Exodus 11:1-10 Last Chance: Plague on the Firstborn

"Now the LORD had said to Moses,

'I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt.

After that, he will let you go from here,

and when he does, he will drive you out completely.

Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors

for articles of silver and gold.'

(The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people,

and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt
by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)

So Moses said, 'This is what the LORD says:

"About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.

Every firstborn son in Egypt will die,

from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on the throne,

to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill,

and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.

There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt --

worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.

But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal."

Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying,

"Go, you and all the people who follow you!"

After that, I will leave.'

Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

The LORD had said to Moses,

'Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you --

so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.'

Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh,

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,

and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country."

Exodus 11:1-10 (NIV)

________________________

This was a long section, but it all belongs together, so I did not want to split things up.  Previously, Pharaoh had (again) refused to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, and the LORD had sent a plague of darkness. Pharaoh had ordered Moses out of his sight, and had threatened to kill him if he appeared before him again.  Then this section of Exodus 11:1-10 is introduced as a way to explain what the LORD had already told Moses before his appearance in Pharaoh's court.  There is a lot of material here, so I will just list some observations:

• One more plague remains.  The LORD at first does not go into detail about it, but simply instructs Moses to tell the people to ask their neighbors for silver and gold articles before it happens.  Whatever it is, it will cause Pharaoh to want to drive the Israelites out of his land.
• We are told that the LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the Israelites, which means that they will likely agree to these requests.  We are also told that Pharaoh's officials and the people had great regard for Moses himself.  Moses had in the past shown great military prowess, and his demonstration of the power of Israel's God had no doubt been impressive to all who witnessed the plagues which had come upon Egypt.  I also get the impression that Moses' character is involved here.  The Egyptians may not believe in his God, but they seem to have respect for Moses.
• The last plague is finally revealed.  All the firstborn sons of Egypt will die, whether of high or low position in society.  This will be a tragic, crushing blow to Egypt.  Its severity indicates the seriousness with which God viewed Pharaoh's rebellion and willful disobedience.
• Even the firstborn of the cattle will die.  At first I wondered why, for the animals had not rebelled against God.  Then I remembered how Pharaoh had wanted the Israelites to leave their cattle behind, which was both an attempt to hold the Israelites back from leaving Egypt, and an effort at robbing them of their wealth so that they had no resources with which to make a life elsewhere.  God is still keeping the promises which he made to Abraham.  One of them was that whoever blessed Israel would be blessed and whoever cursed Israel would be cursed.   Throughout history, God has kept that promise, and in a kind of ironic justice, has seemingly done to Israel's enemies the exact thing which they had attempted to do to Israel.  In this case the Egyptians had attempted to take Israel's cattle, so guess whose cattle takes a hit?
• The loud wailing throughout Egypt (at the realization of the death of the firstborn sons) would be worse than had ever happened before, or ever would happen again.
• The Israelites would be spared this tragedy, and the LORD would show the distinction between Israel and Egypt, because of their relationship with God.  Not even a dog would bark at them, a situation which emphasizes the providential care which God was taking of His people.
• Moses is angry at Pharaoh, and warns him that his own officials would come and beg him to leave Egypt.  Then he left Pharaoh's presence.  That is an awesome moment.  If Pharaoh had any real wisdom at all, he would have run after Moses and begged for God's forgiveness.  However, by now Pharaoh's heart -- continually hardened by his own repeated transgressions -- had been made hard enough that the thought of repentance was nowhere evident.
• The final verses of this text (v.9-10) remind us that all these things were no surprise to God.  Before Moses had even left his father-in-law's home to come to Egypt, God had told Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to him.  He had also told Moses that these events would take place so that God's wonders could be displayed in Egypt.  All of Pharaoh's resistance would merely allow God to be glorified and His miraculous control over all His creation to be displayed before the Israelites and the Egyptians alike.

Exodus 10:21-29 Deep Darkness

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Stretch out your hand toward the sky

so that darkness will spread over Egypt --

darkness that can be felt.'

So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky,

and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.

No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days.

Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said,

'Go, worship the LORD.

Even your women and children may go with you;

only leave your flocks and herds behind.'

But Moses said,

'You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings

to present to the LORD our God.

Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind.

We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God,

and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD.'

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,

and he was not willing to let them go.

Pharaoh said to Moses, 'Get out of my sight!

Make sure you do not appear before me again!

The day you see my face you will die.'

'Just as you say,' Moses replied,

'I will never appear before you again.'

Exodus 10:21-29 (NIV)

________________________________

When Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, even after the plague of locusts, the LORD sent darkness over Egypt for three days.  This darkness was so thick that one person could not see another, and no one left home for three days.

However, in the homes of the Hebrews there was light.  That is an amazing thing.  Can you imagine what was going on in the minds of the Egyptians?  Aside from the darkness giving them a chance to think about the power of this God of the Israelites, they could see clearly that God was making a distinction between His people and the Egyptians.

Again, it is not that the Israelites were any more holy or superior than any other people, but their relationship with God made all the difference.  God was in a covenant relationship with the Israelites, and He was preparing to make good on His promise to bring them back to the land which He had given them, a land which they had not yet seen, although their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had lived there.  At the same time, God was revealing Himself to the Egyptians, so that they might come to know Him as well.

Pharaoh, however, was being the epitome of stubbornness.  Despite all the evidence of the superiority of the God of Israel over the 'gods' of Egypt, he remained resistant.  Even now, in the midst of the three-day darkness, he was still acting as if he was the one calling the shots.  He declared that the Hebrews could all go to worship the LORD, but that they must leave their flocks and herds behind.  Perhaps Pharaoh was becoming resigned to the fact that the people were going to leave, but he hoped to at least retain their wealth -- their animals.

Moses quickly makes it very clear that it was the LORD who was the sovereign here, and that the Israelites were waiting on His commands, not upon Pharaoh's.  The Israelites intended to worship the LORD, and needed to have all their resources with them so that they could respond to the LORD's leading regarding what type of worship would be pleasing to Him.  In reality, Pharaoh's power had been proved nonexistent.  His desires in this case were not even an issue.

Pharaoh responds with all the rage of a spoiled child who cannot have his own way.  He orders Moses out of his presence and warns him that if he appears before him again, he will have him put to death.

Moses replies courteously, with perhaps a twist of irony.  He agrees that he will never appear before Pharaoh again.  However, he says this because God has already revealed to him what will happen next. 

Exodus 10:12-20 Repercussion

Pharaoh had repeatedly spurned every evidence of God's power and authority.  In his pride, he continued to refuse to submit to the LORD, the God of Israel, despite numerous examples of His superiority over the 'gods' of Egypt.  After a while, there was no other reasonable course of action to take than to punish Pharaoh's willful sin:

"And the LORD said to Moses,

'Stretch out your hand over Egypt
so that locusts will swarm over the land

and devour everything growing in the fields,
everything left by the hail.'

So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt,

and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land
all that day and all that night.

By morning the wind had brought the locusts;

they invaded all Egypt
and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers.

Never before had there been such a plague of locusts,

nor will there ever be again.

They covered all the ground until it was black.

They devoured all that was left after the hail --

everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees.

Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said,

'I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.

Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God

to take this deadly plague away from me.'

Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.

And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind,

which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea.

Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go."

Exodus 10:12-20 (NIV)

_____________________________________

The locust plague devoured any vegetation which might have been left behind from previous plagues.  The severity of the plague was such that the ground appeared black with the ravenous insects, which settled in every part of Egypt.  The Bible assures us that such an extensive plague had never happened before, nor would it again, (a fact which makes me very happy).

