Exodus 11: 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. 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. 12: 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house. 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
When chapter 10 ends Pharaoh tells Moses to get away. He said get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more. Then chapter 11 takes off with the statement yet will I bring one plague. Nowhere else is the state of man and the way of salvation typified more than here.
This event happened 3,000 years ago in Egypt, the greatest nation in the world at that time. The people had know-how to build the pyramids that today still make people marvel. They elevated themselves as lesser gods and lifted their ruler to a deity. Pharaoh believed it too. This one was named Ramses II. He used the powers of the devil and darkness. They are great but do not rule. The power of the mind is not the greatest power. We consider ourselves in touch with everything, but we know nothing. The Lord gives and takes away, not us. The state of man today is a picture of so many obeying Satan. He thinks he can pull God off his throne by keeping God’s people enslaved.
Pharaoh told Moses that if he saw him again he’d die. God wasn’t through. Moses told him there was yet one more plague and he’d be glad to set the people free. God was angered at Pharaoh’s hard heartedness. We see the world today in this. Regardless of a person’s view on sin, his belief or nonbelief in God, this is how things are. The method God chose was unorthodox. Pharaoh brushed it off just like people do today. Don’t join in with the crowd and say “I’ve made it so far.” God can send yet one more plague that you can’t handle. It can make you realize there is a God in heaven. I’d rather realize here than in judgment. Soon Jesus will be revealed and judgment will come. You can still fall at the old rugged cross. For every man, there is a lamb. For every woman, there is a lamb. For every child, there is a lamb. One lamb—Jesus Christ.
Egypt enjoyed success for many years. Their borders stretched far. The Pharaoh’s words were taken as words of a god. We need to be careful. We’re like the children of Israel in Egypt. We’re in the midst of a sinful society that can rub off on us. Egyptian women went half dressed. Their weaponry was like none other nation’s weapons. We can feel intimidated. They didn’t need God because their ruler was god. Israel was told to sit tight. God would have the final say, not Pharaoh.
Our remedy from God’s wrath is blood. The firstborn in Egypt had to die in Egypt. God’s only begotten son had to die. If Egyptians had recognized their need of God and admitted their sin, they would have been spared. However, they didn’t, and every family from Pharaoh’s to the poorest in Egypt suffered the loss of their firstborn. They were still reeling from the other plagues. The refusal to repent and set the people of Israel free is seen in the stubborn rebellion of men today. It’s the reason people and nations are in the shape they are in. It brings trouble after trouble. Refusing to let sin go and taking God’s provision is costly. It cost every household a little lamb. In order for us to be saved and free from sin, the household of God had to lose Jesus and allow him to suffer at the hands of sinful men. Our sins caused the wounds of Jesus. Until we apply the blood, we are in danger. Our only hope is receiving the Lamb of God. With blood on the doorposts of their homes, judgment couldn’t come in. God said “when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Blood on the posts meant the lamb was in the house. The only way we’ll survive is to keep the blood on the portal and the Lamb inside.
This was not a threat. People think of the judgment to come as a threat. Nothing has happened yet. People laugh at it. Jesus is getting ready to come. God is getting ready to set his people free. Egypt brought this on themselves. They were still cleaning up from the plagues and refusing to let Israel go. We need to make every moment count for Jesus. Time is running out. Pharaoh had time to repent, but he didn’t. The day came. Preparations were made and all those who followed what Moses said made it. Regardless of what people say or think about you, be true to God. Stick with the plan of God. That is your salvation.
It was a beautiful day in Egypt, just like any other day until Moses said it’s time. At evening the judgment came. Judgment is on its way. All those who laughed and were unprepared saw judgment. The people of Israel had their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand. At midnight the death angel came. He went house to house, stall to stall, and pasture to pasture. The firstborn died. Pharaoh realized the gods he served were nothing but stone. He realized there was a God in heaven, but it was too late.
It’s time to get serious with God. There is one more plague. You need to be ready to go when the judgment comes. If he sees the blood, he will pass over. I want to be ready. When this plague took place, Pharaoh was glad to let them go. The reason we can hang on is the Lamb and the blood. We can make it with the Lamb.
The morning came. Israel left Egypt for good. We have the opportunity to obey the Lord. Side with the Lord, and when morning comes you can leave out of here.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 