What can we learn about God's justice from Exodus 11:4's warning to Pharaoh? Setting the Scene Exodus 11:4: “So Moses declared, ‘This is what the LORD says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.’” Nine devastating plagues have come and gone. Pharaoh has watched his land unravel, yet he still hardens his heart. Now God issues one more warning—the climactic announcement of the death of Egypt’s firstborn. This single verse tells us volumes about the character of divine justice. Key Observations From the Verse • “This is what the LORD says” – Justice rests on God’s own authority, not human opinion. • “About midnight” – Justice is precise and perfectly timed, never late, never haphazard. • “I will go throughout Egypt” – The Lord Himself executes judgment; He does not delegate ultimate justice to chance or to mere created forces. • Context of repeated warnings – God has patiently offered Pharaoh opportunity after opportunity to repent (Exodus 7–10). The coming judgment follows extended mercy. What We Learn About God’s Justice • Justice is anchored in God’s revelation – When God speaks, His word is final (Isaiah 55:11). – Refusing divine revelation invites unavoidable consequences (Romans 1:18). • Justice follows patient mercy – Nine prior plagues were gracious wake-up calls (2 Peter 3:9). – Rejection of mercy turns patience into righteous wrath (Romans 2:4-5). • Justice is precise and purposeful – “About midnight” shows a set hour; God does nothing arbitrarily (Ecclesiastes 3:17). – Judgment is measured, not reckless (Nahum 1:3). • Justice is personal – “I will go” underscores that God intervenes directly; He is not an indifferent observer (Psalm 96:13). • Justice makes distinctions – While Egypt’s firstborn die, Israel’s are spared (Exodus 11:7; 12:13). – God differentiates between those under the blood of the Lamb and those who are not—a pattern fulfilled in Christ (John 3:18). • Justice vindicates God’s promises – God foretold Egypt’s judgment generations earlier (Genesis 15:14). – His faithfulness to His covenant people is inseparable from His judgment on their oppressors. Broader Scriptural Echoes • Psalm 9:7-8 – The LORD “judges the world with righteousness.” • Revelation 16:5-7 – Heaven praises God for “just judgments.” • Acts 17:31 – God “has set a day” to judge the world by the Man He has appointed. Responding to God’s Justice Today • Take God’s warnings seriously; His Word is never idle. • Recognize that delayed judgment is mercy, not impotence. • Flee to the Savior whose blood shields from wrath (Romans 5:9). • Live confidently—God will right every wrong in His perfect timing. |
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