Berean Study Bible The Plague on the Firstborn ForetoldGod continued to direct Moses personally as Israel’s appointed leader and deliverer. Moses’ authority rested on the Lord’s command, not on his own ambition or power. Exo 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh… “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. The final judgment would surpass all that came before it: the death of Egypt’s firstborn. God’s judgment exposed the helplessness of Pharaoh and Egypt’s gods while demonstrating His authority over every nation and ruler. Exo 12:29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male… After that, he will allow you to leave this place. Egypt had held Israel in bondage for generations, but God had not forgotten His covenant promises. Their departure would mark the end of slavery and the beginning of their journey toward the land He had promised their fathers. Exo 12:31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said…… And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely. Pharaoh would not merely grant Israel permission to depart; Egypt would urgently send them away after the final plague. The Lord’s deliverance would be complete, ending Pharaoh’s claim over His people. Exo 12:39 Since their dough had no leaven, the people… Now announce to the people God directs Moses to prepare Israel for the final plague and their departure from Egypt. Moses speaks with divine authority as the mediator of God’s commands to the nation. Exo 12:21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel… that men and women alike Every household is included in the preparation for deliverance. The coming Exodus concerns the whole covenant people, not merely their leaders or heads of families. Exo 35:22 So all who had willing hearts, both men and women… should ask their neighbors The Israelites are to receive valuables from the Egyptians among whom they had lived and served. Their request marks the end of Egypt’s oppression and the beginning of Israel’s freedom. Exo 3:22 Every woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman staying… for articles of silver and gold.” These possessions provide restitution for generations of forced labor and display God’s judgment on Egypt. Israel later uses such materials in worship and in establishing the tabernacle. 1Ch 29:2 Now with all my ability I have made provision… And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. After generations of slavery, the Israelites received favor from the very people who had oppressed them. God turned Egyptian attitudes toward His people and prepared the way for their departure with silver, gold, and clothing. Their exodus would demonstrate that the LORD had remembered His covenant and would bring Abraham’s descendants out of bondage with great possessions. Exo 12:36 And the LORD gave the people such favor… Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people. The plagues had established Moses as the LORD’s appointed spokesman and deliverer. His upbringing in Pharaoh’s household also gave him standing among Egypt’s leaders. While Pharaoh continued to resist, many Egyptians recognized the authority accompanying Moses and the power of the God who sent him. As mediator between the LORD and Israel, Moses pointed forward to Christ, the mediator of the new covenant. Act 7:22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians… So Moses declared, Moses delivered God’s final warning to Pharaoh as Israel’s appointed leader and prophet. He spoke with authority received from the Lord, confronting Egypt’s ruler with the judgment that would compel Israel’s release. Exo 6:29 He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt… “This is what the LORD says: The announcement came from Yahweh, Israel’s covenant God, not from Moses himself. Pharaoh’s continued refusal had brought Egypt to the point of decisive judgment. Exo 4:22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says:… ‘About midnight God set the hour for the coming judgment. In the stillness of the night, when Egypt would be unprepared, His purpose would unfold exactly as He had declared. Exo 12:29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male… I will go throughout Egypt, The Lord Himself would act throughout the land, bringing judgment upon every level of Egyptian society. This final plague would reveal His supremacy over Pharaoh, Egypt’s gods, and the nation that had enslaved His people. Exo 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt… and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, The final plague brought judgment upon every Egyptian household and exposed the helplessness of Egypt’s gods before the Lord, who alone holds authority over life and death. The firstborn represented a family’s future, inheritance, and strength; their death struck at the heart of Egyptian society. Exo 12:29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male… from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, Pharaoh’s household would not be spared. Though Pharaoh was regarded as divine and his heir as the future ruler of Egypt, neither royal status nor claimed divine power could withstand God’s judgment. Exo 4:22-23 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says:… to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, The judgment reached from the palace to the lowest household. No social rank, wealth, or position offered protection, showing that all Egypt stood under the same sentence. Isa 47:1-2 Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon.