What is the meaning of Exodus 11:4? So Moses declared • Moses speaks as the divinely appointed representative who has already confronted Pharaoh nine times (Exodus 7–10). • His declaration underscores obedience; Moses does not soften or edit God’s message (Exodus 4:12; Deuteronomy 18:18). • Scripture consistently presents true prophets as mouthpieces for God, never for personal agendas (Jeremiah 1:7; 2 Peter 1:21). • The statement prepares Pharaoh—and every reader—to recognize that what follows is not human opinion but the very word of God. This is what the LORD says • The phrase signals absolute authority; the covenant name “LORD” (YHWH) ties the warning to the God who revealed Himself at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). • God’s words are unfailingly reliable: “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19); “so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty” (Isaiah 55:11). • By prefacing the judgment with His own words, God leaves Pharaoh without excuse—he has heard directly from the Creator, not a negotiator (Exodus 5:2). About midnight • The timing is precise, demonstrating God’s total control over history and nature (Psalm 31:15; Galatians 4:4). • Midnight marks the deepest darkness, highlighting the contrast between Egypt’s spiritual darkness and God’s coming light for Israel (Exodus 12:12–13; John 1:5). • Similar “midnight moments” precede deliverance elsewhere—Paul and Silas sing in prison “about midnight” before God intervenes (Acts 16:25–26). • The literal hour emphasizes that God’s judgments are neither random nor delayed: “For the vision awaits an appointed time” (Habakkuk 2:3). I will go throughout Egypt • God Himself executes the final plague; this is not merely an angelic visitation (though He may employ angels), but a personal act of judgment (Exodus 12:12; Isaiah 31:4–5). • The sweep “throughout Egypt” shows the universal reach of His sentence—no household will be exempt apart from those under the blood (Exodus 12:22–23). • Judgment and mercy operate side by side; while Egyptians face death, Israel will experience redemption, foreshadowing Christ’s substitutionary atonement (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19). • God’s direct involvement underscores His covenant faithfulness: He promised Abraham, “I will judge the nation they serve” (Genesis 15:14), and now fulfills it. summary Exodus 11:4 records Moses faithfully transmitting God’s final warning: the LORD Himself will move through Egypt at midnight to strike the firstborn. Every detail—Moses’ declaration, the divine authority, the precise timing, and God’s personal action—reveals a sovereign, promise-keeping God who judges sin and rescues His people. |
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