What is the meaning of Exodus 11:1? Then the LORD said to Moses • The initiative is entirely God’s; Moses acts only after receiving the LORD’s explicit word (Exodus 3:15–17; 7:2). • The same pattern—God speaks, Moses obeys—has framed every prior plague, underscoring divine sovereignty (Exodus 8:1; 9:1). • “Then” ties this statement to Pharaoh’s hard‐hearted refusal after the ninth plague (Exodus 10:27), showing God’s patience has a determined limit (Romans 2:4–5). I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague • God Himself, not chance or nature, will bring this final judgment (Exodus 12:12; Isaiah 45:7). • “One more” signals climax: the death of the firstborn, forecast back in Exodus 4:22–23 and fulfilled in Exodus 12:29–30. • Pharaoh and his people are treated as a unit—corporate responsibility for stubborn rebellion (Exodus 9:14; Psalm 135:8–9). After that, he will allow you to leave this place • God guarantees the outcome before the plague occurs, affirming His foreknowledge and power (Exodus 6:1; 11:9). • Israel’s departure is not just escape but fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13–14; Acts 7:6–7). • The phrase “leave this place” hints at a complete separation from Egypt’s bondage (Exodus 3:8; 13:3). And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely • Pharaoh’s future eagerness contrasts sharply with his present defiance; the oppressor will become the expeller (Exodus 12:31–33). • “Completely” points to total liberation—no herds or people left behind (Exodus 10:24–26; 12:32). • God turns enemy hostility into a means of deliverance, mirroring later events like Babylon’s release of Judah (Ezra 1:1–4). summary Exodus 11:1 reveals God as the sovereign planner and executor of Israel’s redemption. He speaks, declares a final decisive plague, foretells Pharaoh’s reversal, and ensures Israel’s full emancipation. The verse bridges judgment and deliverance, showing that when God sets a limit to evil, nothing can hinder the fulfillment of His promises. |
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