That night, Moses went outside of the city, yet again; and he did as Yahweh told him to:
"Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail."
As the morning dawned, a great swarm of locusts descended upon Egypt, consuming everything in its path. The once fertile fields turned barren, and the trees stood naked, stripped of their fruit. Clothing, linen, tapestries, and artworks were all chewed and devastated. It was a plague far beyond anything that Egypt had ever witnessed.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Pharaoh called upon us, admitting his wrong-doing and pleading for forgiveness. "Please, Moses! I have sinned against God, and against His people, and against you and your brother. Please, won't you forgive my sins once again, and take this plague away, before Egypt is utterly destroyed."
Moses, once again in an act of compassion for Egypt, interceded; beseeching the Lord to lift this deadly plague. The winds shifted, carrying the locusts away, and leaving no trace of them behind; save for the destruction left in their wake.
But even as the Pharaoh found relief, the Lord hardened his heart once again. At the same time, Yahweh spoke into Moses' heart: "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt."
Moses grinned, and did as he was told, saying to Rameses, "Fine, then. It's time you feel the physical manifestation of being separated from God, for real. You think Ra controls the Sun? No, Yahweh does."
And at his word, the entire land of Egypt was plunged into a darkness so deep and heavy, one could feel it in their very soul. For three days, no one could see one another, move properly, or tend to their lives.
The Israelites however, still had lights in their homes, and were led home by the Ruach. As with the other plagues, Gershon was wholly unaffected, once more proving the fealty of the nation of Israel, and God's subsequent love for them. After the three days, the Pharaoh called Moses to the Palace without me.
As Moses entered, the Pharaoh's voice resonated through the palace walls, with anger, worry, and determination as he began to negotiate with Moses, "Go then. Take your people and leave, so you may worship the Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; I ask only to leave your flocks and herds behind. Egypt has been devastated, and we need a point to begin rebuilding."
Moses, ever determined and unwavering in his faith, responded with conviction.
"Absolutely not. You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind.
We have to use some of them in worshiping Yahweh, and until we get there, we will not know what we are to use to worship the Lord. In addition, the destruction of your lands was the result of your own defiance. Obstinate against the Lord is rewarded with punishment, Rameses, not favor."
Pharaoh's heart, hardened by his pride and arrogance, refused to yield. His anger flared, and he spat out his venomous words. "ENOUGH! Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again, you nuisance; for on the day you see my face, you will die. Horribly."
Moses, calm and resolute, responded firmly to Pharaoh's threat. With a small smile, meant to antagonize, and tempt the pharaoh, Moses said, "Surely, Child. Just as you say: I will never appear before you again. Mark my words, Pharaoh. The darkest night in its history is about to befall Egypt."
It was clear that the battle of wills between Moses and Pharaoh would not be easily won. The Lord instructed us in detail, on how to prepare for this final calamity.
Moses gathered the elders of Israel once again, and Ezrae and I stood by his side, ready to fulfill the roles entrusted to us. The Lord's words flowed through Moses, carrying the weight of divine authority.
"This month is to be for you, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, taking into account the number of people there are.
You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defects, the first-born of their flocks; and you may take them from the sheep, or the goats."
The instructions flowed forth, intricate and precise, as Moses revealed the rituals and preparations required for the Passover.
"Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they dwell.
That same night, they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs, and internal organs.
Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it, offering the burnt pieces to your God, Yahweh. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover."
As Moses spoke, his words carried the weight of our nation's liberation. I watched as the elders listened intently, their faces reflecting both anticipation and fear. These were the moments that would define our people and forge our identity.
Moses continued speaking, revealing the promise of divine protection that would shield us from the impending devastation.
"Yahweh has passed this revelation unto me: 'On that same night, I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will complete my judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord, Yahweh. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Thus, you will celebrate the Passover."
The instructions were clear, and the significance resonated deeply within each of us. We were to commemorate this day, generation after generation, as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. And so, we bowed down, worshiping and acknowledging the magnitude of the task before us.
The Israelites, faithful and obedient, did exactly as the Lord commanded through Moses and Aaron. Midnight fell upon Egypt, and the final plague struck with unimaginable force.