Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn

Exodus 11: And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. ² Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” ³ And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

 

⁴ Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; ⁵ and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. ⁶ Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. ⁷ But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ ⁸ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

 

⁹ But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

 

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GOD turns from warning Pharaoh to telling him what would happen. The difference with this plague is that it was too late. There would be nothing Pharaoh could do to stop the impending plague. Moses told Pharaoh that GOD would bring death to the firstborn of all Egyptians.

 

My Observations:

• GOD prophesied that HE would bring death to the firstborn of Egypt.
• GOD fulfilled the prophecy of the women asking for silver and gold and receiving it.
• GOD made Moses seen as a favorable leader versus Pharaoh to Pharaoh’s servants.

 

GOD’s grace was never recognized by Pharaoh. He would cause extreme pain to all Egyptian households because he would not give up his belief that he was a god.

 

The tenth plague represents a limit to GOD’s grace. Humans try to say their sinful love is unconditional. This is far from the truth because all humans have a sin nature. There is a part of a human that rebels against GOD. That same sin nature takes GOD’s grace for granted.

 

GOD may leave a leader of a nation alive, even though havoc has been poured out on the people. HE may even allow you and me to keep going in ways that do not include HIM. HE allows our heart to include HIM or not. HE stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. GOD was about to fully dismantle the Egyptian belief that humans can be in control.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the final prophecy of GOD to Pharaoh?
• Have you taken grace for granted in something you need to address?
• Will you praise GOD for HIS grace over your life and remember what HE did for you?