What Can We Learn from the Symbol of Locust Plague?
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left." So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
Key Facts
Term Name
Locust Plague
Primary Meaning
Symbolizes divine judgment, spiritual conflict, and God’s sovereign power over creation.
Old Testament Reference
Exodus 10:12-15, where God sends a locust plague to judge Egypt’s idolatry and liberate Israel.
New Testament Fulfillment
Jesus’ wilderness victory in Matthew 4:1-11 redefines the locust plague as a symbol of spiritual resistance and redemption through His obedience.
Key Takeaways
- The locust plague symbolizes divine judgment and God’s sovereign power over nature.
- Jesus’ wilderness victory redefines the locust plague as a symbol of spiritual conflict and moral supremacy.
- The locust plague calls believers to vigilance against spiritual complacency and trust in Christ’s authority.
The Locust Plague in the Old Testament
In Exodus 10:12-15, the locust plague stands as a vivid expression of divine judgment within the sequence of ten plagues against Egypt.
God commanded the locusts to consume every plant that had survived the previous hailstorm, fulfilling Pharaoh’s own admission that this judgment was uniquely His (Exodus 10:13-14). The swarm’s overwhelming presence - blanketing the land until no green vegetation remained - symbolized both the totality of God’s retributive power and His control over creation to advance Israel’s liberation.
Exodus 10:12-15 underscores that this plague was not random but a deliberate act of divine sovereignty, demonstrating God’s authority over natural forces and His resolve to break Egypt’s resistance through escalating judgments.
The Locust Plague and Jesus' Ministry
The symbolism of the locust plague resurfaces in Jesus' wilderness temptation and Revelation's apocalyptic vision, redefining its meaning through His redemptive work.
In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness echoes Israel's testing in the desert (Exodus 16:35), but with a crucial difference: where the locust plague in Exodus symbolized divine judgment, Jesus confronts Satan directly as the 'tempter' (Matthew 4:3). The wilderness becomes a battleground where Jesus, like a new Moses, resists spiritual corruption. His threefold rejection of temptation - turning stones to bread, testing God's protection, and bowing to worldly power - reinterprets the locust plague's imagery from one of judgment to a demonstration of moral and spiritual supremacy over forces that would desolate the earth.
Revelation 9:7-11 amplifies this symbolism by depicting locust-like creatures with human-like faces and lion-like teeth, empowered to torment those without the seal of God (Rev 9:4). These locusts, unlike their Exodus counterparts, are not agents of divine judgment but manifestations of spiritual forces of evil, 'sent to gather the nations for the battle of the great day of God the Almighty' (Rev 9:16). Their description as having 'the power of scorpions' (Rev 9:5) evokes the sting of sin and demonic influence, contrasting with Jesus' sinless resistance in the wilderness.
Jesus' victory over temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 reframes the locust plague as a symbol of spiritual conflict rather than mere divine retribution. By quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and 10:20, Jesus establishes His authority over the same Scripture that once guided Israel through plagues and wilderness trials. This reinterpretation bridges Exodus 10:12-15 and Revelation 9:7-11. It positions Christ's obedience as the key that unlocks the locust plague's deeper meaning: a testament to the cosmic struggle between obedience and rebellion, which Jesus ultimately resolves through His cross and resurrection. The plague's significance extends beyond its role as a tool of judgment.
The Locust Plague and Our Spiritual Journey
The locust plague symbolizes not only divine judgment but also a call to vigilance against spiritual complacency in our own lives.
In modern contexts, 'plagues' might manifest as distractions, moral compromises, or spiritual apathy that erode our relationship with God (Exodus 10:12-15). Jesus’ wilderness victory in Matthew 4:1-11 demonstrates that He alone overcomes the forces that desolate, offering us strength to resist temptation. His obedience reveals God’s timing in judgment - patient yet purposeful - and His redemptive solution to spiritual decay through Christ’s sacrifice. By embracing Jesus’ example, we learn to trust in His authority over every spiritual 'plague' that threatens our walk with Him.
This understanding prepares us to explore how God’s judgments ultimately point to His mercy and the hope found in Christ’s triumph over evil.
Exploring Further
Scholars often highlight the locust plague’s recurring role in Scripture as a symbol of divine judgment and spiritual conflict.
Exodus 10:12-15 frames it as a direct act of God’s sovereignty, while Revelation 9:7-11 reimagines it as a force of end-times torment. Some interpreters view these depictions as metaphors for human sinfulness or the consequences of rejecting divine authority, inviting readers to reflect on their own spiritual vulnerabilities and God’s redemptive purposes.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Exodus 10:12-15
God sends a locust plague to devastate Egypt’s crops, demonstrating His authority over creation.
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus resists Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, reinterpreting the locust plague’s symbolism.
Revelation 9:7-11
Apocalyptic locust-like creatures symbolize end-times spiritual torment and rebellion.
Related Concepts
Divine Judgment (Theological Concepts)
The locust plague illustrates God’s righteous response to human rebellion and idolatry.
Spiritual Conflict (Theological Concepts)
The locust plague imagery reflects the cosmic battle between obedience and rebellion, resolved through Christ.
Satan (Figures)
The tempter in Matthew 4:1-11, contrasted with Jesus’ victory over spiritual desolation.