"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the
children of Israel go."--_Exodus 10:20._
WORSE troubles are sure to come when people have not taken warning
by what was sent them before. Pharaoh had not minded seven dreadful
plagues, so now God sent another. He sent locusts. These were creatures
like great grasshoppers. They came in swarms and clouds, and ate up
every green leaf and blade of grass, and made all the earth brown and
the trees dry sticks, so that there was nothing left for man or beast
to eat. Then Pharaoh gave way a little, and said he would let the men
go, but that their wives and children must stay; and he would not hear
a word more, but had Moses and Aaron driven out from before him.
Then God bade Moses to hold up his hand to Heaven. And darkness came
on. It was dark all day--and with "darkness that might be felt;" not
like night, but such black darkness that no fire or candle could give
light, and no one dared to move about; but the Egyptians lay still in
their places, full of horror and terror, for three whole days. But all
the time it was light among the Israelites--the sun rose and set as
usual; and thus God showed that they were His people.
Then Pharaoh said that he would let them go--men, women and children,
only he must keep all their cattle; and when Moses, speaking God's
words, said that the cattle must go too, and not a hoof be left behind,
Pharaoh made his heart hard again, and drove out Moses, saying the
people should not go, and that Moses should never see his face again.
And Moses said, "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no
more."
So ended the last hope for Pharaoh. He was never to have another chance
of bending his will and doing as God told him. Oh, let us take care not
to be like him!