Exodus 11 "Firstborn"

Exodus 11:4-7 "And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry thoughout all the land of Egypt such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel."

The chapter begins with the children of Israel borrowing from the Egyptians. God had given them favor so that the Egyptians loaned to them freely. We must remember that the children of Israel have been slaves for 400 years and had to work for free. Now they will receive their payment for their labor.

Next is the pronouncement of the last plague upon Egypt so that they recognize that God is God and so that they let the people go which was God's command. We have seen a progression of plagues in the last chapters. None of the plagues persuaded Pharaoh to honor God and let the people go.

Here we mark the beginning of a primary basis for the worship procedures by Israel of God and much of the traditionalism. The passover is about to begin. However, this is not just important to Israel but of utmost importance to the Christian faith. We will see how the sacrifice of the lamb without spot or blemish saved the firstborn of Israel on the first passover. It is a vivid picture of the sacrifice of the lamb of God on Calvary to provide salvation for all who would accept him.

Hebrews 10:9-10 "Then said he, Lo I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."