Pharaoh quickly realizes his error and confesses his sin against God and even against Moses.  Moses does pray to the LORD for the plague to be removed, as Pharaoh has requested.  However, there seems to be something lacking in Pharaoh's 'repentance', for he still refuses to let the Israelites go.  The LORD had hardened Pharaoh's heart.  This reminds me of what a parent might say when a child makes an ugly face at a sibling:  "Watch out, or your face will stay that way!"  Pharaoh is no child, but a grown man, and he has been shown mercy numerous times.  However, as Scripture says, God will not be mocked.  God will forgive even the worst sinner who has sinned numerous times and sincerely repents.  However, He will not allow Pharaoh to continually claim to repent and then just do whatever he wants to do.  So now Pharaoh "will stay that way", stuck in his rebellious ways, and it is not the LORD's fault, but his own.  That is a solemn thing to think about, isn't it?

Exodus 10:7-11 Darkened Understanding

"Pharaoh's officials said to him,

'How long will this man be a snare to us?

Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God.

Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?'

Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh.

'Go, worship the LORD your God,' he said.

'But just who will be going?'

Moses answered, 'We will go with our young and old,

with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds,

because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD.'

Pharaoh said, 'The LORD be with you -- if I let you go,

along with your women and children!

Clearly you are bent on evil.

No!  Have only the men go; and worship the LORD,

since that's what you have been asking for.'

Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.

Exodus 10:7-11 (NIV)

____________________________

Some observations:

1. Pharaoh's officials also ask Pharaoh "How long..." he would continue his stubborn resistance, as God did in Exodus 10:3.  They realize that Egypt was being ruined by Pharaoh's continued rebellion.
2. However, these same officials regard Moses as a 'snare' to themselves.  It is interesting that, to the people of God, this same Moses will be considered a deliverer, while to those who rebelled against God, Moses is seen as someone bringing trouble.
3. When Pharaoh brings Moses and Aaron into his presence, he inquires about the details of the proposed festival.  All along, God has been directing Pharaoh to let 'my people' go.  This would seem to include all the Israelites.  Pharaoh, however, seems to be under the impression that it was only the men who would be leaving for the festival, for he explodes when he realizes that all the Israelites want to leave.  
4. Pharaoh assumes that if all the Israelites leave, they won't be coming back.  He insists that only the men can go to worship the LORD.  That way the rest of the Hebrews can remain as hostages.
5. Apparently Pharaoh still is convinced that he is the one in charge.  He drives the servants of the LORD out of his presence.  Clearly he does not understand that the LORD is the One who will be calling the shots in this situation.
6. Nor does Pharaoh recognize that he is continuing to cut off his own opportunity to repent.  While obeying the LORD brings wisdom and clarity of thought, sinning against Him results in darkened understanding and foolish, distorted thinking.  Pharaoh sees Moses, rather than himself, as the one who is 'bent on evil'.  In the big picture, Pharaoh is bringing about his own destruction by continuing to rebel.
7. Of course, God can not let this challenge to his authority go unanswered.  He has given Pharaoh explicit warning about what would happen if he continued to disobey.  Now God will begin to do exactly what he told Pharaoh He would do. 

Exodus 10:1-6 Plague of Locusts

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart

and the hearts of his officials

so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them

that you may tell your children and grandchildren

how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians

and how I performed my signs among them,

and that you may know that I am the LORD.'

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him,

'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says:

"How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?

Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow.

They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen.

They will devour what little you have left after the hail,

including every tree that is growing in your fields.

They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians --

something neither your fathers nor your forefathers have ever seen

from the day they settled in this land until now." '

Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

Exodus 10:1-6 (NIV)

____________________________________

Again Moses is sent back to the unrepentant Pharaoh.  God reveals that He has allowed this hardening of the hearts of Pharaoh and his officials so that He may perform miracles among them and that the Israelites may tell of these wonders to their descendants.  Both the miraculous and corrective aspects of these plagues can be a source of instruction to the Israelites and Egyptians alike.  The end goal is "...that you may know that I am the LORD." (v.2)

When Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh, it becomes clear that Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go is a matter of prideful self-will (v.3).  God asks Pharaoh how long such stubborn resistance will last.  It is not that God does not know how long Pharaoh will resist -- it is more like God is saying "How long do you think I am going to put up with this?"

