What does Exodus 10:7 mean?

Seven plagues have battered Egypt (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24). Yet the king, the pharaoh, has stubbornly refused to release the Hebrew slaves as commanded by their God (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 35). Now, Moses has threatened a plague of locusts which will eat every crop and tree that recovered from the plague of hail (Exodus 10:1–6). When Moses and Aaron leave, Pharaoh's advisors and servants seem eager to beg him for sanity. They are starting to understand the futility of opposing the God of the Hebrews (Exodus 8:19; 11:3).

Despite Pharaoh's kingly status, his advisors come across as blunt: "do you not yet understand?" The nation has already experienced more catastrophe than the Israelite slaves are worth. Stubbornly keeping them is a "snare:" a tempting trap that leads to disaster. Despite all that, these counselors don't suggest agreeing to the Lord's demands. They tell their king to negotiate by offering release only the Hebrew men.

Pharaoh seems willing to do this (Exodus 10:8), but the offer will be entirely refused (Exodus 10:9). When God calls us toward a certain action, negotiation is not an option. The Lord desires our full obedience—and partial obedience is still disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22). His way is perfect. We are not called to debate the Lord, but to obey Him.