This week we look at the 8th plague: the plague of locusts. A study through the plagues is very important for our understanding of the world we live in. Most of these plagues in Exodus we see again in the book of Revelation; plagues unfolding through the history of the world for the same reasons, the sin and idolatry of mankind.
The truths revealed in the plagues are not easy to digest, but it is from God, and it is to direct us to life that is really life. The locust plague was a terrible judgment. We read that all the remaining green vegetation Egypt relied on for food was consumed. Let’s look at truths we are to take away from this.
First, sin is the worst plague. The plagues show us God’s anger with the sin and idolatry of man. The apostle Paul says the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The plague of locusts was terrible, but there would be no plague if there was no sin.
In this plague the Lord specifically instructs Moses to tell other generations of people how harshly he dealt with the Egyptians. They were not to fail to convey how terrible his judgments were against Egypt. It is not to be thought of as strange if men living like beasts perish from God’s judgment. Israel must learn not to envy the prosperity of the wicked. God was long in his patience but judgment came at last. The inevitability of judgment is on display.
Sin is described in various ways in the Scriptures; rebellion against God, blind vanity, missing the mark, evil, transgression against the law of God, folly, opposite of truth, it unmans a man making him beastly, debases the best mental and creative gifts, the worst disease, and much more. Nevertheless, the worst thing of sin is it provokes God to anger. There is but one remedy for it; the Son of God who came to take it away. We are all in need of mercy and grace.
Another lesson we learn here is God’s Word is the way to life. The Lord tells Moses to tell his children and grandchildren how he “dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord (verse 2).” Throughout the Scriptures God instructs his people to teach their children about him: to teach them his word.
Notice that God tells Moses to tell children the misery that Egypt suffered. The Israelites were not to withhold the hard truths about the consequences of sin and idolatry from their children. A fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God would have his people direct their children away from death through knowledge of the Lord. To be like Egypt was to invite the Lord’s judgment. The Lord graciously directs Moses to help children come to him.
Christians need to teach their children the Scriptures. There is an epidemic in our country of a lack of Bible knowledge. The best gift a parent can give to his children is to require knowledge of the Bible. The Lord tells Moses it is a command. It is a command to teach our children the way to life in Christ. We can all improve upon it; let this passage be a spur to it.
The third truth we see in our passage is that salvation is God’s way only. In verse 10, Pharaoh makes a bad assumption. He assumes God is like man and can be bargained with. He offers Moses to let the men of Israel go and worship the Lord, but not the women and children. Moses refuses (because God has said no), Pharaoh sticks to his offer, and Pharaoh suffers the judgment warned about.
God does not bargain with men. He is the Lord. He gives his terms. Sin leads to death. The terms of the gospel are gracious terms. He offers sinners the gift of deliverance from the guilt and power of sin eternally by the sacrifice of the holy Son of God, if they but turn from their ways (which are sinful ways) and believe in Christ. He says the consequence of not obeying the gospel is judgment and death.
Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The poor in spirit represent those who come to God on his terms. They lay down their own terms. They rejoice that God is gracious and has offered so great a salvation. They come to love Christ for making a way for them out of death unto life. The plagues are examples of warnings directing us to Christ.
