The Law · Chapter 10 of 40

Exodus 10

The LORD sends locusts that devour every green thing the hail had spared, then a darkness so thick it can be felt covers Egypt for three days while Israel enjoys light. Pharaoh's own servants beg him to relent, and he bargains repeatedly, offering partial freedom. Moses refuses every compromise, and Pharaoh, enraged, banishes him, vowing he will see Moses' face no more.

What happens in Exodus 10

God tells Moses to confront Pharaoh again, revealing that the hardening serves a purpose: so future generations will retell His wonders. When Moses threatens locusts, Pharaoh's servants plead that Egypt is already ruined, and Pharaoh offers to let only the men go. Moses insists all Israel with their flocks must worship, so Pharaoh drives them out. The east wind carries locusts that blanket the land and consume every remaining herb and fruit. Pharaoh hastily confesses his sin and begs forgiveness; a west wind sweeps the locusts into the Red Sea, but his heart hardens again.

Then Moses stretches out his hand and a palpable darkness falls three days, yet Israel has light in their dwellings. Pharaoh offers to release the people if their flocks stay; Moses refuses to leave a single hoof behind. Furious, Pharaoh threatens death if Moses appears again, and Moses agrees they will not meet.

Exodus 10 in context

Exodus 10 brings the eighth and ninth plagues, locusts and darkness, as the contest with Pharaoh nears its climax. Darkness assaulted Ra, Egypt's revered sun god, exposing his impotence. The chapter highlights Pharaoh's escalating bargains, a study in half hearted repentance that keeps trying to negotiate terms with God.

Meanwhile God frames the plagues as testimony to be handed down to children, making memory itself an act of worship.

Main themes of Exodus 10

Exodus 10 (KJV)

1And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: 2And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. 3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. 4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: 5And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: 6And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? 8And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go? 9And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD. 10And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you. 11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. 12And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. 13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. 15For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only. 18And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. 19And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. 21And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. 27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

Verses to carry from Exodus 10

“And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.”Exodus 10:2

“They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”Exodus 10:23

“Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”Exodus 10:26

Reflection

What has God asked you to surrender that you keep trying to negotiate down to a smaller offering? Pharaoh's story warns that partial obedience is disguised refusal. Bring the whole of your life, not one hoof left behind, and discover that walking with Christ means light in your dwelling while the world gropes in the dark.

A prayer from Exodus 10