The reason they were so afraid of this particular plague is because, with the other plagues, it was understandable to people that blood cannot be drunk, frogs are a disturbance, lice are irritating, wild animals are dangerous, and so forth with the other plagues. There is no way to defend oneself against the signs and wonders that come from the wrath of God, so they had the strength to endure them, hoping they would pass quickly. But when they are confident in a quiet creature like a locust that it will not harm them and there is no natural reason to fear it, and suddenly it begins to kill them, becoming worse than all the death brought by the other plagues, this shakes their natural faith and trust. From now on, they must fear everything around them because the Lord, Master of all, can make anything harmful to them. Therefore, Pharaoh cried out in great terror: "Remove from me only this death."

The fear will be so great from something they trusted to be their food and salvation from hunger, suddenly turning into the worst death—that is why God said to Moshe that they would recount this plague "to your son and your son's son" for generations.

Therefore, Pharaoh's servants, who were his wise men and advisors, when they heard the announcement of the plague of locusts, understood with their wisdom that there was something serious about it, and this quiet creature was going to be their death blow. They were immediately frightened and said to Pharaoh: "Do you not yet know that Egypt is lost?" For when a person loses the foundation of their faith and trust in life, they would prefer death over life.