Plague #10--Death of the Firstborn Announced: Proof that God is the God of True Believers

Exodus 11:1-10

L/W—We discussed the 9th plague, the plague/judgment of darkness and learned (1) God is the Sovereign Lord over light/dark, (2) that those walking apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ walk in spiritual darkness/death, and (3) God is the only means by which can be taken from darkness (sin/death) to light (liberty from sin/life)—it’s the light (truth) of Jesus Christ that brings salvation to man—nothing and no one else.

T/W—Starting today, we begin a 3-sermon look at God’s 10th plague against Pharaoh, the plague that would set Israel free from the bondage/tyranny/oppression of Pharaoh. Here’s a glimpse:

Today we discuss God’s announcement of the death of the firstborn; proof that God is the God of true believers

The following two sermons we will learn about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread—leading up to the events of the 10th plague. In learning of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, my prayer is that as we slow Scripture down, each of us will see and understand two Biblical essentials for redemption—both of which are the reason God sent His only begotten Son into the world

An unblemished lamb (12:1-13)

Putting all leaven, all evil, out of one’s life (12:14-20)

The next two sermons we will learn

Events of the 10th plague, it’s context and Biblical application (12:21-51), and

The remembering of God’s deliverance (13:1-16)

Why so detailed and slow-placed look? The redemption of God’s people from the hand of Pharaoh and Egypt paints such a vivid and stark picture for us of God’s redemption of our hearts today, through His Son Jesus Christ. The foreshadowing of our salvation and restoration can be seen and understood more clearly, as we take a slower, more in-depth look at all the events surrounding the 10th plague. The Biblical doctrines surrounding justification for sin, the means of our salvation, and Biblical essentials for salvation are what we hold fast to as believers today, are that important and necessary, that a casual glance just will not suffice.

(READ Exodus 11:1-10)

In studying the plagues, we learn a truth about God and what matters most to Him:

People are more important than the economy and the welfare of one race or one nation

People are created in the triune image of God, created to be in a relationship of worship and service with God, not created to be held in bondage and slavery

God desires that ANY and EVERY person recognize Him and the only true and living God; that He alone is both the means and mode of deliverance/redemption/restoration

This was something Pharaoh and Egypt failed miserably at; in their minds they were their own “gods.” They rejected the one and only true living God—not just once—but over and over again—and worshipped false gods, idols, and false teaching. The truth of the living God was just foreign to the ancient Egyptians—and b/c of this, the Egyptians as we know enslaved, oppressed, and placed the Israelites in bondage

What we must see here, as we reach the pinnacle of God’s plagues, is this: God’s patience had ended (this is reality and truth every nation and person must remember: there is an end to God’s patience, a time when He must step in, intercede, chastise and judge people.

God had been seen and been hurt enough—the evil of Pharaoh and the Egyptians had cut His heart to the core—they were not going to free His people, not of their own free will—so God had no choice—so He laid out the plans to launch one final plague of judgment—which would cause Pharaoh and his officials to beg God’s people to leave.

The important message in our discussion today is this: Proof that God is the God of True Believers—He was/is Yahweh and Jehovah:

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I (v.1-3) The charge of God given to God’s servant

Exodus 11:1-3 “And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 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.”

(CONTEXT)—

Moses was to announce one more plague—a plague would cause Pharaoh to free the people

“Plague” (Nega in Hebrew)—used here, this words means far more than a grievous and sorrowful event; the word means a stroke, a blow.

This 10th plague was to bring far more than just grief upon the Egyptians—it would launched/initiated by the stroke and blow of

God’s own hand

God’s almighty power

This 10th plague would cause such havoc that Pharaoh would literally drive the Israelites out of Egypt

Note what God charged Moses to do

Instruct God’s people to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold--

The Egyptians owed enormous wages to the Israelites for the decades of forced labor

The Egyptians, more than likely, stole most of the valuables and possessions of the Israelites when they enslaved them

The Egyptians freely gave the Israelites silver and gold. Why? What caused this?

