Is Jesus the Way to Eternal Life?
By Pastor Aaron | Exodus 11 & 12 | Week 7 of the “EXODUS” Series
Exodus 11: 1-10
“Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) 4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh. 9 The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.”
A Sobering Turn in the Exodus Narrative
By the time we get to Exodus 11, the mood is dark. Nine devastating plagues have swept through Egypt, yet Pharaoh still refuses to release the Israelites to worship God. The tension peaks with a chilling pronouncement: a tenth and final plague, the death of every firstborn in Egypt. Is that too extreme? Too harsh? It’s a question worth asking, especially as we begin Holy Week and reflect on what this plague meant, not just for the Israelites, but for us.
From Slavery to Salvation
As we continue our journey through the first half of Exodus (chapters 1–13), tracing the story of deliverance from slavery. The second half (chapters 14–40) will shift to dwelling in God’s presence. But right now, we’re in the final chapter of deliverance, a chapter that brings us face-to-face with judgment, death, blood, and ultimately salvation.
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” —1 Corinthians 15:26.
The Turning Point: Death and Deliverance
The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, marks the turning point in Exodus. Chapter 11 announces it. Chapter 12 describes it. Chapter 13 commands us to remember it. It’s the night when death sweeps through Egypt, yet passes over the homes marked by the blood of a lamb. And it’s not just a historical moment; it’s a spiritual mirror for us.
Holy Week and the Firstborn
Holy Week, the most pivotal week in the Christian calendar, reminds us of another Firstborn who would face death, Jesus. Just as the Israelites marked their doorposts with blood, Christians remember the cross, where Jesus became our Passover Lamb. The parallels are not accidental. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus was celebrating Passover with His disciples, declaring that He would be the Lamb slain for the sins of the world.
The Weight of This Moment in History and Faith
Everything in Jewish history hinges on Exodus 11–13. And everything in our faith hinges on the events this week commemorates. My prayer is that we, as a church community, would grasp the depth of the Passover, not just as ancient history, but as the foundation of our spiritual story. That we would remember our own deliverance from sin, from death, from everything that once held us captive.
God’s Justice and Pharaoh’s Pride
The plagues in Egypt weren’t random acts of wrath. They were purposeful, each one exposing Pharaoh’s pride and Egypt’s idols. But the most dominant theme throughout is the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Initially, Pharaoh hardened his own heart. But by the final plagues, Scripture tells us that God hardened it, not arbitrarily, but in response to Pharaoh’s continued rebellion. God never hardens innocent hearts, only those that persist in pride.
The Call to Worship and Belonging
Alongside the hardening, there’s the theme of commanding. Moses stood repeatedly before Pharaoh with the same message from God: “Let my people go, so they may worship me” (Exodus 7:16). This wasn’t just about political freedom; it was about restoring worship. The Israelites didn’t belong to Pharaoh, they belonged to God. “Let them go,” God says, “so they may worship me in a covenant relationship. I have promised to establish them as a nation, to bless all the nations through them.”
God Made Distinctions
Then there’s distinguishing. God tells Pharaoh that He will make a distinction between Egypt and Israel (Exodus 11:7). This is about making it clear that Yahweh is not a regional deity trapped in Pharaoh’s borders, He is the God of all the earth. The plagues declare His authority and sovereignty. God’s people would be protected.
Learning Who God Is
And finally, there’s learning. When Moses first approached Pharaoh in Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh arrogantly asked, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go?” That question launched Pharaoh into the School of Hard Knock to major in “Knowing God.” The curriculum? Ten plagues. Repeatedly, God says, “Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
But it wasn’t just Pharaoh who had to learn. It was the Israelites, and eventually all nations. As God says in Exodus 9:16, “…that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” The plagues weren’t just about judgment; they were about revelation and redemption.
The Final Blow: Death of the Firstborn
Then comes the final blow, Exodus 11: The death of the firstborn. One night. One unimaginable loss. From the palace to the prison cell, no Egyptian household was spared. But among the Israelites, not even a dog barked. Why? Not because they were sinless. Not because they were superior, but because they were covered by the blood of a lamb.
Instructions for Rescue: The First Passover
Exodus 12 gives detailed instructions for what would become the first Passover. The timing. The sacrifice. The way to eat. The posture to take. They were to eat bitter herbs (a reminder of slavery), bread without yeast (because they were leaving in haste), and the entire lamb. They were to dress for travel with their belts fastened and staffs in hand. And they were to mark their doorframes with the lamb’s blood. Why? “When I see the blood,” God said, “I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you” (Exodus 12:13).
This wasn’t just ritual, it was rescue.
Remembering Rescue: Then and Now
Even this week, Jewish communities are observing Passover, a seven-day feast of remembrance. And as Christians, we step into Holy Week to remember our own rescue. That’s why we have rhythms like communion, baptism, Lent, Good Friday, and Easter. So we don’t forget what God has done. In a world full of distractions and distortions, these practices center us on the truth: God delivered us.
Faith Before Freedom
And perhaps the most profound truth of all is this: Israel began obeying and worshiping God while still in Egypt. Before the Red Sea parted. Before their freedom was visible. They celebrated their freedom by faith. Spiritually and mentally, they were choosing God even while still physically in bondage.
That’s a word for someone today. God is calling you to obey Him, to worship Him, before everything is worked out. In the middle of the trial. In the midst of uncertainty. He’s inviting you to trust that deliverance is coming because the blood has already been shed.
Remember the Blood
May we always remember the blood that saves. May we reflect on the Lamb who was slain. And may we, like Israel, learn to dwell with the God who delivers.