… as well as the firstborn of all the cattle. Egypt’s livestock also suffered, deepening the nation’s loss and striking resources central to its economy and religious life. The widespread judgment prepared the way for Israel’s deliverance and for the later consecration of Israel’s firstborn to the Lord. Exo 13:12 you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb.… Then a great cry will go out over all the land of Egypt. The death of Egypt’s firstborn would bring grief to every level of society, from Pharaoh’s household to the lowest servant. Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to release Israel had brought the nation to this final judgment. Egypt had long heard the cries of enslaved Israelites; now its own people would mourn under the hand of God. The disaster exposed the weakness of Egypt’s gods and rulers and prepared the way for Israel’s deliverance. Exo 12:30 During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials… Such an outcry has never been heard before and will never be heard again. The judgment would be unmatched in its scope and severity. God’s actions in Egypt were deliberate and final, fulfilling His promise to bring Israel out of slavery and demonstrating His sovereign authority over the nation that had oppressed them. Jol 2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.… But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ While Egypt faced the death of every firstborn, Israel would remain undisturbed in Goshen. Even the silence of dogs portrays the complete peace God granted His people amid the judgment surrounding them. The contrast showed that the plague was not a natural disaster but the direct work of the Lord, who governed both Egypt’s suffering and Israel’s safety. Jos 10:21 The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp… Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. God set Israel apart because of His covenant promises to their fathers, not because Israel deserved special favor. The plagues exposed Egypt’s gods as powerless and demonstrated that the LORD alone ruled over every nation. His distinction between Egypt and Israel also prepared for Israel’s deliverance from slavery and their calling to belong to Him as His people. Exo 8:22-23 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land… And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, Moses foretells that Pharaoh’s own servants, who had supported his resistance, would humbly seek Israel’s departure. Their bowing would show that Egypt’s authority had been broken before the God of Israel. Isa 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens… saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ The coming release would include the whole nation, not merely a limited group permitted to worship in the wilderness. God’s demand for His people’s freedom would be fully carried out. Exo 10:24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD.… After that, I will depart.” Moses would leave Egypt only after Pharaoh’s court urgently demanded Israel’s departure. The final plague would bring the confrontation to its appointed end and begin the Exodus. Exo 8:10 “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered. “May it be as you say,”… And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence. Moses’ anger arose from Pharaoh’s continued defiance despite repeated warnings and devastating judgments. He departed knowing that God would now act decisively against Egypt. Exo 32:19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf… The LORD said to Moses, God continued to direct Moses as Israel’s appointed deliverer. Moses acted under divine authority, carrying God’s commands and warnings before Pharaoh. Exo 6:29 He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt… “Pharaoh will not listen to you, Pharaoh’s refusal was already known to God and would expose the king’s rebellion against the Lord. Though repeatedly confronted with God’s power, Pharaoh remained determined to keep Israel enslaved. Exo 7:13 Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would… so that My wonders may be multiplied The judgments upon Egypt would reveal the Lord’s supremacy over Pharaoh, Egypt’s gods, and the forces of nature. Each plague increased the evidence that Israel’s God alone rules over all. Exo 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will… in the land of Egypt.” Egypt became the setting for God’s public judgment and Israel’s deliverance. The events leading to the Exodus established the Lord’s faithfulness to His covenant and marked the beginning of Israel’s freedom from bondage. Psa 78:12 He worked wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt,… Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, God authenticated Moses and Aaron as His appointed servants through mighty acts that exposed the weakness of Egypt’s gods and demonstrated His authority over creation, health, life, and death. The plagues brought judgment on Egypt while revealing the Lord’s covenant commitment to deliver Israel from slavery. Exo 7:10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did… but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart Pharaoh repeatedly resisted God’s commands, and the Lord confirmed him in that rebellion. Pharaoh’s hardened heart became the setting in which God displayed His power openly before Egypt, Israel, and the surrounding nations. Exo 9:12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not… so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land. Pharaoh’s refusal delayed Israel’s departure until God brought final judgment on Egypt. Their deliverance from bondage marked the beginning of Israel’s journey toward the land God had promised their ancestors. Exo 9:35 So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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