A Cloud of Locusts: 8th sign. Exodus 10:1-20. The Lord teaches us to root ourselves in His truth in many ways. Each generation encounters different challenges as society grows or declines. One proven method of passing God's truth from one generation to the next is for God to create circumstances and specific events in such a way that they become unforgettable. The event and its impact are permanently etched into a family’s heritage.
That was one thing the Lord was accomplishing through the signs in Egypt. Each sign served as a lesson to the Israelites and also as an act of justice and judgment against Egypt. For nearly four hundred years after Joseph was taken as a slave to Egypt, the children of Israel remained in bondage. They had begun worshiping the Egyptian gods, but the moment had arrived for the covenant the Lord God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be fulfilled. They needed to learn who the true God was before He could free them from slavery.
Parents are still responsible for teaching their children about God: who He is, what He is like, what He does, and what He expects from us. A good way to do that is to tell them stories about how God has worked in our ancestors, how they were reached with the Gospel, how your parents were saved by His grace, how He has dealt with you throughout your life, what He is doing right now in your lives, and what that means to you. Make it clear to them that what He has done for you will do for them if they trust in Him.
As we look back over the years of our lives and consider major events and turning points that have shaped who we are and what we do, perhaps they will see themselves. Is God trying to get their attention? Is He trying to get them to believe in Him? The stories of our life experiences can help build a foundation of faith in God and commitment to Christ. Our personal relationship with God as members of His family can positively influence those who do not have that in their lives.
God’s message to them remains the same as it was to the children of Israel: ‘I AM THE LORD!” They can learn this truth the hard way, like Pharaoh and the Egyptians did, or the better way—by paying attention to what you teach them. If they learn from what you teach, they will accept God's truth and personally trust in the Lord Jesus Christ through faith.
The role of parents and grandparents has been emphasized by the Holy Spirit in many parts of the scriptures. To this day, Jews remember the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt as a pivotal event in their national life. Some passages of scripture for parents to consider in this regard are Ex. 12:26-27; 13:8, 14-15; Deut. 4:9; Psa. 77:11-20; 78:4-6, 43-53; 105:26-38; 106:7-12; 114:1-3; 135:8-9; 136:10-15.
Grandparents also pass on what they have learned [2Tim.1:5-6; Psa.78:1-8]. The influence of maturity includes teaching the preservation of life, Gen.45:10; understanding the truth, Gen.50:23; continuing worship, Ex.27:21; and proclaiming the consequences, Ex.34:7. Maturity-related instruction involves predicting failure, De.4:9, 25; preparing for questions, Josh.4:21; avoiding the spread of evil, 2Kgs.17:21; and presenting facts, Psa.78:5. The impact of maturity promotes righteousness, Psa.103:17; fosters peace within families, Psa.128:6; guides in passing down inheritance, Pro.13:22; brings joy in prosperity, Pro.17:6; advocates for repentance, Jer.2:9; offers promises for the future, Ez.37:25; and emphasizes principles to remember, Joel 1:3.
Moses and Aaron went uninvited to Pharaoh with the plea to let the Israelites go to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. They warned that a plague of locusts would completely cover the land and consume everything left from the hailstorm. Without waiting for a response, they turned and left. They didn't wait because they knew Pharaoh saw himself as a god of power and self-assertiveness.
Everything exposed was broken down by the force of nature's unleashed power. Hail destroyed all green life. The menacing sound of thunder and lightning was everywhere. Egypt had nowhere to escape the uncontrollable power of thunder, lightning, and hail. The plagues caused humans and animals left in the open to die for the first time. Right after that plague came the most terrifying insect that can invade a country. The last bit of green on the ground was about to be devoured by locusts, and the ground was black with locusts swallowing everything in their path. No plant life was left alive.
Even Pharaoh's servants argued against him, saying that nothing of value remained in Egypt. They could see his pride and lack of common sense, as well as the disaster that awaited them all, including the nation. Locusts can consume their own weight in a single day; fifty million will cover an acre of land. The insects were so numerous that they devoured thousands of tons of vegetation overnight. No wonder Pharaoh’s advisers wanted Moses and Aaron to return and agree on some terms that would favor Pharaoh and satisfy those who represented God.
Sin in any person blinds their understanding of the true purpose of human life. It elevates the pride of the human mind, causing people to lose reasonable and rational thoughts about trusting in God. Despite all the evidence of God present everywhere—both in nature and within ourselves—people resist the idea of being accountable to their Creator God.
There is no way that the powers of darkness under Satan's authority will ever mix with the commands of the God of the universe. Strangely, some people who claim to be Christians try to be friends with the ungodly and tolerate evil and sin. They want to “cross-pollinate” light with darkness, and it cannot be done! When compromising suggestions are made, it is clear that evil is determined to overcome righteousness. Those who promote such wickedness become enraged when they don’t get their way.