God slays the firstborn of Egypt

The people collectively come together and bow their heads. They are coming together as a community to come in faith before midnight. This first ritual takes place in Egypt. It is a precondition for liberation.

“At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn” in Egypt. Pharaoh’s son was killed, and the text says, “there was not a house where someone was not dead.” Even the captive in the jail is struck by this last plague. We are meant to have some compassion for the Egyptians, but this will not stop the judgment. We are not meant to celebrate this terror. When kids want to listen to fairy tales again and again so they can take in the message. It is odd to tell the ending at the start of a story. This is ritual and theological rather than a narrative.

The Death of the Egyptian

Moses had killed an Egyptian in retaliation for beating an Israelite and hid his body in Exodus 2:11-22. There have been many Egyptian deaths and now the worse plague of all is to befall the homes of those not covered with blood at their doorpost.

Jesus becomes the death of the lamb and the death of the Egyptian both at the same time. If you don’t give up the highest part to that which is above you, then it will be taken from you. It’s again like the basketball game where you dribble and don’t give it up. There are many rich people who have never had to sacrifice and then they are not fulfilled and start giving to charities. If you don’t give up, then it will be taken from you. Christ is the Lamb that is given but also the one that receives the Wrath of God as darkness descends. He is the firstborn in every way. After the death and resurrection of Christ the whole animal sacrificial system will collapse for Israel. The bread and wine at Christian Communion become the sacrifice itself as the Crucifixion will crunch it all together.

The Death of the Firstborn

The first has to be offered up to what came before it. The image of the first or beginning of something has to be given to something that precedes it. For things to exist properly it has to exist in something which is beyond it to have unity of purpose. E.g. Dribbling in basketball has to be sacrificed to basketball in order for it to be useful.

It is sometimes necessary for the best of your people to sacrifice themselves – even to death – for the existence of their country. This sacrifice will anchor the existence of the family. It was sometimes Christian tradition to hope that one son would become a priest for example. This might mean that they won’t have a family. This giving up to the highest can anchor the rest of the family as they have time to focus on the prayer and higher things. It will also help to anchor society.  It is practical.  When the grain is harvested you don’t eat it, but you sacrifice it to lay aside for the next year. It creates a pattern in society of giving up your best to God. We are to give our money also up to God.

The response of Pharaoh and the Egyptians

Pharaoh sent a message to Moses and told him to get his people out of Egypt. He wants the Israelites to go out from his people. Does he recognise the Lord as God? Well, he doesn’t go out into the desert with them! They take their flocks and herds – the best of them. There is some humility finally from Pharaoh when he says “bless me also”.

Categories: Exodus