After the devastating hailstorm, Pharaoh reneged on his promise to Moses and once again refused to let the Israelites go free. However, the LORD revealed to Moses that the delay was not merely due to Pharaoh’s stubbornness but was part of God’s greater plan. God had allowed Pharaoh and his officials to harden their hearts in order to showcase His mighty signs. These wonders would serve as a lasting testimony of how God dealt harshly with the Egyptians and as a cautionary lesson for future generations of Israelites.
With this message, Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, warning him that if he continued to refuse, a plague of locusts would descend upon Egypt, consuming everything left after the hailstorm and bringing devastation unlike anything ever seen. Then, Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence, leaving him to confer with his officials and make his decision.
Pharaoh’s officials said to 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 is ruined?” – Exodus 10:7 (NIV)
Unlike Pharaoh, who may have been able to shield himself from the worst of these plagues or their effects, the officials were fully exposed to their impact. Pharaoh’s officials are finally speaking up because they have suffered too much and lost so much since the start of the plagues. The plagues are growing more intense, one after another, with some still lingering and adding to the Egyptians’ suffering. The previous plague showed them clear evidence that if they obeyed God, He would relent and stop punishing them. The people are fed up with Pharaoh’s stubbornness, realizing that the loss of free labour from the Israelites is not as grave as the threat of losing their own lives.
Feigning Ignorance
Moses and Aaron were summoned back before Pharaoh, who informed them that they could go and worship the LORD their God. However, he inquired as to who would be going. Moses replied that all of them—young and old, sons and daughters, along with their flocks and herds—would go, as they were to observe a festival to the LORD.
Pharaoh said, “The LORD be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil. – Exodus 10:10 (NIV)
Upon hearing this, Pharaoh realised that his deepest fears were coming true: the Israelites were planning an exodus. He told Moses that it was evident that the Israelites had ulterior motives. Pharaoh refused, asserting that only the men could go and worship the LORD, as that had been their initial request and Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence. Is the first time Pharaoh has been told who all would leave to worship the LORD in the desert or if he is feigning ignorance?
It seems Pharaoh was merely wielding his power and wanted to send the people on his terms, holding their families hostage to maintain control. Pharaoh desired to retain the Israelites for free labor and likely never imagined they intended to leave Egypt permanently. Now that everyone is preparing to depart, he is pretending to stop them on a technicality. His actions stem from a combination of ego and pride; if they leave, it must be on his terms or not at all.
The request from Moses and Aaron had always been to let the people of God go, although they did not explicitly tell Pharaoh that they intended to leave permanently. Even though God had instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go free unequivocally, they only stated that they wished to go and celebrate a festival in the desert. Pharaoh, however, heard or inferred what he wanted to hear and is now attempting to negotiate with God, testing His anger at a time when he has already lost the support of his own officials.
Similarly, we often refuse to heed God’s warnings or understand their true implications, claiming innocence due to our lack of understanding. When God speaks to us, there is no room for confusion, but it is we who, like Pharaoh, choose to harden our hearts and continue pursuing our own will. Claiming ignorance as an excuse will not be a viable option at the time of judgment, for God knows the very depth of our hearts. God knew that Pharaoh was acting shrewdly by allowing only the men to leave, and in response, He sent yet another debilitating plague upon the Egyptians.
Locusts from the East
The LORD instructed Moses to stretch out his hand over Egypt, commanding that locusts swarm the land and devour everything left by the hail. The LORD sent an east wind across the land throughout the day and night. By morning, the wind had brought the locusts, which invaded all of Egypt, settling in every part of the country in overwhelming numbers. Never before had such a plague of locusts been seen, nor would there ever be one like it again. The locusts covered the ground so completely that it appeared black, and they devoured everything left after the hail—every plant in the fields and every fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on any tree or plant throughout Egypt.
In desperation, Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron, admitting, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Please forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.” Moses then left Pharaoh’s presence and prayed to the LORD. In response, the LORD caused a strong west wind to blow, which swept the locusts away, carrying them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in Egypt. However, despite the relief Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from their life of slavery.
Let There Be Darkness
The LORD instructed Moses to stretch out his hand toward the sky, causing darkness to fall over Egypt for three days, a darkness so intense that it could be felt. During this time, no one could see or move, but the Israelites had light in their dwellings ruling out any possibility of any solar or lunar eclipse. Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to go and worship the LORD, allowing even the women and children to go, but insisting that the flocks and herds stay behind.
Moses continued in his false narrative that the Israelites were leaving only to sacrifice to their God and replied that they needed to take their livestock as well, as they had to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD. He added that until they reached their destination, they wouldn’t know what they would need for worship. This rekindled Pharaoh’s anger to exacerbated levels, and he became absolutely livid, threatening to kill Moses.
Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
“Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.” – Exodus 10:28-29 (NIV)
Why couldn’t Moses just tell Pharaoh the truth, instead of continuing the lie about going to the desert solely to sacrifice and then return? The LORD was performing mighty signs and wonders, unprecedented and unmatched by anything the world had ever seen or would ever see again. The plagues mocked the powerless deities the Egyptians had created, which represented God’s creations like the sun, cattle, and more. It would have been easy for the Egyptians to realize that the God of the Israelites was expressing His wrath upon them for enslaving His people. They would have never imagined that they would endure such devastating plagues just so the Israelites could have a few days to attend a festival in the desert.
The reason behind the plagues was not only the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart but also Moses’ lack of faith in God’s ability to deliver the Israelites safely from Egypt. Moses’ fear of Pharaoh (Exodus 6:12) overshadowed his trust in God’s promise. The series of intensifying plagues, which humbled Pharaoh, had the opposite effect on Moses. With each plague, Moses grew more confident in the LORD. It was crucial that Moses did not leave Egypt prematurely before his faith in God had been firmly established. He was being prepared to lead the Israelites through a long and challenging journey, both physically and emotionally, and it was essential that he rooted his faith in God before undertaking this immense responsibility.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)
Discussion Questions
- Why were Pharaoh’s officials finally speaking up after staying silent throughout this ordeal?
- Is this the first time Pharaoh has been told who all would leave to worship the LORD in the desert or is he feigning Ignorance? Do we do the same?
- Why couldn’t Moses just tell Pharaoh the truth, instead of continuing the lie about going to the desert solely to sacrifice and then return?
The Jordan Valley 
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