Introduction
Despite two more plagues, Pharaoh still won't listen.
Questions
1. Who did the LORD say had hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and his servants and why?
v 1 and 2 The LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs amongst them; and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done amongst them; that you may know that I am the LORD.”
2. What did Pharaoh's servants say to him after Moses threatened the plague of locusts?
v 7 Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”
3. What reasons did Moses give for them needing to take all their animals with them?
v 26 ... Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve the LORD, until we come there.”
Summary Points
- v 1 and 2 The LORD tells Moses to go to Pharaoh, for he has hardened Pharoah's heart so that his signs will show that he is LORD
- v 3 to 11 Pharaoh is threatened that locusts will come and eat what is left of Egypt's crops if he still refuses to let the Israelites go. His servants suggest that he should let the Israelites go, but Pharaoh is stubborn and says that only the men can go
- v 12 to 20 The threatened plague of locusts devastates Egypt's vegetation. The locusts are removed when Moses prays to the LORD. But Pharaoh again changes his mind because God has hardened his heart
- v 21 to 23 The LORD tells Moses to stretch his hand towards the sky to bring total darkness over Egypt. This continues for three days. The Israelites however are not affected
v 24 to 29 Pharaoh's suggestion that the people can go without their flocks and herds is rejected by Moses. The LORD hardens Pharaoh's heart and he says he doesn't want to see Moses again