Hello and Welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 11 for beginners. In this chapter, we will discuss the announcement of the final plague that the Lord is about to bring upon Egypt. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 11 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 11 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 11. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 10, we read and learned about the eighth and ninth plagues of Egypt. Today, we will learn about the Lord’s announcement of the death of the firstborn among the Egyptians.
Backstory on Exodus 10
The Lord brought upon Egypt the eighth and ninth plagues: locusts and darkness. The locusts destroyed everything that the hail (seventh plague) had left behind, leaving the land completely barren except for the areas where the Israelites lived. And with the ninth plague, the darkness was so thick that no one could see one another for three full days, causing everyone to remain frozen in place. Despite these judgments, Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go.
Without any further delay, let us study together and learn what is Exodus 11 about, shall we?
Exodus 11 Summary
The Lord spoke to Moses, announcing that He would impose one final plague on Pharaoh and Egypt, which would compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites completely. Moses was instructed to tell the Israelite people to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold articles. God gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and they gave them whatever they asked for. Also, Moses was a respected figure both among Pharaoh’s servants and the general populace.
Moses went to Pharaoh and declared that about midnight, the Lord will go out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from Pharaoh’s firstborn to the firstborn of his servants, as well as the firstborn of the animals. There will be a great cry throughout all of Egypt. However, none of the children of Israel shall perish, and not even a dog shall move its tongue against any man or beast of Israel. Moses also said that Pharaoh’s servants would beg him to let him (Moses) and his people (the Israelites) go and he walked away from Pharaoh in great anger.
The Lord told Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to him, so that His wonders could be demonstrated in Egypt. Consequently, Moses and Aaron performed many wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not allow the children of Israel to leave his land.
Exodus 11 Commentary
1. Exodus 11:2-3
The Israelites were in dire bondage with nowhere to go. They were slaves. Unlike many who seek to build wealth for the future in order to escape their circumstances, the Israelites couldn’t do that even if they wanted to because of their situation. In general, they were not allowed to be wealthy nor were they allowed to leave the land because they were slaves in Egypt. Their role was to serve the king and perform the tasks that ordinary Egyptian citizens would not do.
The Israelites did not save anything materially for themselves for the future, but God ensured that they did not leave empty-handed. The plan is always God’s. He plans, and we are to execute it and obey Him. God took care of the Israelites, and we must trust Him to take care of us rather than living in fear of the future. If the Lord asks you to do something, it is wise to obey Him for your own good.
Of course, He speaks through His prophets, just as He instructed His people in Exodus through Moses. However, Moses was the only prophet He chose to lead the Israelites out of Egypt at that time; there weren’t tens or hundreds of prophets each saying different things. While it is correct to listen to prophets, we must also first ensure that we are hearing from God and confirming with Him if what we are being told is His will. This is where discernment comes into play.
2. Exodus 11:4-5
The Lord was preparing to bring judgment upon the firstborn of Egypt, both human and animal, because Pharaoh and his servants refused to let His firstborn—the Israelites—go free. He had oppressed the Israelites with harsh labor and had enacted a law to kill their newborn male children. It is a grave danger to fall into the hands of the living God.
3. Exodus 11:10
Pharaoh was a hard-hearted man, and the Lord hardened his heart further. It wasn’t that Pharaoh was good from the beginning and that the Lord suddenly intervened to harden his heart. On the contrary, Pharaoh was disobedient and rebellious against God. He was worshipping false gods and the land was steeped in paganism. Pharaoh himself was seen as a god among the Egyptians, that is why they have elaborate mummifications and burial ceremonies for Pharaoh and the pyramids. To the deceived Egyptians of that time, the Pharaoh was a link between them and their false gods that they worshipped. And, this is an insult to the actual living God, the One True God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Despite God’s repeated warnings to let His people go, Pharaoh did not listen. Thus, God hardened the heart of an already cruel and hard-hearted man.
Exodus 11 Lessons
What can we learn from Exodus 11?
1. Do not mess with God’s covenant
When Pharaoh interfered with God’s covenant people, he was putting himself in serious trouble with God. God intervened on behalf of His people and fought for them. The Egyptians worshiped many gods of the underworld, but none of these gods could give life. Once someone died, they remained dead, as there was no Egyptian false god capable of resurrecting them. God Almighty is the God of the living, and it is foolish to go against the living God. Pharaoh likely assumed that the God of Israel was just one of many gods like the ones they worshiped.
2. God cares about every detail of your life
The Lord chose not only to protect the Israelites but also everything that belonged to them, including their cattle and the beasts of the field. His protection was comprehensive and thorough, ensuring that not a single hair from their heads was touched or harmed. It was a testament to the faith and commitment the Lord had towards His chosen people, signifying that even in times of hardship and uncertainty, He would be the steadfast Redeemer. God is able to protect His own. Just as He protected the Israelites in Egypt He would also protect you and fight on your behalf. We must always remember that He is our defender and redeemer.
3. The wealth of the wicked is stored for the righteous
The Israelites had no means of becoming rich under slavery in Egypt and nowhere to escape. However, God granted them favor, allowing them to acquire wealth from their Egyptian neighbors—specifically, articles of silver and gold. Under normal circumstances, the Egyptians would not have given these valuable items to the Israelites, but God intervened and provided this favor. We cannot achieve anything on our own, and it’s futile to try. God orchestrated the transfer of wealth from the wicked to His righteous ones, who were justified by their faith and covenant with God. He will do the same for you too. You simply have to follow His instructions just like the Israelites did in this chapter.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 11. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 11. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!