Firstborn

"He made them brave." 

GOD IS NOT afraid of Egypt. He isn't afraid of what we're afraid of. He has no fear. Not of situations nor of devils, nor of the arrogance of people. Just look at Moses. He was sent back into Egypt where witchcraft was predominant. Pharaoh's magicians turned their rods into living creatures, whether serpents as the King James says or crocodiles as the Hebrew word meaning implies. In either case, God was not afraid. Neither was Moses. His fear involved his ability to speak, so God gave him Aaron, his brother. Aaron was not afraid either. God prepared them for it. He made them brave.

I get this. I've faced fear and shrugged. God was there. What seemed fearful in reality and should have been, wasn't because Jesus made me brave. Moses and Aaron were incredibly bold to speak as they did without Pharaoh bringing retribution. He could have had them killed. But Exodus 7:1 says God made them like God and Aaron as Moses' prophet. So Pharaoh just let them talk. Unheard of.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” (Exodus 7:1)

Pharaoh's magicians turned water into blood, just as God had done. Now it doesn't say how much, but God had turned the entire river into actual blood because it says the fish died and the river stank, as well as every lake and pond and household vessel (Exodus 7:19). This is mind-boggling when you think about it. Some say these plagues were to show God as over the specific gods of Egypt, and this could be, but isn't stated. In any case, what power it required is but a drop in compare to the redemption they are meant to picture. Because the final plague would require Israel's own children. God took the firstborn of any age from every Egyptian household (Exodus 11:5). Not only the young but also grown men. This is a much greater loss than has been taught.

“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.” (Exodus 11:5)

It is why Pharaoh capitulated and finally let Israel go. We are told not one household escaped death. Yet none behind closed doors in Goshen were harmed. A predominant Rabbi said, and I love this image, that God made their homes "tiny temples" filled with the Presence of God. How beautiful. But see now God’s requirement of them in Old Testament Law. Every firstborn of Israel, including their flocks and herds, had to be dedicated to the Lord Jehovah (Exodus 13:2). So visually, both Gentiles and Jews gave their firstborn, picturing the nation of Israel, whom God called His firstborn, the church, and most importantly, God's firstborn Son, the Messiah, our King Jesus Christ. He is King of those who believe in Him and of those who don't. This is another image from the story. Again, a predominant Rabbi said another point to these deliverance miracles was to show the God of the Hebrews left national borders. He was everywhere. See the reaction of the sailors when Jonah said he ran from the Hebrews' God. They were terrified. Whatever the case, it is Jesus that we are meant to see.

And this strengthens me. He is our salvation and deliverance.

“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:25)

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com