Read with Me
Exodus 11:1-10 (HCSB)
The LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you out of here. Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold jewelry.” The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And the man Moses was highly regarded in the land of Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and the people.
So Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is behind the millstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock. Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before, or ever will be again. But against all the Israelites, whether man or beast, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Leave, you and all the people who follow you. After that, I will leave.’ ” And he left Pharaoh’s presence in fierce anger.
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, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.
Listen with Me
Verses 1-3 are explanatory notes as to how God had spoken to Moses before this final confrontation. Before Moses left Pharaoh as implied Exodus 10: 28, he delivered the message about the final plague that is recorded in Exodus 11:4-8.
God had clearly told Moses that this tenth plague would be the final one before the Israelites would be driven from the land of Egypt. But before that happened, each Israelite was to go to their Egyptian friends and neighbors and blatantly ask for silver and gold. God so worked in the hearts of the Egyptians that they gladly gave them all they had, meaning that the Israelites were going to be leaving with great wealth. This was a direct fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:12-16.
Moses conveyed the information about the upcoming plague to Pharaoh exactly as God had told him. God’s angel would sweep across the whole land of Egypt around midnight, killing every first-born male in every household throughout the land. That deathly visitation would include those who were servants all the way up to those who were members of the royal household, and would also include all the first born males of the animals. Only the households of the Israelites would be spared. Then, having delivered the devastating message, Moses and Aaron stormed out of the palace without giving Pharaoh an opportunity to respond.
All along, God had made it very clear that the preceding plagues, at this point lasting several months, were never His method to force Pharaoh to release the people. He knew that Pharaoh’s heart was so hard that he would not be persuaded to let the people go. The purpose of those previous plagues was to demonstrate God’s holiness and his power to both the Egyptians and to the Israelites, and to punish the Egyptians for mistreating God’s chosen people.
But now that there was no doubt as to who God was and what He could do, this final demonstration of His power toward those who opposed him and His grace and protection toward those who live under His care would cause the Pharaoh to finally release the people completely, allowing His plan for them to move forward.
Pray with Me
Father, this is a very important lesson, even for our times. It seems like many today, not with words but with attitudes and actions, are echoing Pharaoh by saying, “who is Yahweh that I should obey him?” (Exodus 5:2). By responding to your invitation to forgiveness and fellowship with rejection and rebellion they are placing themselves in opposition to One they cannot stand against, and that rebellion will result in their ultimate ruin. Lord, help me to never respond to Your words, Your invitations, and Your commandments with anything other than humble thanksgiving and obedience, so that I can live in Your great blessing forever. Amen.