Exodus 10:1-20

Exodus 10:1-20;24-28

In Exodus 10, there are 2 plagues (Locusts and Darkness). The plagues would get worse each time. Pharaoh repeatedly disobeyed God when God is the One saying: "let my people go". It is in this place that God is acting in justice! Whoever disobeys God is going to face consequences. Pharaoh and the Egyptians would not be the only ones facing God's wrath for the treatment of His people as well as the people's disobedience against GOD (their maker) and their wicked ways! Egypt would NOT be the only nation facing this. He can do it now, just like He did it then.. The plague before the locusts was hail. Locust would be more severe than the plague of hail. With the plague of locusts, the Egyptians would see more locusts than their ancestors ever did! The locusts would eat their crops, leaving them with a severe famine. The Egyptians would reap what they have sown. What food was left from the hailstorm would be swallowed up by the locusts!

What really strikes me is Pharaoh's behavior:

Pharaoh agreed, then refused to let them go.

Pharaoh tried to "negotiate" in the situation. (vs. 24)

Pharaoh threatens Moses. (vs. 10; 28)

Pharaoh would repent, the plague would be taken away, and Pharaoh would go back to his previous stubbornness of refusing to listen, walk in obedience, and let God's people go! It is seen in chapter 9 as well.

God is in control, not us!

Our ways are NOT His!!!

We need to follow Him and be obedient to Him, forsaking our sinful ways, and choosing Him!

One study I am slowly going through is on repentance, and what is repentance. Repentance is defined in this particular passage: 

“Whoever would love life

    and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

    and their lips from deceitful speech.

11 They must turn from evil and do good;

    they must seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12)

This passage shows what it means to repent. It shows what we need to do. We need a change of heart. We need to pray that God will help us come to a place of fully repenting, turning from our ways, and turning to Him, and being obedient to Him!! We need to repent, and turn from our wicked ways---seeking God; Seeking His ways! Seeking to be obedient to Him! Just like Pharaoh, we have sinned against a holy God! It is a serious offense!! It is nothing to take lightly. Still Jesus Christ came to die on the cross for our sins, because of God's great love!!! He has paid it all. Do not mistake his grace for doing as we please!!

In the midst of seeing Pharaoh's dirty heart, this is a petition so that the Israelites can worship God. This is a CALL to worship God!!  Moses makes a wise point in his dealing with Pharaoh in Exodus 10:26 when he said: "We won't know what we will need to worship until we get there." What if we came totally ready to worship God? Ready to give all that we have to offer? Allowing God to determine what we give as our offering? (It will probably be November before I make it to Leviticus, but it really sets the stage as we think about worship offerings and what we give!)