17. The tenth: Death. The Lord distinguishes (Ex 11:1-10)

The Lord announces the final plague of death, but Pharaoh doesn’t listen to Him.

πŸ‘‰ Read Exodus 11:1-10

The Israelites asked for silver and gold from their neighbors before their departure. What do you think made their neighbors give their treasure to the Israelites?


Why does the Lord kill the firstborns of Egyptians? (hint, 4:22-23)

(          ) the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from (           ) to (            ). There will be a great cry throughout the (          ) land of Egypt. But against any of the Israelites, not even (          ) will bark, so that you may know that the Lord (                ) between Egypt and Israel.


Answers and Meditation

The Lord granted the Israelites favor with the Egyptians, and Moses became great before them. (3)

Taking gold and silver from the Egyptians implies that the Israelites were not fleeing but marched out victoriously. They were the Lord’s regiments (12:41) after defeating the Egyptians and the Egyptian gods. They plundered Egypt (3:22, 12:36)

That’s why Moses said, “All these your servants will bow down to me saying, ‘Go,’ and after that I will go out.” (8)

The Lord wanted His people to realize that their God was superior to any other god in the world. That's why the Exodus happens this way. 

BTW, He made them use this gold and silver to build the Tent of Meeting in the desert. They also made a golden calf, though.

 

Pharaoh didn’t let Israel, the firstborn of God, go.

God chose and called Israel to be the priest nation to bless all nations.

 

All, Pharaoh, slave girl, whole, a dog, distinguishes

Verses 5- 6 and verse 7 make a contrast. All firstborns died in Egypt, but no threat in Israel.

 

The Lord distinguishes

God’s distinction of Israel is found throughout the plague narrative. Israel was saved not because they were more religious than Egypt but because the Lord had chosen them.

God distinguishes us from the world by pouring His Spirit upon us. Therefore, having a mindset of God’s chosen people is crucial to us, not only the Exodus Israelites. 

Later, the Israelites assimilated themselves into the Canaanite culture. And this brought about the fall of their nation and the Babylon Exile. However, the exile was the Lord's other act of distinguishing to preserve the remnant.

The Lord’s distinguishing ultimately points to Jesus Christ. 


God distinguished Israel from Egypt from the fourth plague of flies. The distinction, which seemed trivial, appears as serious as life and death in the tenth plague. Is there anything in your life that you are going against God now? Such discord or glitch is still tolerable, but you need the wisdom to repent before death suddenly comes one day.

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