Exodus 10:15

For they couered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkned, and they did eate euery herbe of the land, and all the fruit of the trees, which the haile had left, and there remained not any greene thing in the trees, or in the herbes of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Exodus 10:15 (KJV)

The book of Exodus recounts the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This verse places us in the midst of the eighth plague, the plague of locusts. Prior to this, God sent Moses to Pharaoh, warning that unless the Israelites were released, Egypt would suffer a devastating locust infestation. Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the people go.

The verse describes the complete devastation after the locusts arrived. The swarming locusts covered the face of the whole earth, casting a darkness over the land. They consumed every herb and every fruit of the trees that had survived the earlier hailstorm, leaving Egypt barren and desolate, with no green vegetation remaining in the fields or trees.

This passage showcases God’s power and judgment over Egypt. The severity of the locust plague demonstrates divine authority and the ability to control natural elements, underscoring how far God would go to secure the release of His people from bondage.

Symbolically, the locusts represent God’s control over nature and His use of natural forces as instruments of judgment. The darkness that covered the land can also symbolize the spiritual darkness and ignorance afflicting Pharaoh and the Egyptians as they rejected God’s commands.

Despite witnessing the catastrophic effects of the locust plague, Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened. His refusal to acknowledge God’s power and authority led to further calamity upon Egypt.