judgment; but when that was over, his fair promises were forgotten. Those that are not bettered by
judgments and mercies, commonly become worse.
Chapter 10
Chapter Outline
The plague of locusts threatened, Pharaoh, (1–11)
moved by his servants, inclines to let the
Israelites go.
The plague of locusts. (12–20)
The plague of thick darkness. (21–29)Verses 1–11
The plagues of Egypt show the sinfulness of sin. They warn the children of men not to strive
with their Maker. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself; but no account was made of it, for he
was not sincere therein. The plague of locusts is threatened. This should be much worse than any
of that kind which had ever been known. Pharaoh's attendants persuade him to come to terms with
Moses. Hereupon Pharaoh will allow the men to go, falsely pretending that this was all they desired.
He swears that they shall not remove their little ones. Satan does all he can to hinder those that
serve God themselves, from bringing their children to serve him. He is a sworn enemy to early
piety. Whatever would put us from engaging our children in God's service, we have reason to
suspect Satan in it. Nor should the young forget that the Lord's counsel is, Remember thy Creator
in the days of thy youth; but Satan's counsel is, to keep children in a state of slavery to sin and to
the world. Mark that the great foe of man wishes to retain him by the ties of affection, as Pharaoh
would have taken hostages from the Israelites for their return, by holding their wives and children
in captivity. Satan is willing to share our duty and our service with the Saviour, because the Saviour
will not accept those terms.
Verses 12–20
God bids Moses stretch out his hand; locusts came at the call. An army might more easily have
been resisted than this host of insects. Who then is able to stand before the great God? They covered
the face of the earth, and ate up the fruit of it. Herbs grow for the service of man; yet when God
pleases, insects shall plunder him, and eat the bread out of his mouth. Let our labour be, not for the
habitation and meat thus exposed, but for those which endure to eternal life. Pharaoh employs
Moses and Aaron to pray for him. There are those, who, in distress, seek the help of other people's
prayers, but have no mind to pray for themselves. They show thereby that they have no true love
to God, nor any delight in communion with him. Pharaoh desires only that this death might be taken
away, not this sin. He wishes to get rid of the plague of locusts, not the plague of a hard heart,
which was more dangerous. An east wind brought the locusts, a west wind carries them off. Whatever