Title: Grasshopper Plague
Exodus 10:1-11
locust plague
Today, I would like to receive grace by introducing a spiritual lesson that was shown through the eighth plague, the locust plague.
1. This is an event that showed who God is as a sign (1-2).
Pharaoh and his servants' hearts were hardened because God hardened them. In this way, God hardens those who will harden it, and gives grace to those who show grace (Romans 9:18). He did this to Pharaoh to reveal the power of God (Romans 9:17). We can confirm who God is in the following few ways.
① You are a sovereign. You do everything sovereignly. Just as a potter makes pottery according to his own will, God sovereignly acts on people. He also claims all things arbitrarily.
② He is omnipotent. It can be confirmed from the plagues shown at the time of the Exodus that nothing is impossible with the Lord.
③ He is a faithful person. He is someone who always keeps his promises.
④ He is a compassionate person. It was out of mercy and compassion that the deliverance of Israel in distress.
⑤ He is an angry person. You can see that He does not stop wrath and punishment against those who oppose and disobey God.
⑥ He is the only savior. There is only one God who can save Israel. He hardened Pharaoh's heart to show that he is such a God as a sign and to make it known to his descendants, and he sent plagues over and over again. We must recognize God right away while looking at these disasters.
2. It shows that the proud will eventually perish (3).
“How long will you not humble yourself before me?” God said (3). Pharaoh was a virtuous man in every way.
① I did it according to my own stubbornness and insistence. I didn't listen to anyone. It's because of the selfishness that he thinks is the best. ② He did not listen to the servants. The servants admitted that Egypt was destroyed and begged Israel to be let go (7). But Pharaoh refused.
③ They rejected the word of God through Moses. He said, “Let my people go,” but he refused to the end. God rejects the proud. Those who live by faith must be humble. In particular, we must be humble in the heart, not just outwardly. God gives them grace and lifts them up high. A humble person can rise to the highest position in the kingdom of God. Let us be humble, let go of our stubbornness, willingly accept advice, and become saints who fully obey God's Word.
3. It shows that all that man believes or relies on is futile.
4. It shows that you can never compromise with those who oppose God.
Pharaoh offered a compromise of his own. But Moses did not respond. Of course, it was also because he couldn't trust Pharaoh, but more importantly, because God's commands are absolute. Truth is never something that can be compromised or compromised. It is God's will and command that cannot be yielded to save Israel from Egypt. There can be no concessions or compromises in the life of faith. God's Word is never tangible. Of course, unless it is a matter of truth, we should embrace and yield as much as we want, but it is not just a matter of faith. Moses never backed down. We call this a payoff. Reparation of faith is very precious in terms of maintaining purity. That would be very pleasing to God. Our flesh and desires often require compromise, but we must keep our faith on the side of the truth to the end and obey the Word of God. Now let me conclude. We hope that we will become God's people who recognize God rightly and humbly believe in and serve only God, and fully compensate for their faith.