EXODUS: The Lord God Sends the Tenth and Final Plague in Egypt; "And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise, go out from among my people.'"

He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (Psalm 105:26-27) 

He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land, the first of all their strength. (Psalm 105:36) 

And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. (Exodus 12:29-30) 

Christ Jesus once taught, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37) The new Pharaoh of Egypt, who came into power after Joseph died, did not realize the consequences he and his people would have to suffer when he commanded, “Every son who is born [to the children of Israel] you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:22) 

We don't ever have to be concerned with getting someone back for doing something evil to us. If we are a child of God, who has placed our faith in Christ Jesus and are filled with His Holy Spirit, God promised, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30) Therefore when dealing with difficult and even painful situations, we have to keep our faith, hope and trust in God. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will save you. (Proverbs 20:22)

Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” (Exodus 12:31-33) The prior plagues, Pharaoh had tried to negotiate with God, first by saying only the men could go (Exodus 10:10-11); then he changed it to all the people could go, but they had to leave the flock (Exodus 10:24). But now, he had finally come to agree with God and let all of them go - people, cattle, possessions, everything.

We need to learn from this lesson that it is better to obey God the first time He tells us to do something, instead of disobeying Him or trying to manipulate Him, or feeling we can wait until we're ready to do what He says. Obeying doesn't mean their won't be suffering or difficulty, but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” [Proverbs 11:31] Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (I Peter 4:16-19)

So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:34-36) 

The Lord God had promised Moses, before he returned to Egypt, "And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:21-22) And it had happened exactly as the Lord God had said. "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) 

Our words are so powerful! Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21) Pharaoh thought he was speaking death over the children of Israel, but he ended up cursing his own people because of his hardened heart and refusal to believe and then obey the Word of God. However, every word God spoke came to pass and brought life and deliverance to the children of Israel, because they believed and then obeyed His Word. We have to learn to do the same, not just hear, but also believe and obey the Word of God. Christ Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) 

These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon. These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Leviwere one hundred and thirty-seven. The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families. And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations. (Exodus 6:14-19) 

Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven. The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri. Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites. Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families. (Exodus 6:20-25)

These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 6:26-27) Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. (Exodus 12:37-38)

A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. (Exodus 12:39) Remember, when God instituted the Passover, He said, "...thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover." (Exodus 12:11) He prepared them that they would have to be dressed and ready to go as soon as the plague of death passed through Egypt.

But God is so merciful! A mixed multitude went up with them also, not just the children of Israel. Remember, after witnessing the first few plagues, there were many Egyptians and servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord. (Exodus 9:20) The Lord has said, “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:21-23) Yes, He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4)