Exodus 10:21-29 - That there may be darkness over the land of Egypt

10:21-23

We now come to the penultimate plague, the plague of darkness. This is another one where there is nor warning, just the onset of the plague. Moses stretches out his hand and thick darkness comes upon the land. There was absolute darkness for three days. We are not given any indication of the cause of the darkness. This covered all the land, except for the Israelites who still had light. This reminds me of Is 60:1-4 where it says darkness covers the earth, but that our light has come, and that nations will come to our light. When the world is covered in moral darkness, as the West currently is, we must continue all the more to walk in the light of the Lord.

10:24-29

Pharaoh calls Moses and tells him to go, this time there are fewer restrictions than his previous “offer”, but the herds and flocks are to remain behind. Moses cannot accept this, for the livestock need to go with them so that sacrifices can be offered. Pharaoh will not accept this, and tells Moses to get out of his sight, never to be seen again. Moses agrees to this. This plague seems to have had a time limit (of three days) on it, for this time Moses does not have to pray to the Lord for the plague to cease.