1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.
3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.
4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born 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.
6 And 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.
7 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.
8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible. It tells the story of the Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to their freedom and eventual arrival in the Promised Land. Chapter 11 is the final chapter in the series of plagues that God sends upon Egypt in order to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites. In this chapter, God announces the final and most devastating plague - the death of the firstborns in Egypt. This chapter also sets the stage for the Israelites' departure from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land.
After nine plagues, Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go. In Chapter 11, God tells Moses that He will send one final plague upon the land of Egypt - the death of the firstborns. God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to borrow silver and gold from their Egyptian neighbors before leaving. This is seen as a way for the Israelites to receive compensation for their years of slavery and to fulfill God's promise to Abraham that they would leave Egypt with great possessions.
God also reveals to Moses that the plague will be so severe that even Pharaoh's own son will die. This is a direct attack on the Egyptian belief that Pharaoh is a god and his son is the divine heir to the throne. This final plague is meant to show the power and authority of the one true God over all other gods and rulers.
Throughout the plagues, it is mentioned several times that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, causing him to refuse to let the Israelites go. This has been a source of confusion and debate among biblical scholars. Some argue that God actively intervened to harden Pharaoh's heart, while others believe that Pharaoh's heart was already hardened due to his stubbornness and God simply allowed it to remain that way.
In this chapter, it is mentioned twice that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. In verse 10, it says, "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land." This could be interpreted as God actively intervening to harden Pharaoh's heart in order to carry out His plan of delivering the Israelites from slavery. However, in verse 3, it says, "And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people." This could suggest that Pharaoh's heart was already hardened and God simply allowed it to remain that way.
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart serves as a reminder of the power and sovereignty of God. It also highlights the consequences of stubbornness and disobedience. Despite witnessing the devastation and suffering caused by the plagues, Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go. This ultimately leads to the death of his own son and the loss of many lives in Egypt.
Before the final plague is carried out, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to observe the Passover. This is a ritual that involves sacrificing a lamb and placing its blood on the doorposts of their homes. The blood of the lamb serves as a sign for the Lord to pass over their homes and spare their firstborns from death.
The Passover is a significant event in Jewish history and is still celebrated today as a reminder of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It also foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Lamb of God" in the New Testament. Just as the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from death, the blood of Jesus saves believers from eternal death and offers them eternal life.
Exodus Chapter 11 carries several important themes and messages that are applicable to our lives today. Firstly, it reminds us of the power and sovereignty of God. Despite the might and power of the Egyptian empire, God is able to bring them to their knees and deliver the Israelites from slavery. This serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful our enemies or struggles may seem, God is ultimately in control and can overcome all obstacles.
Secondly, this chapter emphasizes the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Pharaoh's stubbornness and refusal to obey God ultimately leads to the death of his own son and the loss of many lives in Egypt. This serves as a warning for us to be mindful of our actions and to always follow God's commands.
Furthermore, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart highlights the importance of having a soft and receptive heart towards God. If we allow our hearts to be hardened by stubbornness and disobedience, we may miss out on experiencing the fullness of God's love and blessings in our lives.
The Passover ritual also carries a powerful message about the sacrificial love of God. Just as the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from death, the blood of Jesus Christ saves us from eternal death and offers us eternal life. This serves as a reminder of God's unconditional love for us and the lengths He is willing to go to in order to save us.
Exodus Chapter 11 is a crucial chapter in the book of Exodus as it sets the stage for the Israelites' departure from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. It also carries important themes and messages about the power and sovereignty of God, the importance of obedience and having a soft heart towards God, and the sacrificial love of God. As we reflect on this chapter, may we be reminded of God's faithfulness and love for us, and may we strive to live our lives in obedience and with soft hearts towards Him.
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