IV — Locusts and Darkness
The plague of thunder and hail had led Pharaoh to confess that he had been sinning, and that God was righteous. But when the Lord showed mercy, it hardened his heart again. God was working these signs and wonders in Egypt to let the people know that he was the living God, able to save and deliver his people from the bondage of sin. These signs of his power were to be remembered, and told by parents to their children in all after time. Again Moses and Aaron were sent to warn the king that if he still refused to humble himself before God, a plague of locusts would come upon the land. At this Pharaoh's servants besought him to let the people go. Then the king tried to escape the judgments of God by following the Lord's command in part, and having his own way in part, just as many now try to do. He said he would let the men go, but not the women and children. Because Moses and Aaron would not say that this was right, they were driven from his presence. Then Moses stretched forth his rod at the command of God, and an east wind sprang up. In the morning the wind brought clouds of locusts. They rested down upon all the land, and ate every green thing that the hail-storm had left. The Egyptians had a god called Serapis, who was supposed to protect the country from locusts. Thus again the people were shown the folly of trusting in false gods and defying the living God. Pharaoh confessed his sin again, and begged Moses to ask God to forgive him just once more. The Lord heard the prayer, and in his mercy sent a west wind, which swept the locusts into the sea. But Pharaoh had not given his heart to God. He forgot his promise, and his heart was hardened. When God's mercy and goodness lead men to sin against him the more, it is a sad case indeed. Now the Lord told Moses to stretch forth his hand toward heaven, and as he did so, darkness came down upon the land. It was so thick that men could not go about their work. The chief gods of the Egyptians, as of all other heathen nations, were the sun and moon, which they worshipped under the names of Isis and Osiris. They were supposed to rule the light and the elements, to give good or bad weather; and the plagues of hail and darkness were especially against them. For three days and nights the sun and moon were hidden from the Egyptians by a veil of thick darkness. But the Israelites had light in their dwellings, because the true Sun of righteousness, whose glory is but dimly reflected in the sun and moon, was with them. Pharaoh now called Moses and proposed to let the people go, but not their flocks and herds. Moses told him that the cattle must also go, not a hoof was to remain behind. When the king saw that the people intended to escape his power, he sent Moses away, and threatened him with death if he came before him again. Now he had filled the measure of wickedness. Moses had no more messages of mercy for him. One more plague remained to be visited upon the land, and God's people would be delivered. 1. What confession did Pharaoh make after the seventh plague? What effect did God's mercy have upon him? 2. Why did God work with signs and wonders? To whom did he wish the story told? 3. What was the eighth plague? What did some of the Egyptians say when it was threatened? What did Pharaoh think to do? How did he treat Moses and Aaron? 4. How were the locusts brought upon the land? What did they do? How did this plague rebuke the false worship of Egypt? 5. What did Pharaoh now do? How was his prayer answered? Was his heart humbled? 6. What was the ninth plague? How was it brought upon the land? How long did it last? Were all the houses in Egypt in darkness? What were the chief gods of Egypt? 7. What next did Pharaoh suggest to Moses? What threat did he make? What did Moses say?