The Egyptians gave b/c God stirred them to favor His people (v.3)

God had aroused fear within the Egyptians—plague after plague was sent upon Egypt and all the while the Israelites had been protected. This more than likely created fear of the Israelites within the people of Egypt—b/c of their power with God

God has aroused (apparently) guilt within the Egyptians—they mistreated/oppressed/abused the Israelites. They were making restitution to either ease their own consciences or else to please the God of the Hebrews

The Egyptians gave because they held Moses in such high esteem (v.3)

The magicians were unable to stand before Moses (Exodus 8:18-19)

The gov’t officials knew of his power and some even believed his message (Ex 9:20; 10:7)

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

The day that arrived for Pharaoh and Egypt, will arrive for man today, when God’s mercy and salvation will also be closed

Jeremiah 11:11 “Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.”

Amos 9:2 ““Though they dig into hell, From there My hand shall take them; Though they climb up to heaven, From there I will bring them down;”

1 Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

The day is coming with God will execute justice to believers, a day when believers will be paid and rewarded for their service on earth

Matthew 25:23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”

John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Romans 2:10 “but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

***A note on Exodus 11:1(b) “..., he will surely drive you out of here altogether.” ***

Up until this plague, Pharaoh’s promise of release was partial and conditional, telling Israel to

Stay in Egypt,

Leave families behind, or

Leave livestock behind

God’s promise is this verse, “altogether” indicates the totality & completeness in God’s deliverance from bondage

God’s deliverance of man from his sin and bondage is complete, final, and everlasting. There is no stain of sin, stain of from your past that He leaves behind in your restoration…every part of your past, you old-self, is put to death in His deliverance/redemption/restoration of your heart, b/c of Jesus Christ---JESUS PAID IT ALL

As in other parts of the Bible, this is a picture of Biblical restoration: which is not going back to how it was before, rather ending up in a better state than the original

II (v.4-6) The warning and proclamation of judgment

Exodus 11:4-6 “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.”

(CONTEXT)—This warning was given during the 9th plague when Pharaoh had Moses brought in (Exodus 10:24-29). God had obviously given these instructions to Moses before he was taken to Pharaoh for the last time—meaning God had prepared Moses for this meeting and the abrupt end of it

The point of all of this: There was a finality given to Pharaoh, a last confrontation that was given in the midst of the 9th plague

God Himself would execute the judgment about midnight (v.4)

Note the emphatic language of the Hebrew: “I, I (the Lord) will go out.” This translates out “march throughout Egypt.”

Note the emphatic language of when: right after midnight

The judgment was to bring a night of horror and terror (v.5-6)

All the firstborn among men and animals were to die

All during one night

All somewhere b/t midnight and daybreak

Judgment was to fall on Pharaoh’s firstborn as well as the firstborn of the slave girl—even the firstborn of animals

No person was to high or powerful or too low or weak to escape the plague of God’s final judgment

The result of the judgment

All the Egyptians would cry out in anguish, cry louder than ever before or ever again (v.6)

Historical note: Pre-Mosaic Pyramid Texts, Pre-Mosaic Coffin Texts, and more paint historical truth that verifies the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians

(CONNECTION—You and Me)

God warns us—judgment is coming—and there will be no escape, no amount of

Money

Status

Fame

Religion (good works, rules, morality) we possess,

Can prevent the wrath, judgment, and condemnation that awaits a person who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior

III (v.7-8) The purpose of the judgment

Exodus 11:7-8 “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.’ 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.”

(CONTEXT)

Point 1-To prove that God is the God of true believers: He protected His people (v.7)

Point 2-To stir Egypt (the world) to know one simple fact: God and God alone makes the distinction b/t Egypt and Israel (v.7)

Point 3-To force Egypt to free God’s people

(CONNECTION—You and Me)

(Connection to point #1) God has promised His protection/provision towards those who belong to Him; we have a holy, binding, and eternal promise rooted in the covenant-keeping love of God:

Romans 8:31-39 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”

(Connection to point #2) God alone makes the distinction—a distinction b/t those who wholly follow you vs those who don’t, yet man tries to play this role

