Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 10

The plagues of Egypt show the sinfulness of sin. They warn people not to strive with their Maker. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself, but it was disregarded, for he was not sincere in it. The plague of locusts is threatened. This would be much worse than any of that kind which had ever been known.

Pharaoh's attendants persuade him to come to terms with Moses. Consequently, Pharaoh agrees to allow the men to go, falsely pretending that this was all they desired. He swears that they will not take their little ones. Satan does all he can to hinder those who serve God themselves from bringing their children to serve Him.

He is a sworn enemy to early piety. Whatever would deter us from engaging our children in God's service, we have reason to suspect Satan in it. Nor should the young forget that the Lord's counsel is, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth; but Satan's counsel is to keep children in a state of slavery to sin and to the world. Note that the great enemy of humankind wishes to retain people through the ties of affection, as Pharaoh would have taken hostages from the Israelites for their return, by holding their wives and children in captivity.

Satan is willing to share our duty and our service with the Saviour, because the Saviour will not accept those terms.

God commands Moses to stretch out his hand; locusts came at the call. An army might more easily have been resisted than this host of insects. Who then is able to stand before the great God? They covered the face of the earth and ate up its fruit. Herbs grow for the service of humanity; yet when God pleases, insects will plunder them and eat the bread out of their mouths.

Let our labor be, not for the food and shelter that are so exposed, but for that which endures to eternal life. Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron to pray for him. There are those who, in distress, seek the help of other people's prayers but have no desire to pray for themselves. They show by this that they have no true love for God, nor any delight in communion with Him.

Pharaoh desires only that this death be taken away, not this sin. He wishes to get rid of the plague of locusts, not the plague of a hard heart, which was more dangerous. An east wind brought the locusts; a west wind carried them off. From whatever direction the wind blows, it is fulfilling God's word and turns by His counsel.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, from our perspective; but not so in relation to God. It was also an argument for their repentance, for this showed that God is ready to forgive and swift to show mercy. If He does this upon the outward signs of humiliation, what will He do if we are sincere! Oh, that this goodness of God might lead us to repentance!

Pharaoh returned again to his resolution not to let the people go. Those who have often resisted their convictions are justly given up to the lusts of their hearts.

The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt was a dreadful plague. It was a darkness that could be felt, so thick were the fogs. It astonished and terrified. It continued for three days—six nights in one—so long that the brightest palaces became dungeons. Pharaoh now had time to consider, if he had chosen to use it wisely. Spiritual darkness is spiritual bondage; while Satan blinds people's eyes so that they do not see, he binds their hands and feet, so that they do not work for God, nor move toward heaven.

They sit in darkness. It was righteous of God to punish them in this way. The blindness of their minds brought this darkness of the air upon them; never was a mind so blinded as Pharaoh's, and never was the air so darkened as in Egypt. Let us dread the consequences of sin; if three days of darkness were so dreadful, what will everlasting darkness be? The children of Israel, at the same time, had light in their dwellings.

We must not think that we share in common mercies as a matter of course, and therefore that we owe no thanks to God for them. It shows the particular favor He has for His people. Wherever there is an Israelite indeed, though in this dark world, there is light; there is a child of light. When God made this distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, who would not have preferred the poor cottage of an Israelite to the fine palace of an Egyptian?

There is a real difference between the house of the wicked, which is under a curse, and the habitation of the just, which is blessed. Pharaoh renewed the treaty with Moses and Aaron, and agreed that they could take their little ones, but wanted their cattle left behind. It is common for sinners to bargain with God Almighty; in this way they try to mock Him, but they deceive themselves. The terms of reconciliation with God are so fixed that, however long people dispute them, they cannot possibly alter them or reduce them.

We must come to the demands of God's will; we cannot expect Him to condescend to the terms our lusts would set. With ourselves and our children, we must devote all our worldly possessions to the service of God; we do not know what use He will make of any part of what we have. Pharaoh broke off the conference abruptly and resolved to negotiate no more. Had he forgotten how often he had sent for Moses to relieve him of his plagues? And was Moses now to be told to come no more?

Vain malice! To threaten with death one who was armed with such power! What will hardness of heart, and contempt of God's word and commandments, not bring people to! After this, Moses came no more until he was sent for. When people drive God's word away from them, He justly gives them up to their own delusions.