Exodus 10:18-20 – Meaning, Explanation, and Related Bible Verses

Verse: Exodus 10:18-20

Theme: The Ninth Plague of Darkness: When Divine Judgment Separates Light from Darkness

“Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. And the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.”

— Exodus 10:18-20, New International Version (NIV)

“Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and pleaded with the Lord. The Lord caused the wind to change direction and to blow very hard from the west, and it blew the locusts into the Red Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt. However, the Lord made Pharaoh stubborn, and he did not let the Israelites leave.”

— Exodus 10:18-20, Good News Translation (GNT)

“And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.”

— Exodus 10:18-20, King James Version (KJV)

Meaning of Exodus 10:18-20

Picture this moment: Egypt has just been stripped bare by the most devastating agricultural disaster in human memory. Every green thing has been devoured. The economic backbone of the nation lies in ruins. Pharaoh, in desperation, calls Moses back and practically begs for relief from this catastrophe.

Moses walks out, lifts his voice to heaven, and something remarkable happens. God doesn’t just remove the locusts gradually or let them die off naturally. He orchestrates a meteorological miracle. A powerful west wind sweeps across the land with supernatural force, gathering every single locust and hurling them into the Red Sea. The cleanup is complete, total, and instantaneous.

But here’s where the story takes its most chilling turn. You’d think Pharaoh would be overwhelmed with gratitude. You’d expect him to honor his promise and release the Hebrew slaves immediately. Instead, we encounter one of the most sobering statements in all of Scripture: “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.”

This isn’t just stubborn pride anymore. This represents something far more terrifying: the point where divine mercy transitions to divine judgment, where God’s patience reaches its appointed limit, and where human choice becomes fixed in its rebellion against heaven. Pharaoh has crossed a line from which there may be no return.

The locusts are gone, but the darkness in Pharaoh’s soul has become absolute.

Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 10:18-20

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

— King Solomon, Wisest King of Israel

“I came, I saw, I conquered.”

— Julius Caesar, Roman General and Dictator

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

— Apostle James, Brother of Jesus

“Fortune favors the prepared mind.”

— Louis Pasteur, Microbiologist and Immunologist

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— King David, Shepherd Warrior King

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”

— Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister and War Leader

Explaining the Context of Exodus 10:18-20

This passage occurs at the climax of the eighth plague, revealing both God’s absolute power over nature and the terrifying reality of a heart that has become permanently hardened against divine authority.

Moses’ immediate intercession demonstrates the role of righteous leadership in mediating between divine judgment and human need, showing how God responds to faithful prayer even in the midst of executing His purposes.

The complete removal of every single locust illustrates God’s precision in both bringing judgment and providing relief, demonstrating that divine power operates with perfect control rather than chaotic destruction.

Pharaoh’s continued refusal after experiencing such complete deliverance reveals how repeated rejection of God’s mercy can lead to spiritual blindness that persists even when relief is granted.

The statement about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart shows the mysterious intersection between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, where persistent rebellion eventually receives divine confirmation in its chosen path.

Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 10:18-20

“Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord”

Moses’ departure from Pharaoh’s presence shows the proper response to desperate human appeals, taking requests for divine intervention directly to God rather than attempting to manipulate circumstances through human effort.

His immediate turn to prayer demonstrates that effective spiritual leadership requires constant communication with heaven, especially when serving as a mediator between divine purposes and human suffering.

“And the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind”

The specific mention of wind direction reveals God’s precise control over natural forces, showing that divine intervention works through natural means while transcending normal meteorological patterns.

The intensity “very strong” indicates supernatural power operating within natural processes, demonstrating that God’s miracles often involve the extraordinary use of ordinary elements rather than complete suspension of natural law.

“which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea”

The complete transportation of every locust shows divine thoroughness in providing relief, ensuring that no remnant of the plague remains to cause continued damage or serve as seed for future devastation.

Their destination in the Red Sea points toward the destruction of the threat, as the same waters that will later provide deliverance for Israel become the graveyard for Egypt’s agricultural destroyers.

“Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt”

This absolute statement emphasizes the completeness of God’s intervention, showing that divine relief is as comprehensive as divine judgment when God chooses to act on behalf of those who call upon Him.

The thorough removal demonstrates God’s ability to undo completely what He has brought to pass, revealing that divine power operates with perfect precision in both directions.

“But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go”

The conjunction “but” creates a stark contrast between God’s merciful relief and Pharaoh’s persistent rebellion, showing how divine grace can be met with increased hardness rather than grateful submission.

