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. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. And the LORD gave the people favour 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. And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn 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. 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. 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. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. (Exo 11:1-10)
GOD pronounces the last plague, the death of the firstborn. GOD's final judgment on the nation of Egypt has come. But, even in the midst of this final and terrible plague, GOD instills favor for the Israelites and collects their back wages from Egypt, but Pharaoh will not listen to Moses or GOD, and must be broken. The GOD of life, will now take what is His that all may see that He is GOD above all else and cannot be mocked or blasphemed forever, though His mercy is as great as His justice.
For those who are not secure in Christ, who have never surrendered to Him on His terms, there is coming a greater judgment than this, for GOD has declared all of us as guilty before Him because of our sIn. Only through the Lamb of GOD, Jesus Christ, can we be saved from the judgment that comes to all people. Those who depart this world without Christ, remain condemned and without the forgiveness that GOD offers freely to all who will repent and believe.
However, we can take heart, even as we see the terrible loss that is coming to Egypt, greater than anything they have experienced so far, that as terrible as death is, and even worse the judgment of Hell, GOD is bigger. He is Life, and Light, He is in control of all things, and nothing can come upon us unless He allows or directs it. If we are facing a trial, or going through some calamity, we must ask ourselves why, and its ok to ask GOD that too. GOD is not obligated to answer, but from His Word He may point out something He wishes to correct, or He may be testing us for His glory, or it may just be a result of this sinful and broken world hitting us with the curse of sIn which it groans under. In all things we trust Him, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, and His Word, and continue to work while we wait until He tells us otherwise.
Our great and mighty GOD, who brought all these judgments upon Egypt, who cares for His own, and provides for their needs, has work for us to do. Until He calls us home, or until His Church is done He commands us to minister to the hurting and in need. He calls us to disciple one another from His Word. He has commissioned us to preach and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ that those that hear of the grace and mercy He extends to those who have faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary might believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided liberty to the Jewish people, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
RSS Feed