EXODUS 12
29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!” – Exodus 12:29-32
EXODUS 12 PLAGUE OF THE DEATH OF FIRSTBORNS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the plague of the firstborn struck Egypt
Cries and wails were heard over the land
Then Moses was commanded by Pharaoh to exit Egypt
Their flocks and herds will go with them too to serve the Lord.
What a big unforgettable plague this was for the whole of Egypt. According to bibleproject.com “The Passover event is a strike not only against humans and animals but also against the gods of Egypt. We read that human choices to do evil are always intertwined with the influence and animating power of spiritual forces-spiritual beings set against God and his purposes.”
For God who created everything and own all creatures, isn’t this plague justified to punish all those who bow down to other gods? In another commentary they mentioned that the firstborns in Egypt were considered gods in each family. Isn’t it just fair that God strikes down those gods who were competing with him? We also see God’s mercy and justice at how many plagues before this plague came about that shows God was giving the Egyptians all the time to turn against idolatry and turn to him, the only One True God.
This plague is the climax of the punishment for the Egyptians before the Exodus of the Israelites. What a big dramatic event this was! It only shows God’s power and might and how he wouldn’t tolerate idolatry and wickedness in all his creatures.
REFLECTION
- What lessons can we learn from this plague of the firstborns?
