Grasshoppers

O. T. #157  "Grasshoppers"
Oct. 29, 2013
Exodus 10-Part 2
Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.
Exodus 10:14b

LET IT GLOW

I remember one dry summer having grasshoppers all over the place outside, it seemed. Walking in the grass, they would jump; they were sitting on fence posts; eating up anything that was green, although fields were dry and brown like straw. They would leave evidence of their presence by spitting brown stuff, which we called tobacco, but it wasn't. Then at night you could hear their noise. It was horrible. That was back in 1980, the year of the drought. It was bad enough just visiting home where it happened, much less living among them. (We had moved to college earlier in the year.)
I can't imagine having grasshoppers in your house and other buildings, as the Egyptians experienced.
By the way, this is the first mention of locust or locusts.

However, God keeps His promises. What He says He will do, He does it. Pharaoh and Egypt have experienced seven awful plagues of devastation. God demonstrated His awesome power to the world. Also, Israel would later look back and speak of God's greatness, power, protection, and loving kindness during this time. Then came plague number eight...

Plague #8 Locust

Again, Moses and Aaron are sent to Pharaoh with a warning from God. This time it will be locusts if he will not let God's people go to worship Him in the wilderness.

This is the first mention of locusts. Locusts are  grasshoppers, according to Strong's Concordance;
it is a variety of voracious grasshoppers or cicadas, in Webster's Dictionary.
Cicada, (si-ka'da), is an insect that makes a shrill sound by vibrating certain membranes, as defined by Webster's Dictionary.

What is the warning to Pharaoh if he refuses again?

• God would bring locusts into Egypt the next day.
• Locusts would be so many that they would cover the ground so it is unseen.
• They would devour what little is left in Egypt after the hailstorm, even the trees.
• They would fill all the houses and offices of the Egyptians.
• The locusts will be worse than any of their ancestors had ever seen.

Grasshoppers are okay for fishing bait, catching perch, but not for house guests.
Do we have unpleasant house guests? That is, in our house, or life, do we have a bad attitude, unforgiveness, jealousy?
Are we letting anything eating up our faith in God?

LET IT GROW

"How long will this man be a snare to us? " Pharaoh's officials asked him that question.

Strong's Concordance defines a snare as a noose for catching animals; a hook for the nose; a trap.

This is the first mention of the word snare.

Pharaoh's attendants persuade him to come to terms with Moses. He will allow the men to go, falsely pretending that this was all they desired. He swears that they shall not remove their little ones. Satan does all he can to hinder those that serve God themselves, from bringing their children to serve him.
Pharaoh would have taken hostages from the Israelites for their return, by holding their wives and children in captivity. (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible)

Do we let Satan snare us, trap us in a sinful way of life?

In light of the destruction, Pharaoh's servants relent, persuading the king to let the Hebrews go. It is Pharaoh who puts stipulations on the permission, compromising by letting only the men go. Really, only the men need to go worship?

God won't bargain; He holds all the negotiating leverage. Things are to be done God's way, not our way. Often times we "give in" to God, without fully submitting to Him. We do a task part way. That's so we can hop around it like a grasshopper.

The next morning the east wind blew in the locusts on Egypt destroying the plants and trees. Verse 15 says, They covered all the ground until it was black.

Is our heart black with sin as the ground was in Egypt? Jesus can cleanse it if we only ask Him to.

Well, Pharaoh  desperately summons Moses and Aaron, saying that he had sinned against God and them, wanting them to forgive him, and pray to the LORD their God to take away the deadly plague. (verses 16-17)
Then God caused a west wind to carry the locusts into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. (verses 18-19).

If they were planning on chocolate covered grasshoppers for dessert or barbecued grasshoppers for supper, they missed their chance.
How mighty is our God!
Troubles come, troubles go at His bidding. How strong is our faith to endure through them?

LET IT GO

Watch out for snares and locusts.

Turn to the Lord Jesus and His Word.