UNROLL
A still Egyptian town of whitewashed mud brick among palms at night, its lanes empty, one small lamp burning in a single window, the Nile a dark band beyond.

The Book of

Exodus 11

Nine plagues have fallen, and Pharaoh still says no. Now God names the last one, and the hour: about midnight.

10 verses≈ 3 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
  2. 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against PharaohChapter 11
  3. 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
  4. 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
  5. 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
  6. 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the glory

The Plague on the Firstborn Foretold

Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely.

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A servant's hand mill in a dim courtyard corner at night: a flat grinding stone with grain half ground and the rubbing stone resting on it, beside a small clay lamp.

So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle. Then a great cry will go out over all the land of Egypt. Such an outcry has never been heard before and will never be heard again.

0:24

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Before midnight

God did not strike without warning. Plague after plague, He told Pharaoh what was coming and gave him time to turn. Now the last warning is spoken plainly: “About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.” Thank God that He is patient and warns before He judges. Then pray by name for someone who keeps saying no to Him, that their heart would soften while there is still time.

But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’

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

Exodus 11:7

And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.”

And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.

Question

Quick question

Moses warned that a great cry would go up over all the land of Egypt at midnight.

What did he say it would be like among the Israelites that night?

The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.

Sons and the firstborn

Sons into theNilePharaoh’s order (1:22)Israel, MyfirstbornGod claims His son(4:22)Let My son goOr your firstborn dies(4:23)Every firstbornsonThe last warning(11:5)A distinctionBetween Egypt andIsrael (11:7)Under the bloodPassed over (12:13)

Whiteboard

It began with Pharaoh: every Hebrew son was to be thrown into the Nile (1:22). God answered that Israel was His own firstborn son, and warned that if Pharaoh would not let His son go, Pharaoh’s firstborn would die (4:22–23). Nine plagues later, the warning is set for midnight: “every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die.” Yet “the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel,” and the next chapter shows how. Israel’s firstborn will be spared only under the blood of a lamb.

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Exodus 11

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A verse to carry with you

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

Exodus 11:7

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