Exodus 11 - How Could God Do That? | Things to Remember When Bad Things Happen

INTRODUCTION - Big hangup for people is why does God allow bad things to happen?

Today we are talking about God’s plan to kill tens of thousands of people.

Bad things are part of God’s Plan. (11:1)

All things work together for God, all good and gracious gifts come from above, yet so much bad is happening.

Bad things are a part of his plan, but not the end of his plan.

Exodus 11:1 ESV

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.

drive you away completely - he will force you to leave vigorously.

It was all leading up to this, and this was important.

God provides beforehand for His people. (11:2-3)

God will not always shield us beforehand from difficult times, but he will provide what we need.

Exodus 11:2 ESV

2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.”

hearing of the people - so he is now addressing the Jews.

silver and gold - already mentioned. They would plunder the eygptians.

If this does not seem fair, I am pretty sure they are owed extra for the 400 years of slavery.

Exodus 11:3 ESV

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.

favor in the sight - this likely happened as they were still good people. Seek the good for the city. Leave peaceably. Christians will be despised for what we believe, but never for how we live.

man Moses was very great - Moses wrote this haha.

God punishes His Enemies (11:4-6)

Exodus 11:4–5 ESV

4 So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.

I - not the angel of the death. But God.

Notice: the richest pharaoh down to the most insignificant, female slave. Even the cattle.

Exodus 11:6 ESV

6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.

every first born in the land of Egypt shall die - stop here.

It was not just to punish for the sake of punishing. It was for the purpose of fulfilling God’s plan and promises.

This is a difficult passage and idea. That God would kill a massive amount of people.

But in reality, if God is all powerful, he does this every time a hurricane comes.

How does a God who claims to love people allow, actually causes bad things to happen?

Maybe this life isn’t as big of a deal as we make it out to be.

God knows your soul was created for eternity.

God passes His Judgement over His people (11:7-8)

Exodus 11:7 ESV

7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’

dog growl - Troy dog story haha.

Either man or beast - their possessions were even kept safe.

That you may know - He wants them to know God takes care of his people - illustration, you my boo babe.

Exodus 11:8 ESV

8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

bow down before - they will be begging him to leave. How ironic, that they were prohibited, now are begged.

When God does something he does it well!

hot anger - Have you ever been hot angry? He was angry because he knew Pharaoh was about to hurt a lot of people.

God persists in His plan. (11:9-10)

Exodus 11:9–10 ESV

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

These last two verses are summary of the whole time.

CONCLUSION:

Adam sinned

Humaninty was sinful, but Noah.

Abraham was almost a hundred still waiting for God.

Joseph was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, thrown into prision, and yet God still had a plan to save him and his family.

Samson was capture, made blinded, but God was done with him.

Ruth was a widow, left destitute, but didn’t know Boaz was right around the corner.

David was waiting for years to be King.

Hosea’s wife cheated on him.

Daniel was thrown in a lions pit.

Peter denied Christ three times.

Paul killed other Christians. And yet, God’s plan is not done.