Exodus 11:1-10 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely. Now announce to the people that men and women alike should ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle. Then a great cry will go out over all the land of Egypt, the likes of which have never been heard before and will never be heard again. But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.”
“The tenth and last plague, the death of the firstborn males, was a judgment on Isis, the protector of children. In this plague, God was teaching the Israelites a deep spiritual lesson that pointed to Christ. Unlike the other plagues, which the Israelites survived by virtue of their identity as God’s people, this plague required an act of faith by them. God commanded each family to take an unblemished male lamb and kill it. The blood of the lamb was to be smeared on the top and sides of their doorways, and the lamb was to be roasted and eaten that night. Any family that did not follow God’s instructions would suffer in the last plague. God described how He would send the destroyer through the land of Egypt, with orders to slay the firstborn male in every household, whether human or animal. The only protection was the blood of the lamb on the door. When the destroyer saw the blood, he would pass over that house and leave it untouched (Exodus 12:23). This is where the term Passover comes from. Passover is a memorial of that night in ancient Egypt when God delivered His people from bondage. First Corinthians 5:7 teaches that Jesus became our Passover when He died to deliver us from the bondage of sin. While the Israelites found God’s protection in their homes, every other home in the land of Egypt experienced God’s wrath as their loved ones died. This grievous event caused Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites.
By the time the Israelites left Egypt, they had a clear picture of God’s power, God’s protection, and God’s plan for them. For those who were willing to believe, they had convincing evidence that they served the true and living God. Sadly, many still failed to believe, which led to other trials and lessons by God. The result for the Egyptians and the other ancient people of the region was a dread of the God of Israel. Even after the tenth plague, Pharaoh once again hardened his heart and sent his chariots after the Israelites. When God opened a way through the Red Sea for the Israelites, then drowned all of Pharaoh’s armies there, the power of Egypt was crushed, and the fear of God spread through the surrounding nations (Joshua 2:9–11). This was the very purpose that God had declared at the beginning. We can still look back on these events today to confirm our faith in, and our fear of, this true and living God, the Judge of all the earth.” (What was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt? | GotQuestions.org)
APPLICATION: Throughout the ages, men have always longed for sons who would succeed them and who would continue their family lines. In many cultures, girl children are considered as second class citizens while sons receive all kinds of attention. The Egyptians were no different in this regard. From the palace of Pharaoh to the lowliest huts of the low – class servants, sons were highly regarded. For Pharaoh, his son represented the continuation of a divine line. Until now, God had spared those who would remain inside away from the hail, etc. But now God was about to touch the dearest part of the Egyptian family, the first – born sons.
Throughout the ordeals of the plagues, God continued to demonstrate His mercy by warning the Egyptians ahead of time and by starting with minor plagues and moving to more severe ones. By the time the tenth plague was foretold, many Egyptians were already so impressed by the power of God that they were willing to give up their jewelry. Were there any Egyptians who followed Moses’ instructions so that their sons could be saved? Nobody knows.
Have you ever been in a situation in which God has tried to get your attention? One of the saddest parts of this story is the unnecessary loss of the lives of the firstborn male children, including those of the animals. Had Pharaoh softened his heart, so many of his citizens would not have suffered. But Pharaoh was power – drunk and had lost all sense of proportion. Any leader who is out of touch with his people runs the risk of falling into the same pit as Pharaoh.
PRAYER: Father God, we lift up the rulers of the various countries of the world. Lord, give these men and women humility, grace, and wisdom. Do not allow them to harden their hearts so that their nations suffer but soften their hearts. Please send revival to the nations of the world. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
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