PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Exodus 10-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Every firstborn son in Egypt will die…” (Exodus 11:5)
In the Law the firstborn – human and animal – belonged to God.
The Levites were dedicated to God in place of the firstborn (Numbers 3:40ff).
Every firstborn was to be redeemed (payed for) with a sacrifice (Exodus 34:20).
In ancient times, the firstborn son was the heir, the future of the family.
Through the death of the firstborn, God shows His authority over all our lives.
God is not being mean; He cannot allow the future of sin to go unchecked.
Pharoah and Egypt represent violence, oppression, cruelty… they must be stopped.
In Genesis 3, Satan robs God of His firstborn son, and Eden’s future is cursed.
But God robs Satan and sin of their future by offering His ‘firstborn’ son.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Through the death of His firstborn, God shows His love for all our lives.
God doesn’t just demand justice, He takes it for us so that we do not need to die.
If Pharoah had believed, he would have found this out… we can find this out too!
PRAYER
Lord, this story reveals the terrible consequences of sin. But it also shows us the tremendous wonder of Your love, in sacrificing Your ‘firstborn’ for all humanity. Thank You!
The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” (Exodus 11:9)
Its unnerving to read that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart”; painting a picture of a mirthless God eliciting the deaths of firstborns all across Egypt. Then I remember the times that my heart has been hardened and the wonder’s of God that we revealed to me by explicitly trying to do it by myself and seeing the limitations of my power, and it makes a little more sense.
Even though we know how this story of the Exodus ends for Pharoah, his closing remarks spoke to me.
“Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” (Exodus 12:32)
Seems that events have to hit personally to have effect. Even though Pharaoh saw the devastation of the plagues on his people – he tried to keep control – even when he relented he tried to impose conditions – he was totally humbled finally when his own son died. It cost God His son – our saviour to spare us from the brink of separation from God because of sin – we to have an exodus in Jesus. Does my stubborn heart still try to exercise it’s will – instead of being wholly humbled. God can prod me – remind me – it gets personal and I know. Thank you HS for working in me and taking the effort to care for me!
God watches.
It was by watching by the Lord to bring the people out of the land.
God is always there for His people. Always present.
But the people also need to watch for the as the people left it was a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel.
And so today, how and where do I see the Lord? He is always present and I need to see and sense that presence in all I do and say. Each night I need to ask of myself, where did I see God this day.
Every day with Jesus
Is sweeter than the day before
Every day with Jesus
I love Him more and more,
Jesus saves and keeps me
And He’s the One I’m waiting for;
Every day with Jesus
Is sweetest than the day before.
This is the first Passover — the manner in which God rescued His people from oppression in Egypt. It points to the most significant Passover, when Jesus became the Sacrificial Lamb and, at the same time, the Rescuer for all. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the Passover Lamb for me. Thank you for being my Rescuer. Thank you for your never-ending love, compassion and mercy.