The tenth and final plague that God sent upon Egypt was the death of all the firstborn in the land, from Pharaoh’s firstborn son to the firstborn of the livestock (Exodus 11:1-10). This devastating plague ultimately led to the Israelites’ release from slavery. Understanding the context and purpose behind this severe judgment helps explain how it could be considered just in God’s eyes.
Background Leading Up to the Tenth Plague
The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years (Genesis 15:13). Despite God’s promises to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation, the Israelites suffered greatly under oppressive Egyptian rule (Exodus 1:11-14). God raised up Moses to confront Pharaoh and demand the Israelites’ freedom (Exodus 3:7-10). Pharaoh stubbornly refused nine times, leading to nine previous plagues God sent as warnings (Exodus 7-10). These plagues revealed God’s power over the false Egyptian gods and over creation itself. But Pharaoh kept hardening his heart.
The death of the firstborn was not a sudden or rash act by God. He gave Pharaoh many opportunities to humble himself and release the Israelites. But Pharaoh repeatedly mocked and dismissed God (Exodus 5:2). Scripture emphasizes Pharaoh’s stubbornness and rebellion against God (Exodus 7:3; 9:12). His defiance despite clear signs and wonders showed his wickedness and justified God’s decisive judgment.
Purpose of the Tenth Plague
The tenth plague had several key purposes in God’s plan:
- 1. Fulfill God’s promise – God had promised Abraham centuries earlier that his descendants would leave Egypt and inherit the Promised Land (Genesis 15:13-16). The tenth plague set the stage for this to finally happen.
- 2. Punish Egypt for its idolatry and wickedness – The Egyptians’ oppression of the Israelites was rooted in their defiance of the true God. The plagues displayed God’s supremacy over Egypt’s false gods. The final plague motivated Pharaoh to finally submit.
- 3. Secure the Israelites’ freedom – God loved His chosen people, even though they hadn’t fully embraced Him yet (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). The tenth plague finally prompted Egypt to release His people.
- 4. Judge evil at its root – Pharaoh represented the sin, pride and hostility against God permeating Egypt. The death of the firstborn judged evil at its core by striking the next generation of leaders.
- 5. Point to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ – The only way for Israelites to be “passed over” was to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on their doorposts (Exodus 12:21-23). This symbolically foreshadowed Jesus’ atoning blood sacrifice saving people from the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
Justice, Not Cruelty
Killing the firstborn sons seems harsh, but several factors help explain the justice behind this:
- 1. Pharaoh was warned beforehand – God made His will and intentions clear through Moses. Pharaoh could have relented, but he stubbornly refused and brought this judgment on himself.
- 2. Firstborn deaths were a direct consequence of Pharaoh’s decision – God gave Pharaoh a chance after each plague to free the Israelites. When Pharaoh refused, God followed through on the promised consequence. It matched the degree of stubbornness.
- 3. Egyptian firstborns benefited from Hebrew oppression – Though not directly responsible, they enjoyed the privileged status built on the backs of Israelite slave labor. Justice targeted this ill-gotten privilege.
- 4. God showed mercy amidst judgment – Israelites marked their homes so the plague “passed over” them. This escape foreshadowed that Christ’s sacrifice allows sinners to avoid eternal death.
- 5. The afterlife provides ultimate justice – Unlike the ancient Egyptians, we understand people continue existing after death. Any seeming injustice on earth will be recompensed by God’s perfect justice in the afterlife.
A Look at God’s Motives
Some portray the tenth plague as excessive cruelty by God. But Scripture reveals key insights about God’s nature and motives:
- God delays judgment to give opportunities to repent (2 Peter 3:9). He was patient with Pharaoh through nine plagues first.
- God sees the heart and judges righteously, not arbitrarily (1 Samuel 16:7). He knew Pharaoh’s true stubbornness and wickedness.
- God hates sin because it opposes His holy nature (Habakkuk 1:13). Refusing God’s direct commands cannot go unanswered.
- God disciplines those He loves, as a father does his children (Hebrews 12:7-11). He sought to discipline Egypt and teach them to acknowledge Him.
- God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). We should approach His judgments with humility and seek understanding.
Principles We Can Apply
This severe Old Testament account contains timeless principles relevant for believers today:
- 1. God hates oppression, rescues the helpless, and judges the wicked – Christians should emulate God’s heart for justice.
- 2. God is patient, but His patience has limits – We must not interpret God’s patience as approval of sin. Judgment will come.
- 3. God uses even severe judgment to display mercy – His grace triumphs amidst judgment, as the Israelites’ escape showed.
- 4. Stubbornly rejecting God has consequences – Resistance hurts us more than humbling ourselves before God.
- 5. All people face death because of sin – Jesus’ sacrifice is the only way to escape death’s grip, just as the Passover lamb’s blood saved Israel.
Conclusion
The death of the firstborn was certainly difficult to understand. Yet we see how God had righteous motives, repeatedly demonstrated His supremacy and power, showed mercy, and accomplished good purposes through this decisive judgment. Most importantly, it points us to Christ as the sacrificial Lamb who alone can redeem people facing the consequence of sin.