God warns that a devastating locust plague will result if Pharaoh continues to refuse to humble himself.  Locusts would cover the ground until it would not be visible, and fill the homes of every Egyptian, including Pharaoh and his officials.  The locusts would devour whatever vegetation remained in the fields, including the trees.  The extent of this plague would be more than their ancestors had ever seen since the time Egypt was settled.

After this announcement, Moses turned and left Pharaoh's presence. (v.6)  I think that this may have been even more of a shock to Pharaoh's court than his message.  I do not think that anyone, even Pharaoh's closest advisors, would just leave Pharaoh's presence without being dismissed.   

Exodus 9:27-35 Unrepentant

"Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron.

'This time I have sinned,' he said to them.

'The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.

Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail.

I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer.'

Moses replied, 'When I have gone out of the city,

I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD.

The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail,

so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.

But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.'

(The flax and barley were destroyed,

since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom.

The wheat and spelt, however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)

Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city.

He spread out his hands toward the LORD;

the thunder and hail stopped,

and the rain no longer poured down on the land.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped,

he sinned again:

He and his officials hardened their hearts.

So Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go,

just as the LORD had said through Moses."

Exodus 9:27-35 (NIV)

________________________________________

At first it seemed that Pharaoh was finally going to repent.  He acknowledged his sin and  admitted that the LORD was in the right, while he and his people were in the wrong.

However, there is something suspect about this repentance.  He says that 'This time I have sinned...' which seems to suggest that perhaps his other acts of disobedience (during the incidents with the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock and boils)and his false promises to allow the Israelites to leave were somehow not his fault.  A truly broken and repentant heart would have taken responsibility for all of the above.

Moses' actions suggest that he had similar suspicions.  He tells Pharaoh that he will pray to the LORD after he is out of the city.  Why? Does he suspect that Pharaoh may try to detain or harm him if the plague is removed at that very moment?  Moses also plainly tells Pharaoh that he knows that both Pharaoh and his officials still do not fear the LORD.  After all, Pharaoh had broken his promises on numerous occasions.

Almost as a side note in the text, it reveals that the flax and barley crops had been destroyed, since they were nearly fully developed.  There was still hope for the wheat and spelt (a wheat-like member of the grass family), for they had not yet ripened.  Even this was evidence of the LORD's mercy, for had these been destroyed as well, the Egyptians would have nothing to eat, at least in the bread/cereal part of the equation.   

In contrast to Pharaoh's wavering stance, Moses keeps his promises.  He goes out of the city and prays to the LORD, and the rain, thunder and hail stops.

This is a moment of great promise.  It is Pharaoh's opportunity to go in a whole new direction of obedience.  But he doesn't take it.  Instead, the text says that both he and his officials hardened their hearts.  [That seemed strange, for at least some of the officials had seemed to be heading in a God-ward direction previously. (v. 20) I guess their 'obedience' had been strictly practical -- they had only done it to save their servants and possessions.]

This reminds me of a verse in the New Testament which speaks of God giving us the opportunity to escape sin's clutches:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

                                                                                              I Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Pharaoh chose to ignore that 'way out'.  Instead, he and his officials hardened their hearts.  The only way left for the LORD to get through to Pharaoh is through further chastening.  I am afraid that Galatians 6:7 -- "Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows." -- will come true for Pharaoh in a rather painful way in the near future. 

Exodus 9:22-26 Consequences and Compassion

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Stretch out your hand toward the sky

so that hail will fall all over Egypt --

on men and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.'

When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky,

the LORD sent thunder and hail,

and lightning flashed down to the ground.

So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt;

hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth.

It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.

Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields --

both men and animals;

it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree.

The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen,

where the Israelites were."

Exodus 9:22-26 (NIV)

_________________________________________________

Although God had specifically warned against the consequences of disobedience, Pharaoh had refused to comply with the LORD's instructions or to even heed His merciful warning.  Some of Pharaoh's officials, though, were beginning to get the hint and ran to bring their servants and animals to shelter. (Exodus 9:20)

The hailstorm arrived as scheduled.  As the LORD had promised, it was the worst storm Egypt had endured as a nation. (Exodus 9:18,24)  Men, animals, plants and trees were all affected.  The text emphasizes this by repeating "everything in the fields", "everything growing", "every tree".

