Exodus 10:1-20 | The Way of Scripture

Exodus 10:1-20

Why were these events to be remembered by future generations?

Berean Standard Bible

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, 2 and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.” 3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 4 But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. 5 They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields. 6 They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.
7 Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt lies in ruins?” 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?” 9 “We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” 10 Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil. 11 No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.
12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. 15 They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.
16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17 Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.” 18 So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. 19 And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

What is the context?

God gives another reason for the signs: Israel is to tell its children and grandchildren what He has done, so they too will know that He is the LORD. The deliverance is to become a remembered and retold part of the people’s life.

Moses warns that locusts will consume what the hail has left. Pharaoh’s officials now urge him to let the people go, saying Egypt lies in ruins. He calls the brothers back but tries to limit who may leave. Moses names everyone—young and old, sons and daughters, along with their animals. Pharaoh offers to release only the men and drives the brothers away.

At God’s command Moses stretches out his staff. An east wind brings locusts in overwhelming numbers, and they consume the remaining plants and fruit. The food that survived the hail is now lost.

Pharaoh hurriedly confesses his sin against the LORD and the brothers, then asks for this death to be removed. Moses prays, and God sends a strong west wind that carries every locust away. The removal is as complete as the invasion was overwhelming, but Pharaoh still refuses to release Israel.

How is this passage commonly understood?

The shared reading sees Pharaoh trying to retain control by offering only part of what is demanded. Calvin and Wesley read his sarcastic words about the LORD being with Israel as a threat, and both emphasize that relief from the plague does not become a lasting willingness to obey.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

The command to tell the coming generations is developed in Deuteronomy 6:20–25. When a child asks about God’s commands, the answer begins with slavery in Egypt and the LORD’s mighty deliverance. Remembering the rescue helps the next generation understand why they belong to Him.

Psalm 78:1–8 gives the purpose of passing on God’s works: children yet to be born are to place their confidence in Him, remember what He has done and keep His commands. The story is meant to shape trust and obedience.

The New Testament also treats Israel’s history as instruction for later readers. In 1 Corinthians 10:1–12, Paul recalls the journey through the sea and the wilderness, explaining that these events were written as examples and warnings for the church. He is discussing later parts of Israel’s story there; the wider connection is that God’s remembered acts continue teaching His people.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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