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Exodus 10:1-2 (ESV)
The Eighth Plague: Locusts
10 Then 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 signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”
Psalm 105:1-5, 26-36, 43 (ESV)
Tell of All His Wonderful Works
105 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel[a] against his words. 29 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. 30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 33 He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.
The Exodus, where God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, is the central story of the Old Testament. Because this story is so vital, Israel is urged to remember it, and teach it to her children and grandchildren. This included putting the story of the Exodus into Israel’s worship, in places like Psalms 78, 105, 106, and 136. Here in Psalm 105, the emphasis is on praising God for his goodness. Unlike Psalms 78 & 106, there is no mention of Israel’s doubts or rebellion. The emphasis is on simply praising God for his mighty deeds. In particular, the poet delights in describing the plagues God sent against Egypt. Exodus 10:2 explains why this is important. God didn’t just send the plagues to frustrate Pharaoh: God’s primary purpose was to show Israel that God was in charge of the natural world. These simple farmers were afraid of the locusts and hail. They ran to Pharaoh and worshipped his false sun god for assurance in the face of the threats of nature. The true God uses the plagues to help Israel see that he is the true Lord over all nature, and over Pharaoh too. Pray for the faith to rest in the comfort that God is in charge!