Deliverance was needed.
A hardened heart is one that hears the Word of God, sees the evidence of God, yet still refuses to accept his Word or submit to his will. It is resisting God and being disobedient to God.
Plague #1: water of the Nile was turned to blood
Plague #2: invasion of frogs
Plague #3: invasion of gnats
Plague #4: invasion of flies
Plague #5: death of the Egyptian livestock
Plague #6: boils on the skin of people
Plague #7: natural disaster of hail
Plague #8: invasion of locusts
Plague #9: complete darkness for 3 days
Plague #10: promise to kill the firstborn son of every family
- We are to obey the Word of the Lord.
- Judgment is deserved and it is coming, but we are saved by the blood of the Lamb.
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Passover and the exodus from Egypt
The Passover & Exodus demonstrated the power, justice, faithfulness, and grace of God.
Exodus 12:29-42
Now at midnight the Lord struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock.
30 During the night Pharaoh got up, he along with all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was a loud wailing throughout Egypt because there wasn’t a house without someone dead. 31 He summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and said, “Get out immediately from among my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship the Lord as you have said. 32 Take even your flocks and your herds as you asked and leave, and also bless me.”
33 Now the Egyptians pressured the people in order to send them quickly out of the country, for they said, “We’re all going to die!” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their clothes on their shoulders.
35 The Israelites acted on Moses’s word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold items and for clothing. 36 And the Lord gave the people such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.
37 The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand able-bodied men on foot, besides their families. 38 A mixed crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 The people baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves, since it had no yeast; for when they were driven out of Egypt, they could not delay and had not prepared provisions for themselves.
40 The time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that same day, all the Lord’s military divisions went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of vigil in honor of the Lord, because he would bring them out of the land of Egypt. This same night is in honor of the Lord, a night vigil for all the Israelites throughout their generations.
It is clear that the Lord himself is the one who initiated and accomplished this final plague.
Exodus 4:22-23
And you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I told you: Let my son go so that he may worship me, but you refused to let him go. Look, I am about to kill your firstborn son!
Exodus 11:6-7
Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before or ever will be again. 7 But against all the Israelites, whether people or animals, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
The perfect lamb was a substitute for the Hebrew people; it received the death that they deserved.
Pharaoh, in desperation and defeat, finally let the people go.
Exodus 11:1
The Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you out of here.”
Exodus 11:2
Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold items.
Exodus 3:19-22
However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.
The faithfulness of God to do what he promised!
Gen 15:13-14
Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions.”
2 Pet 3:8-9
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Exodus 12:38
A mixed crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds.
The grace of God to allow Egyptians who believed to join the people of God.