We believe

Our righteous deeds pave the way for God’s approval/salvation

Our rule following paves the way for God’s approval/salvation

Our religious activity paves the way for God’s approval/salvation

Our ability to recite Scripture or our knowledge of the Bible paves the way for God’s approval/salvation

Our compassion/titles/money, paves the way for God’s approval/salvation

What the Bible says—note the 2nd part of verse 7: “…the Lord does make a distinction b/t the Egyptians and Israel.”—He does make a distinction b/t those who wholly follow Him and those who dont’

In man’s belief they play a role of some sort—in man’s workings, rules, and religion thinking this merits God’s approval—man plays God neglects the Biblical standard for atonement of sin and the saving of our souls

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

What Biblically and truthfully matters—what Biblical doctrine states about the change of a man’s heart—is being known by Jesus

Matthew 7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Our rules/works/religions CANNOT and DO NOT save us---we may “know” of Jesus---but these things cause us to fall short in being known BY Jesus

God and God alone makes the distinction and it all revolves around what we say and do about Jesus Christ (READ Mark 8:27-30)

We (a person) must accept and believe Who Jesus really is and why He really came, what He truly came to do

Who He is

The Son of God

God in the flesh

100% God and 100% man

Holy and righteous

Our just Judge

Our Just Justifier

Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end)

Author and Finisher of our faith

What He came to do:

He did NOT come to

Make you rich

Give you an easy life

Defeat physical enemies

Make you a more moral person

He DID COME to

Save you from your sin—He was born in a lowly manger, born to unwed parents, born die on a cross meant for you, meant for me

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

God alone makes the distinction b/t believer and unbeliever b/c in your belief, repentance, and confession of Jesus Christ and the barren cross and empty grave, the work He accomplished for your sin---you are thereby KNOWN BY HIM

Point #3—By the way of the cross—God was going to free people from their sin

The cross of Christ serves as both salvation to those who repent and judgment for those who refuse

The cross of Christ serves as God’s exclamation point that He has the final say so against sin and it’s wages—and the enemy holds not one IOTA of power against Him

The cross of Christ serves as God’s vengeance, justice, wrath against the bondage sin has weighed upon man

To those who would/have surrender their lives to Jesus Christ—God sets you positionally apart from world and sets your soul in Christ

Note just two distinct differences b/t believers and unbelievers in this world (THERE ARE SO MANY MORE, BUT FOR TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS TWO)

(First) God’s presence/care and protection/safety, along with His promises of heaven and eternity are given to believers

(Second) As believers, there exists the struggle to live righteous, godly, servant-filled lives, who are witnesses for God and have compassion for the needy and lost of this world.

A tell-tale sign exists in man’s hearts that serves as a “proof” if you will of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling:

Where there’s a struggle to live righteously and godly,

Where there’s a struggle to fight against sin/temptation/trials,

There’s proof of the Spirit

The development, growth, pruning of Spiritual fruit in a person’s life is reflective of the Holy Spirit’s presence in a person’s heart—and set’s a person distinct and different from those set apart from God

IV (v.9-10) The conclusion Facts to keep in mind about the plagues

Exodus 11:9-10 “But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

(CONTEXT)—There are several facts to keep in mind about the plagues:

Fact #1—Why did God’s judgment fall upon Egypt? (v.9) It was necessary b/c Pharaoh and Egypt would not

Listen/heed His Word, His warning, or His conviction of their sin,

Repent from their sin and turn towards Him

Free the Israelite people, His people from bondage and slavery

Fact #2—God’s purpose for the plagues of judgment was to make His power known (v.9)

As pointed out in chapters and verses past, the Egyptians were a sinful/evil people who:

Worshipped false idols and false gods (up to 80 scholars believe)

Enslaved, brutalized, and oppressed whole nations of people

As pointed out in chapters and verses past, God did not want a single Egyptian to perish—but for all to come to repentance; this was the reason He worked the miracles of the plagues—to prove

All the gods and religions worshipped by the Egyptians were false

There was only one living and true God—Yahweh and Jehovah

The Lord was the only God of salvation, redemption, and deliverance

Fact #3—God’s servants were faithful (v.10)

