Sep. 22, 2021

“THE LIFE OF MOSES”

“THE TENTH PLAGUE”

EXODUS 11-12

1.   The Prediction: A Plague of Sorrow

*Announced to Moses

Exodus 11:1-2 “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.”

*Received by Israel

Exodus 11:3 “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.

Moses became greatly esteemed both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

*Heard and Rejected by Pharaoh

Exodus 11:4-5 “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.”

The homes of the Israelites, however, would be spared because the Lord had promised that the plague would not harm them.

Exodus 11:6-7 “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. 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.”

Exodus 11:8 “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.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses again:

Exodus 11:9 "But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

2.   The Memorial: The Passover Meal

Exodus 12:2,14 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.”

Let’s consider the details of this observance and discover why the Lord wanted them to perform it:

*Some Important Details: The basics of the meal were simple. Each Hebrew household, or group of households, was to choose one lamb on the tenth day of the first month.

Exodus 12:3-4 “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.”

Exodus 12:5 “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.”

On the fourteenth day of the same month, all of the Israelites were to kill these special lambs at the twilight hour.

Exodus 12:6 “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.”

Exodus 12:7 “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 12:8-10 “Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. 10You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire.”

Exodus 12:11 “And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.”

Why were they commanded to do these things?

Exodus 12:12-13 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike 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. 13Now 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.”

*An Event to Remember

Exodus 12:14, 24-27 “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”

*The Response of the Hebrews

Exodus 12:27 “So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”

Then they went and did all that the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 12:28 “Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”

3.   The Fulfillment: Death of the Firstborn

Exodus 12:29 “And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.” 

Once Pharaoh and the other Egyptians realized what had happened a great cry arose there in Egypt.

Exodus 12:30 “So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.”

Exodus 12:31-32 “Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. 32Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

4.   The Exodus: Freedom for the Hebrews

This final plague launched the mass exit of the Israelites from the borders of Egypt. 

Exodus 12:41 “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:35-36 “Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”

We are told that the Israelites were many, along with others.

Exodus 12:37-38 “Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.”

Psalm 105:43 “He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.”

5.   Your Life: Slavery or Freedom?

John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”