In stark contrast, the only place where it did not hail was the land of Goshen.  This was because this was where the Israelites were.  God was not playing favorites.  The Israelites were no less sinful than any other humans.  However, they had a covenant relationship with God, and He will always honor His promises.

If anything, sparing Goshen was a merciful act towards Egypt as well.  The Egyptians could clearly see that the God of the Hebrews was a powerful God, yet One who had mercy upon those who would turn to Him.  Those Egyptians who heeded God's warning were able to save their servants and animals from destruction.  This showed the Egyptians that God was willing to be their God, too, if they would turn to Him.

Exodus 9:20-21 Can you believe it?

"Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD

hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.

But those who ignored the word of the LORD

left their slaves and livestock in the field.

Exodus 9:20-21 (NIV)

_________________________________

I was going to just continue on with the rest of this section, but something about these two verses really struck me.  There are only two verses, yet the contrast between those who feared the word of the LORD and those who ignored it is very stark.  I think that this is because it clearly shows that what a person believes about the word of the LORD actually has an effect upon how he will live his life.  In this chapter of Exodus, the ones who ignore the word of the LORD are going to be in for a rather rude awakening.

Then I thought about what people in general think about God's Word today.  I've noticed that in internet comments upon various issues, the general consensus among people who do not seem to be following God is that those who do have a reverence for God's Word (the Bible) are either ignorant or are choosing to believe a fairy tale.  The fact of the matter is that although faith is certainly required to believe that what God says in the Bible is true, there is actually quite a bit of evidence that the Bible is not just some kind of religious writing.  It is a totally unique type of book.

I hope to do a post or series of posts about why this is so.  Some things which I would like to address are:

• Are there really so many variations in the manucripts which are available that we can't say that we have the actual text?
• Is prophecy just for raving lunatics or is there any validity to predictive prophecy?
• Are there errors in the Bible?

If you have any other questions or areas which you would like me to explore, just leave a note in the comments section of this article.  Remember, if you are wondering about an issue, there are likely to be many other people who are wondering about the same thing, so no question is too insignificant.

Meanwhile, back in the book of Exodus,  some of Pharaoh's officials scramble to get their slaves and lifestock to safety, while those who did not believe God's word to Pharaoh ignored the warning and probably mocked those who did take action. 

Exodus 9:13-19 Future Forecast: Hail Storm Warning

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him,

"This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says:

Let my people go so that they may worship me,

or this time I  will send the full force of my plagues
against you and against your officials and your people,

so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

For by now I could have stretched out my hand

and struck you and your people
with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose,

that I might show you my power

and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

You set yourself against my people and will not let them go.

Therefore, at this time tomorrow
I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt,

from the day it was founded till now.

Give an order now to bring your livestock
and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter,

because the hail will fall on every man and animal
that has not been brought in

and is still out in the field,
and they will die."

Exodus 9:13-19 (NIV)

______________________________

The LORD tells Pharaoh many things about Himself  (and about His future plans) in this passage:

• First, He makes clear who it is who is speaking:  He is the LORD, the God of the Hebrews.
• He clearly warns Pharaoh that He wants His people to be free to worship Him, and that...
• ...the full force of His plagues will come upon all Egypt if Pharaoh does not comply.
• There is no one like Him in all the earth.
• He holds the lives of Pharaoh and his people in His hands.
• God has raised Pharaoh up to this position 1) to show Pharaoh His power and 2) so that His name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
• Pharaoh is setting himself against God's people by not complying.
• God will bring the worst hailstorm Egypt has ever seen if Pharaoh resists Him.
• God also specifies the time that the hailstorm will take place.
• Yet God gives Pharaoh and his people the opportunity to bring men and animals to safety if they believe that He will carry out what He says He will do.
• Otherwise, any man or animal which is left out in the field will die.

You can't make things much clearer than that.