Verse for the Day, 2 July 2014.

Exodus 11:1-8  The LORD said to Moses, "Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.  (2)  Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbour and every woman of her neighbour, for silver and gold jewellery."  (3)  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.  (4)  So Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt,  (5)  and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the hand-mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.  (6)  There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.  (7)  But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'  (8)  And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, 'Get out, you and all the people who follow you.' And after that I will go out." And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

Chapter 11 of Exodus leads us into the account of the Passover and the Exodus event. It is the great salvation event of the Old Testament and is therefore loaded with pictures, symbols, acts and events that point us to Christ.

Moses proclaims the coming final plague and judgement of God against Egypt, a work so great that it will cause Pharaoh to release the Israelites people. Not only shall Pharaoh implore them to go, all of Egypt will desire for the Israelites to go, they will give their silver and gold to the Israelites, all in the hope that they might be delivered from the hand of the God of Israel.

God doesn’t hide from Pharaoh what He is going to do, Moses clearly warns Pharaoh what this coming plague and act of judgement for God is going to be. Pharaoh will come to learn that the God of Israel is a God who has power over life and death, the He has power over all mankind, from the slave, to royalty. Yet even when Pharaoh is warned of this great plague, of the judgement of God that will take the life of his first born, the heir to his throne, and the lives of all the first-born in Egypt, Pharaoh continues on in pride and arrogance, refusing to submit to God’s command.

Pharaoh not only refuses the command of God, he also threatens Moses’ life, implying that the only one who is going to die, is Moses. We read that Moses leaves the presence of Pharaoh in “hot anger”, what does this mean? Moses is hot with anger for several reasons: Pharaoh has continually deceived Moses, making promises but then revoking them, this deceit has brought much suffering to Pharaoh and his people. Pharaoh has continued to defy God, he has continued to exalt himself, even when God has worked in such a clear and powerful manner. Finally, Moses has come to warn Pharaoh of this great plague in which many will die, sorrow, grief and distress will be brought upon this nation, the like of which had never been seen or known before, and one from which Pharaoh will not be exempt. Yet in spite of this clear warning, Pharaoh has chosen to maintain his pride, arrogance and defiance against God, and threatened the life of the man, Moses, who had been sent by God so as to warn him. Moses is hot with anger for Pharaoh has chosen to bring immense suffering upon the whole nation, rather than bow to God’s command. Pharaoh’s pride and arrogance is going to come at a high cost. Moses is grieved, distressed and angered by Pharaoh’s disregard for God, for his own people, for the nation of Israel and for Moses.

As grieved and distressed as Moses may be, it is nothing in comparison to the righteous indignation that God feels when we defy Him, when we seek to exalt ourselves above Him, when we continue on in pride, arrogance and disobedience. Scripture teaches us that God opposes the humble, that He will cut down and lay low anyone who seeks to exalt themselves above Him, and He will act in terrifying wrath and judgement against those who defy and refuse Him. This wrath and judgement will be all the greater for those who have been warned repeatedly by God, who have seen with their own eyes the clear demonstration of God’s power and truth. God’s dealings with Pharaoh and Egypt in this regard serves as a powerful lesson to all mankind, that no one can take a stand against God and survive, the appropriate response to God is to bow in humble submission and obedience, anything less than this will lead to their eternal misery.

The knowledge of this should cause us who believe in Christ to respond in three ways. Firstly, it should motivate us to evangelise, for many in their ignorance are storing up wrath for themselves, and we have been appointed by God, to make known not just the wonders of salvation in Christ, but also the coming judgement of God against all mankind. We are to warn all those around us that a day judgement is coming, from which they cannot escape. Secondly, it should motivate us to pray for those who have heard the truth of the Gospel on many occasions, who have seen God’s power, truth, love and salvation clearly displayed but continue to refuse Christ. How great shall be the judgement against them who have been graciously warned and yet continue in pride and disobedience! Thirdly, while we seek to evangelise, warn and pray for the salvation of the lost, we should also be filled with thankfulness to God for the grace we have received that has rescued us from the coming judgement and eternal wrath of God. We do not live in fear of the coming day of judgement, we look forward to the revelation of Christ in all His glory, our vindication, the receiving of the fullness of our salvation and being able to enter into the promised and glorious kingdom of God, all because we have received mercy and grace from God through Jesus Christ.

Righteous, merciful God, we pray that You might impress upon our hearts the reality of Your coming judgement, so that we realise how urgent and important the task of praying for the lost and warning them of this day. We pray especially for those who have heard this warning, who have seen the truth of the Gospel so many times and yet still refuse You, we pray that You might open their eyes and hearts to receive Christ. We thank You for the hope, peace and joy that You have given us now and for the future, that we shall be spared from the second death and instead shall receive eternal life, may we remain ever thankful because of this hope. Amen.