God’s active role in hardening reveals the sobering reality that persistent rejection of divine authority eventually receives divine confirmation, making repentance increasingly difficult and eventually impossible.

Lessons to Learn from Exodus 10:18-20

1. Effective Spiritual Leadership Requires Immediate Recourse to Prayer When Faced With Human Desperation

Moses’ response to Pharaoh’s plea shows that righteous leaders take human needs directly to God rather than attempting to solve problems through purely human means or political maneuvering.

2. Divine Relief Can Be as Complete and Supernatural as Divine Judgment

The total removal of every locust demonstrates that God’s mercy operates with the same thoroughness and precision as His wrath, providing complete solutions rather than partial remedies when He chooses to intervene.

3. Natural Forces Serve as Instruments of Both Divine Judgment and Divine Mercy

The wind that removes the locusts shows that the same natural elements God uses to bring judgment can be redirected to provide relief, revealing His absolute sovereignty over all environmental forces.

4. Experiencing God’s Mercy Does Not Guarantee Heart Transformation

Pharaoh’s continued rebellion after complete relief reveals that witnessing divine power and receiving divine grace does not automatically produce spiritual change or grateful obedience to divine authority.

5. Persistent Rejection of Divine Authority Eventually Receives Divine Confirmation

God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart shows the terrifying possibility that continued resistance to divine grace can reach a point where rebellion becomes fixed and repentance becomes impossible.

Related Bible Verses

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

— Proverbs 16:9, English Standard Version (ESV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

— Romans 8:28, New International Version (NIV)

“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

— Hebrews 3:15, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

— Jeremiah 33:3, King James Version (KJV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

— Isaiah 55:8, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

How This Verse Points to Christ

Exodus 10:18-20 points to Christ through Moses’ role as an intercessor who prays for relief from divine judgment, prefiguring Christ’s ongoing intercession for humanity before the Father’s throne.

The complete removal of every locust points toward Christ’s total victory over sin and death, demonstrating that divine salvation provides complete deliverance rather than partial solutions to humanity’s spiritual devastation.

Pharaoh’s hardened heart after experiencing mercy points toward those who reject Christ’s gospel despite witnessing His power and receiving His grace, showing how persistent rebellion can lead to spiritual blindness.

The supernatural wind that carries away the destroyers points toward the Holy Spirit’s power to remove completely the forces that devastate human lives when people turn to Christ in genuine repentance.

God’s sovereignty in both bringing judgment and providing relief points toward Christ’s authority over all natural and spiritual forces, demonstrating His ability to save completely those who come to God through Him.

The precision of divine intervention points toward Christ’s perfect work of salvation, which addresses completely every aspect of human need without leaving any remnant of condemnation for those who trust in Him.

Closing Reflection

Exodus 10:18-20 confronts us with both the amazing thoroughness of God’s mercy and the terrifying reality of hearts that can become permanently hardened against divine grace.

Moses’ immediate turn to prayer challenges us to respond to human desperation by seeking divine intervention rather than relying solely on human wisdom or political solutions.

The complete removal of every locust encourages us that God’s relief is as total as His judgment, providing hope that divine intervention can address completely even the most devastating circumstances.

Pharaoh’s continued rebellion after experiencing complete mercy warns us that receiving divine grace does not guarantee heart transformation, requiring personal choice to respond with grateful obedience.

The sobering reality of divine hardening reminds us that persistent rejection of God’s authority can reach a point of no return, making immediate response to divine grace a matter of eternal urgency.

This passage ultimately points us toward Christ, who provides the perfect intercession and complete deliverance that Moses could only prefigure, while warning us about the consequences of hardening our hearts against His gospel.

Say This Prayer

Almighty God,

Thank You for the complete mercy You provide when we turn to You in our devastation. Help us learn from Moses’ example to take human desperation directly to Your throne rather than attempting to solve problems through purely human means.

Save us from Pharaoh’s tragic example of receiving Your grace while maintaining rebellious hearts. When You show mercy in our lives, create in us grateful obedience rather than continued resistance to Your authority.

Give us wisdom to recognize that Your relief is as supernatural and complete as Your judgment, trusting that You can address even the most overwhelming circumstances when we call upon You in faith.

Protect our hearts from the hardening that comes through persistent rejection of Your grace. Keep us sensitive to Your voice and responsive to Your Spirit, never taking Your mercy for granted or using it as an excuse for continued rebellion.

Thank You for Christ, who provides the perfect intercession and complete deliverance that Moses could only point toward, removing completely every force that would destroy our relationship with You.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.