Moses and Aaron did exactly what God instructed them to do:

They proclaimed the message of God to Pharaoh

They worked the miracles God have them the power to perform

The preached God’s Word and called the Egyptians to repentance of their sin/idolatry/evil

Fact #4—God’s judgment was just (v.10)

Pharaoh heart was hard & evil

Pharaoh took the lead in rejecting God, rejecting His warning and mercy (time and time again)

Pharaoh took the lead in worshipping the false religions and gods created by man and his imaginations

(CONNECTION—You and Me)

From Fact #1—Many people hear the Word of God, have been told the Gospel, have had their sin exposed, and have fallen under conviction—and are as Pharaoh, hard-hearted and calloused; they are as the wayside soil Jesus speaks of in Mark 4.

Jesus has this to say about those who have heard the gospel and yet refuse to repent:

Mark 6:10-11 “Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!””

From Fact #2--

In and through the power of the cross, God displayed His power and authority over sin

In and through the power of the cross, God displayed and proved He and He alone is man’s Redeemer/Deliverer/Savior

In and through the power of the cross, God displayed His almighty right hand against the yoke, bondage, and wages of sin

From Fact #3--

We should be as obedient as Moses and Aaron to

Preach the gospel to ourselves and others

Walk in obedience to His Word and His will, wholly & fully

Walk and make disciples in the authority of Jesus Christ, who goes and is with us to the end of the age, for the purpose of seeing hearts be born again unto Jesus Christ

From Fact #4--

God has the power, authority, and sovereignty to both

Save man

Judge man

God’s powers over both will be demonstrated before every person who has ever lived

(CLOSING AND WORSHIP)

Between today’s message and those that follow, which lay out God’s final judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt, there is a glorious and remarkable foreshadowing of Jesus Christ and the cross and how His sacrifice was as Peter teaches in 1 Peter 3:18, one act, a single & perfect sacrifice for all sins (past, present, and future), and asJesus proclaims in John 14:6 and John 11:25-26, stands as the ONLY means by which man can be saved from their sins:

(First) In God’s 10th plague against Pharaoh, He was going to have the final word against the bondage Israel was living under—the final word against the sin of Pharaoh and Egypt---this was accomplished through the plague/judgment of the death of the firstborn—b/c it was going to force the hand of Pharaoh to release Israel—ALTOGETHER

Exodus 11:1 “And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether.”

(HOW THIS FORESHADOWS JESUS CHRIST AND THE CROSS)

God was going to have the final word against sin—so that those who would surrender their lives to Him as both Lord and Savior, would have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and be known by Him

On the cross, Jesus bore the weight of man’s sin, the brunt of God’s wrath, and the totality of God’s judgment against sin—even bearing separation from His father (“My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?”)

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Through His death, Jesus accomplished what He was sent to do—

To be perfect sacrifice for man’s sin (Matt 1:21)

To atone for our sin (1 John 2:2)

To pay the wages of our sin (Romans 6:23)

(SECOND) The death of the firstborn. this plague of death, (1) would be against ANY person (Egyptian or Israelite) who refused or did not cover their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificial lamb, and (2) was the only means by which death would pass them by (THERE IS NOT OTHER WAY)

Exodus 12:6-7 “Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.”

Exodus 12:13 “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

(HOW THIS FORESHADOWS JESUS CHRIST AND THE CROSS)

In God’s judgment against sin, as we will learn over the next couple of weeks, He once again provides a way out; through the covering of blood—this was the standard established in the Garden of Eden, carried out in our text here, through the law/commandment of the sin offering (Lev 4 and 17), and the standard by which man’s sin is atoned for today

Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

Colossian 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

1 Peter 1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

The cross of Christ stands as judgment for those who refuse but life to those who surrender to the One who bled and died on it as Lord and Savior

Christ’s atoning work on the cross—does mean what some people have come to believe today, “universalism.” The Bible is very clear that we must respond, that we must repent, confess, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Matthew 7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Mark 6:11 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!””

Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”