Exodus 11 is a short Chapter. One more plague. 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. v. 1. In the last Chapter Pharaoh had threatened Moses with death if Moses saw Pharaoh again. What was it like for Pharaoh? He is a ruler who is seeing destruction come upon his country and there is nothing he can do to prevent or reverse it. Why didn’t he once ask about God? Was he at all curious about this God who could do what no other “god” of Egypt could do? I can’t separate my reality from Pharaoh and truly understand that mindset. I am so grateful for God and have been since childhood when I first learned about Him and wanted to go live with Him! How could I not? I had a child’s heart for Him. Reading from Jesus Calling: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9. How true that is in hindsight. I can look back on my life and see God’s guiding hand for me out of His great love. Can you? Have you ever wondered about how things happen in your life?

So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 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 cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt – worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ v. 4-7. That ended the Lord’s message that Moses told Pharaoh. But Moses went on and I find that curious. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 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. v. 7-8. I’m surprised Moses was “hot with anger” even though he had to deal with Pharaoh…but still. I’m not a Theologian and this is where it shows. I can’t know Moses’s heart or Pharaoh’s but God does.

I can’t help but wonder what Pharaoh’s reaction was after hearing what this last plague would be. His firstborn son would die. What was his expression? Did he believe Moses? Did he believe God? All the other plagues were carried out just as promised. God was even specific about the time…about midnight…God would go throughout Egypt. Pharaoh had so many chances to listen and believe God would do what He said. 9 opportunities. I can’t imagine Pharaoh leaving his son even if he doesn’t believe in God…would you? I wonder if he wished he had listened when his son died. Was keeping an enslaved people more important than his own firstborn son?

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22. Pharaoh’s son will be raised from the dead as will Pharaoh. Only God could accomplish that. In a sense I can’t help but think that Pharaoh’s actions resulted in the death of his son. In God’s great love and mercy, he will see his son again. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

As I read about Pharaoh and the Children of Israel, I’m reading about our family history. We are glorious, stubborn, willful, loving, kind, cruel, clueless. We are a mess. And most important…we are loved. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, our ancestors, weren’t the only ones who lost a loved son. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17.

We suffer in this world and many suffer more than most. Our Lord suffered. He knows what suffering is. Can you imagine that our Father and Holy Spirit didn’t suffer right along with Jesus and with us as we make horrible choices for killing, for war, for lying, for stealing, for ignoring the One who created us? Yet they love us. All I can say is thank You. With all my heart, thank You for so great a love.