A Final Warning (Exodus 11)

Does Pharaoh picture how stubborn the devil is in letting us go free? How easy is it to enter a self-destructive lifestyle and how hard is it to escape? Like an addiction, does sin look like freedom but in reality brutally enslave us? Let’s look at Exodus 11.

How did God have Israel get ready to leave Egypt?

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. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” (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.) (Exodus 11:1-3 NIV)

Had Moses announced this to Pharaoh at their final meeting? Does this echo the drastic measures we must sometimes take in order to overcome an addiction to sin?

Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. (Exodus 11:4-5 NLT)

What will be a huge difference between Israel and Egypt? Does this portray the misery of living in sin versus the peace of a saint?

There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor will be any more. But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal, that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. (Exodus 11:6-7 WEB)

What else had Moses said in that final meeting? Was he angry because he knew the consequences of sin that they would suffer?

Then all your officials will come down to me, bow to me, and say, ‘Get out, you and all your followers!’ After that I’ll leave.” Then Moses, furious, left Pharaoh. (Exodus 11:8 CEB)

Why had the Lord confirmed a stubborn man’s heart by hardening it even more?

What the Lord had earlier said to Moses came true. He had said, “The king of Egypt won't listen. Then I will perform even more miracles.” So the king of Egypt saw Moses and Aaron work miracles, but the Lord made him stubbornly refuse to let the Israelites leave his country. (Exodus 11:9-10 CEV)

Why did God allow a man He knew to be stubborn and hard hearted to become king in the first place? Does the New Testament give us a clue?

In the Scriptures the Lord says to the king of Egypt, “I let you become king, so that I could show you my power and be praised by all people on earth.” (Romans 9:17 CEV)

Does Pharaoh picture how stubborn the devil is in letting us go free? How easy is it to enter a self-destructive lifestyle and how hard is it to escape? Like an addiction, does sin look like freedom but in reality brutally enslave us? You decide!