Week 40, Day 2: The Last Plague
Today’s Reading: Exodus 11:1-10
Some thoughts from the reading…
Chapter 11 is very short, only 10 verses. And yet it announces the end of Israel’s stay as slaves in Egypt. I think the way things are stated in chapter 11 are a little confusing. Verse 8 tells us that Moses went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. This statement concludes the dialogue Moses had with Pharaoh at the end of chapter 10. Pharaoh had warned Moses that he would die if he were to come before Pharaoh again. We are told a few details at the beginning of chapter 11 that appear to be mentioned here but are not necessarily part of the final dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses. The details about speaking in the hearing of the people (vs 2) appears to be what Moses was told to do when he was instructed about the last plague. Moses tells Pharaoh at their final meeting about the last plague and then departs in anger.
It is amazing to consider the distinction God showed between Israel and Egypt. With several of the signs we are told explicitly that Israel was not affected by the signs at all. The Egyptians alone were suffering because of these signs. Can you imagine how the Egyptian people would have marveled at this. All of these things are happening to them and not a single thing happens to the Israelites? No flies (8:22), no cattle dying (9:6), no boils (9:11), no hail (9:26), no darkness (10:23) and no death of the firstborn (12:13). How could anyone doubt or question that Israel was God’s people and that these signs were directed toward Egypt? No one could.
Question: Why do you think that Moses was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt?
Popularity: unranked [?]