Exodus 11: Death for Egypt’s Firstborn
11 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave. 2 Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)
4 Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight, I will pass through the heart of Egypt. 5 All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. 6 Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. 7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. 8 All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.
9 Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.
Moses knew this day was coming, but now he is grieving! Moses was born in Egypt, raised as an Egyptian noble, and given one of the finest educations available. In some respects, for Moses, returning to Egypt was a homecoming, even if a bitter one. But as God’s punishments for Pharaoh’s pride and Egyptian fetish worship have continued to escalate, Moses has realized how this situation must end. Moses has watched as the country of his birth has been destroyed, leaving nothing except the people, many of whose families Moses has known for decades. Now Moses is forced to issue a final warning to Pharaoh: at midnight tonight the Angel of Death will pass through Egypt, killing every Egyptian first-born, whether human or animal, including the crown prince in the palace. But God will protect the Hebrews and “it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark.”
At first, the mention of dogs refusing to bark might seem strange; however, animals are far more spiritually sensitive than people. God knows that when the Death Angel passes over Egypt, every single dog in Egypt that does not die will be howling as loudly and insistently as possible.
By now the Egyptians have no peace whatsoever, and now word of this last threat is spreading throughout Egyptian society. As Israelites visit their neighbors, requesting anything they can give, those neighbors quickly go through their dwellings, gathering jewelry, clothing, and anything else precious in hopes that in so doing, they will avoid the death plague.
As I am writing these words, news of the tragic fires around Spokane, Washington, and Boise, Idaho are coming. The destruction is unimaginable, with hundreds of homes gone and thousands of people left destitute. What peace can one find in the midst of such horrors? Look at the Israelites.
First, the ancient Israelites could thank God that He spared them the worst of the plagues and that their families and livestock remained alive. Second, these people were beginning to realize that God really was all-powerful and that He would do exactly as He had promised. Although still enslaved, these people had the hope that God would work on their behalf and that they would escape their slavery.
“Great!” you say. “But what about all those people in Washington and Idaho? Where is God’s peace in the midst of these fires?”
First, these people are alive. Centuries ago, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:4 “But all who are among the living have hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Even though these poor people have lost all their possessions, they are alive and have hope that God will move others throughout the country to help them. Second, thousands, if not millions of people, are now praying for their well-being and their safety. “So what?” you sneer. “Big deal!” All this focused prayer is a much bigger deal than you realize. We never know how much God can do, even when situations appear hopeless. Once we begin to pray blessings over those who have lost everything, God can work to heal individuals and families and restore righteousness to the land. When we pray, God can also heal the land.
Deuteronomy 11:10-12 tells us “The land you’re about to enter and take possession of isn’t like the land you left in Egypt. There you used to plant your seed, and you had to water it like a vegetable garden. The land you’re about to enter is a land with hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares about. He watches over it all year long.”
We make a terrible mistake if we assume that God does not care for the lands we occupy!!! God cares far more than we do, and God passionately wants to restore the land. As God restores the land, He can also restore peace to those living there.
How can we pray for those suffering from these tragedies? Pray for God’s blessings and His anointing to flow over the land, penetrating it down to the center of the earth and up to the highest heaven! Pray for God’s blessings and His anointing to saturate everyone hit by these tragedies, that God will correct, guide, and restore in all the ways He can. And above all else, pray that God’s Kingdom will truly come and His Will will be completely done in the lives of all involved.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, words fail us when we consider the tragedies striking people throughout the world. Please heal, restore, guide, and bring to full repentance and salvation all involved. Send revival!!! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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