Scripture

That night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.

Observation

The Lord instructs Moses that the current month is to be the first month in their calendar. On the fourteenth of the month, they are to take a lamb, slaughter it, and smear its blood on the doorposts of their houses.

The people are to be fully dressed and ready to leave. The Lord will strike down the firstborn son of every Egyptian, but the Israelites He will spare. This is judgement on the gods of Egypt.

So in the middle of the night, the Lord strikes down the firstborn son of every Egyptian from the Pharaoh down.

Application

The last and most devastating plague resulted in the death of every firstborn son in Egypt. The Israelites were spared by the Lord, but every Egyptian family, including Pharaoh himself, was stricken.

As the Lord stated in v. 12, this was not a judgement on the people of Egypt but on their gods. None of these gods was able to protect Egypt from the wrath of the Lord. Even Pharaoh, who claimed to be divine was not immune from this judgement.

The Lord is the only Lord, the only God. All people, all ideologies, all gods, all social and economic systems; they are all subject to the Lord. He reigns over all things, and nothing can stand in His way.

Prayer

Lord God, you are greater than all we can imagine. Yet you love your people and rescue those who seek you. Glory, praise and honour to you, Most High God. Amen.