I wonder if you have ever tried to tell someone something they needed to hear, and they simply would not listen.  Perhaps you’ve tried to warn someone of a trajectory they are on, and though they may acknowledge it for a time, they are still drawn to the same patterns.  We see that in the case of Pharaoh, as Moses continues to warn him about his sin and rebellion against God.  As he continues to afflict the people of God, he takes a stand against God Himself.  

In Exodus 10:1-20, we see the plague of the locusts.  As Moses warns of the plague if God’s people are not allowed to go and serve the Lord, Pharaoh even seems to convince himself that Moses is asking not for all of God’s people to be allowed to go, but only the men.  We see Pharoah descending further and further into irrationality.  Sin does this–it causes men to do anything they can to avoid what is true.  

As the plague of the locusts falls upon the land, it brings utter desolation.  The locusts destroy even the crops that were left after the plague of the hail.  You may have at some point read a work of post-apocalyptic fiction.  Even what is described in those books can’t compare to the desolation that has fallen in this chapter on the land of Egypt.  

Pharaoh is driven once again to acknowledge his sin, but we are told he does so hastily.  He has not truly grappled with the fact that his sin has offended a holy God.  He does not go truly to the Lord for mercy.  One of the privileges of the Christian life is confession of sin–in God’s grace and kindness we may go to the Lord for mercy, knowing that Christ has paid for our sins.  But Pharaoh will not turn from self unto the Lord.  

Even in the midst of this, we are driven once again to the hope of the Gospel.  It is implicit in the passage that the plague does not fall upon the people of God.  The people of God are spared by His grace.  All of these plagues are of the judgment of God, and they point to a more severe judgment–eternal judgment.  The Good News of the Gospel is that Christ has stood condemned for His people so that His own would be spared and would have the hope of life, not having to endure the eternal despair to which this passage points. 

Join us this week as we consider these things more fully.  We meet for worship at 5 PM at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church.  If you need directions, contact us, or click here for more information.  You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube.