How does Exodus 11:4 connect to the theme of deliverance in Exodus? Text in Focus Exodus 11:4—“So Moses declared, ‘This is what the LORD says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.’” Backdrop to Exodus 11:4 • Nine plagues have already struck Egypt (Exodus 7–10), yet Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened. • Exodus 11 opens with God announcing one final plague that will compel Pharaoh to release Israel. • Verse 4 is Moses’ public proclamation of that decisive act. Divine Initiative in Deliverance • “I will go”—God Himself, not an angel or Moses, executes this plague (cf. Exodus 12:12). • Deliverance is never man-engineered; it is divinely initiated and completed (Exodus 6:6). • The certainty of the statement (“This is what the LORD says”) underscores God’s absolute authority over history and nations (Isaiah 46:9-10). Midnight Moment of Judgment and Salvation • Midnight symbolizes sudden, inescapable judgment (Job 34:20) while simultaneously marking a turning point for God’s people. • The same act that brings death to Egypt brings life and freedom to Israel, illustrating the dual nature of God’s redemptive work (Romans 11:22). The Firstborn Theme • The death of Egypt’s firstborn contrasts with Israel’s redemption of her firstborn (Exodus 13:2, 13). • By striking the firstborn—heirs and strength of Egypt—God dismantles the nation’s future, demonstrating His supremacy over false gods (Numbers 33:4). Connection to Passover and Exodus 12 • God’s announcement in 11:4 leads directly to the institution of Passover (Exodus 12:1-14). • The lamb’s blood shields Israelite homes from judgment (12:7, 13), highlighting substitutionary atonement and deliverance. • The immediacy—“About midnight”—creates urgency for Israel to prepare in faith and obedience. Foreshadowing Ultimate Deliverance in Christ • Just as God Himself passes through Egypt, Christ personally enters history to secure deliverance (John 1:14). • Passover finds fulfillment in “Christ, our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Midnight judgment prefigures a future day when Christ returns unexpectedly to judge and to save (Matthew 25:6, 31-34). Takeaways for Today • God’s word is sure; when He says, “I will,” deliverance is guaranteed. • Salvation and judgment are two sides of the same divine action—our response to God determines which we experience. • Obedient faith acts promptly on God’s warnings and promises, just as Israel prepared that very night. • Exodus 11:4 anchors the entire Exodus narrative: deliverance is God-initiated, blood-secured, and leads to covenant relationship—a pattern fully realized in the gospel. |
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