Today's Reading:

Exodus 10
Exodus 11
Exodus 12
Exodus 13

 

During the middle of the night, after death struck the Egyptian homes of all the firstborn through the tragedy, there was God, providing for the Israelites. The Egyptians practically begged the Israelites to leave them, and willingly gave up silver, gold , and clothes. The Israelites did not go into the houses and take the items as plunder from war. They would have been given to them of free will. God was making sure that when the Israelites left Egypt, they had all of the provisions needed. God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham that “I will punish the nation they serve, and afterward they will come out with great possession” (Genesis 15:14). After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites did not walk away from Egypt empty-handed or having had to go to war. This was a quiet moment of grace, as the oppressed were paid and humbled by God. During times of unexpected loss and provision, we can always trust in His timing.  

 

As Exodus moved into chapter 10, through the continuation of the plagues in Egypt, the Lord wanted to show Moses how His power and His glory would be told for generations.  

Plague 8- The animals had died, the crops were gone, and what little bit of crop that was left from the hailstorm was now eaten by billions of locusts. The Pharaoh’s officials had enough and were fed up, pleading with Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh halfheartedly repented and told Moses to go pray. But once the locusts were blown to the sea, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again. 

Plague 9- Darkness came for days, not a cloud blocking the sun type, but the kind of deep darkness that could be felt to the bones. Pharaoh’s heart, still hardened, did yell out for Moses to get out of his sight. Moses responded to Pharaoh that he would not appear before him again. 

Plague 10- The Lord brought the last and most devastating plague on the Egyptians. The firstborn son of Pharaoh, firstborn of all Egyptians and slaves, firstborn of their cattle, all would die. Moses was so angry that Pharaoh was being hardheaded and allowing such destruction to happen to the Egyptians. This plague brought about the Israelites' Passover, starting the new calendar with a new life free from bondage. God gave Moses specific instructions for the Passover meal, from which animals to sacrifice, what to eat and even how to dress. Painting the doorframes with the blood of the sacrificed lambs created a cross shape on the Israelites' houses, a way to distinguish themselves from the Egyptians, for the Holy Spirit to know which houses to “pass over” and spare on the night of the first-born deaths. The meal was to be prepared in haste, which is why the meat was to be roasted over the fire and not boiled, and no yeast was to be used in the bread, as there would be no time to let it rise before baking. God even went as far as to make sure they were dressed appropriately to flee the land- no need to trip over the clothes in the dark. On their way out of town, the Israelites made sure to stop at all the neighboring houses as God had commanded them to take the gold, silver and clothing. After the death of the firstborn, no one seemed reluctant to give the Israelites what they asked for. Between the plagues and curses that had come upon them, I could imagine the Egyptians were desperate, essentially saying “good riddance”. The plunder that the Israelites took with them would be useful over the course of time , with over 600,000 men (not including women and children) needing provisions in the desert. The Passover Meal, while important that particular night, was to be celebrated from then on out yearly in remembrance of the God who freed them from the control of Pharaoh. We now celebrate Passover in our way with the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of being saved through Jesus, our Passover Lamb, given so that we can have salvation.  

God promised to bring the Israelites to the “land flowing with milk and honey”. He guided them the long way as a “pillar of cloud by day” and “pillar of fire by night” to protect them, shield them and give them light. God has always been the Protector and Guiding Light.  

Today's Discussion question: 

Ultimately, the 10th, first-born plague forces us to confront a God who is holy and powerful, not just "nice." It doesn't provide easy answers, but it invites deeper trust: the same God who judged Egypt also redeemed Israel—and, in broader faith, redeems us. 
What about you? How do you process this part of the story? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the Facebook group. 

 
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