Daily Devotions
Exodus
"But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble." Psalm 37:39
Text: Exodus 11 : 4-8
A MOST SOBERING MESSAGE
The message that Moses was going to deliver to Pharaoh was the most sobering yet! Pharaoh must be held responsible for all the plagues that had fallen on Egypt! Would he now listen to this most sobering of messages?
“Then Moses said, ‘Thus says the LORD:
About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt;
and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die;
from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne,
even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind
the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there
shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as
was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.'”
EXODUS 11:4-6
Death to the firstborn! No one would be spared, not even the royal family of Pharaoh! Could that really happen?
DISTINCTION UPHELD
Did the Egyptians still think that there is no distinction between them and the children of Israel? The last plague would make things very clear!
“But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog
move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know
that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians
and Israel.”
EXODUS 11:7
The distinction between the Egyptians and the children of Israel should have been very clear by now. Yet, stubbornly Pharaoh refused to face the facts!
ANGER OF MOSES
For nine times, Moses controlled himself well! At last, the stubborn streak in Pharaoh got through to Moses, irking his very soul. He knew that Pharaoh would not listen to this last warning. How could a person have such a hard heart?
“And all these your servants shall come down to me
and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people
who follow you. After that, I will go out.’
Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.”
EXODUS 11:8
It must have been hard on the soul of Moses to see such destruction on the land, on beasts of burden, and also human lives! Pharaoh may not listen still. He never did! But he would rue the day he began hardening his heart!
Even if Pharaoh continued to personally resist, his subjects would themselves beg Moses to lead his people out of the land of Egypt! God will triumph yet!