The section from Chapter 11:1 to 13:16 is a section that deals with the tenth plague. In the previous chapters, the accounts of the nine plagues typically include the announcement of the plague, its execution, its effect and Pharaoh’s reaction. Here in the announcement of the tenth plague, it took chapter 11 to announce, chapter 12:29-30 to detail the execution, and 12:31-42 to detail Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites. Rightly so, the tenth plague is then the climax of the plague narrative, where God himself announced, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt.”. Lest we think that it is an after thought that God has, may we be reminded that this is a mighty act of God that finally resulted in the Israelites being brought out of Egypt. The 10th plague is one of no return. It is the final blow on Pharaoh.

The significance of the tenth plague is in Pharaoh’s identity, who was considered a son of the sun god Re in Egyptian religion. Therefore, this plague can be seen as a continuity from the ninth plague where God covered the land of Egypt with darkness. That Yahweh God was going to kill the firstborn of the Egyptians, showed that He was the true God, who truly has power over death and life, unlike the “son of god Re” Pharaoh. In addition, other than the connection with the ninth plague, the death of the Egyptian firstborn reminds us of the first chapter of Exodus where Pharaoh decreed the death of the male children of Israel. Clearly, the tenth plague is an act against Egypt, and it also showed us that, terrible as the plague is, God is not arbitrary in His actions.

The tenth plague was described to be so devastating that the Egyptians will beg the Israelites to leave. However, this plague did not happen from nothing. Throughout Chapters 5 to 10, God had repeatedly sent Moses to Pharaoh to ask that the Israelites to be freed. Yet Pharaoh would not obey and refused to recognise the sovereignty of God. Pharaoh’s disobedience and lack of acknowledgment of God is truly a hardening of heart, a dwelling in sin.

In Exodus 11, God demanded that the sin of disobedience be paid for. It was a costly price to pay for the release of His people. Today, we continue to be held in the slavery of sin, but this sin was paid for by God’s own son, Jesus Christ. It is only in the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that we can be truly saved, and be truly brought out of slavery.

Dear brothers and sisters, is the master of your life sin? Is there a sin that has held you captive? Your freedom came through the death of a firstborn, Jesus Christ. God broke the chains in Egypt, and He will break your chains of sin now. We do not have to be in bondage to sin, we have been set free. His actions are not arbitrary, and our salvation is in His sovereign control. Would you thank Jesus today for saving you? Would you rejoice in being set free? May our eyes be turned upon our Lord Saviour Jesus.

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins, taking you for setting me free. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.