses pride over humility, resulting in devastating consequences.
Cross-reference: Joel 1:4-7 portrays another significant prophetic use of locust imagery as divine judgment, underscoring its theological symbolism.
The plague of darkness directly challenges the heart of Egyptian religion. Egyptians worshipped the sun god Ra (or Re), believing him to be the supreme deity who brought life, vision, wellness, and order to the cosmos. A darkness that could be “felt” (Exodus 10:21 New King James Version) was terrifying: it showed the absolute impotence of Egyptian gods, as even the powerful Ra is silenced by Yahweh’s command.
The Hebrew description choshekh (חֹשֶׁךְ) depicts not just physical darkness but a profound spiritual blindness. The Egyptians, led by Pharaoh, cannot discern truth from lie, divine from mundane. Meanwhile, Israelites in Goshen experience brilliant light, symbolizing God’s presence and truth.
By sending darkness, Yahweh exposes the emptiness and futility of placing trust in false gods or in our self-made power. It reminds God’s people today to examine carefully: What false securities do we still cherish? What societal idolatries have seeped into our hearts unnoticed?
Cross-reference: Compare to Christ’s crucifixion in Matthew 27:45 (“there was darkness over all the land…”), indicating judgment and spiritual upheaval.
Repeatedly, chapters in Exodus state Pharaoh’s heart was “hardened.” The Hebrew text uses multiple expressions for this: sometimes Pharaoh does the hardening (kabed, meaning “heavy”) and sometimes God does (using the phrase chizek et lev Pharaoh, “strengthened or hardened Pharaoh’s heart”). Interpreters through history have wrestled with this tension: Does God limit Pharaoh’s freedom? Prominent theologians such as Augustine and Calvin have emphasized the coexistence of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Pharaoh freely hardens his heart, even while God sovereignly permits or even strengthens him in judgment as a demonstration of His own glory.
The human heart frequently rebels against yielding control—it fights acknowledging that God alone is Lord. Pharaoh’s stubbornness thus provides a mirror for our own spiritual reflections.
Consider meditating today on Isaac Watts’ profound hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Reflect on how God’s unchanging power delivers His people from spiritual bondage and grants wisdom amid life’s darkness.
Heavenly Father, You alone reign sovereign over all creation. Forgive our tendencies toward pride, stubbornness, and spiritual blindness. Illuminate our hearts with Your truth, and grow in us a humble awareness of our dependence upon You. May we faithfully tell others of your power, mercy, and faithfulness, even as we meditate deeply upon Your glory revealed in the pages of Scripture. We pray this through Christ, the true Light who has overcome the darkness. Amen.