Exodus 11:4-10
“AND MOSES said, Thus saith the LORD, about midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn of Pharaoh in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.”
Pharaoh’s refusal to bow to God had, in effect, signed the death warrant of the firstborn throughout the whole land. The eldest was the chief successor, the one in whom the family hopes rested, the pride of each household. What a great disaster confronted the land in view of Moses’ warning! All the greatness, the power, and the wealth of the mightiest monarch in the world in that day could not keep the death angel from entering the royal palace. Nor was the lowest of servants exempt from the decree of death. Even the beasts would feel the blow. When death would strike in all the households of the Egyptians, they were warned that, “There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.”
What a solemn reminder this is of a greater doom soon to fall on this world, where Satan, its present ruler, now holds sway and opposes everything that is of God and His people. But when that judgment falls it will not be upon the firstborn only, but all will come under its stroke; young and old alike who have refused to heed the voice of God, will perish. Then Satan, utterly defeated, will be cast into the lake of fire, and there with him shall be all who have followed him and refused God and Christ.
And what of the Israelites on that solemn night? Was the threat of death before them, too? Yes, the destroying angel was to pass through all the land and look upon the houses of Israel as well as those of the Egyptians. Yet, Moses expressed no fear for his people as he proclaimed: “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” It will soon be seen what made the difference and why the “great cry” to be heard would be only from the lips of the Egyptians.
God would not only bring the rebellious land into judgment, but He would compel the servants of Pharaoh to come and bow in humility before the one whom they had rejected. “And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me,” Moses foretold. Thus he again presents a picture of Christ, the One presently rejected and despised by the world, but before whom every knee shall bow and whom every tongue shall confess as Lord. Thus, as the psalmist has declared: “The wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Is it not better, beloved reader, to bow the knee now and own Him both Saviour and Lord, while it is yet the day of grace?
Although forewarned of this dreadful death among his people, Pharaoh continued with hardened heart “so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”
ML-01/12/1969