Exodus:11

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Verse 1-3 - A secret revelation was made to Moses while in the presence of Pharaoh , that he might give warning of the last dreadful judgment , before he went out . This was the last day of the servitude of Israel ; they were about to go away . Their masters , who had abused them in their work , would have sent them away empty ; but God provided that the labourers should not lose their hire , and ordered them to demand it now , at their departure , and it was given to them . God will right the injured , who in humble silence commit their cause to him ; and none are losers at last by patient suffering . The Lord gave them favour in the sight of the Egyptians , by making it appear how much he favoured them . He also changed the spirit of the Egyptians toward them , and made them to be pitied of their oppressors . Those that honour God , he will honour . * Verse 4-10 - The death of all the first-born in Egypt at once : this plague had been the first threatened , but is last executed . See how slow God is to wrath . The plague is foretold , the time is fixed ; all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death , not silently , but so as to rouse the families at midnight . The prince was not too high to be reached by it , nor the slaves at the mill too low to be noticed . While angels slew the Egyptians , not so much as a dog should bark at any of the children of Israel . It is an earnest of the difference there shall be in the great day , between God 's people and his enemies . Did men know what a difference God puts , and will put to eternity , between those that serve him and those that serve him not , religion would not seem to them an indifferent thing ; nor would they act in it with so much carelessness as they do . When Moses had thus delivered his message , he went out from Pharaoh in great anger at his obstinacy ; though he was the meekest of the men of the earth . The Scripture has foretold the unbelief of many who hear the gospel , that it might not be a surprise or stumbling-block to us , Romans strkjv @10:16 . Let us never think the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights men put upon it . Pharaoh was hardened , yet he was compelled to abate his stern and haughty demands , till the Israelites got full freedom . In like manner the people of God will find that every struggle against their spiritual adversary , made in the might of Jesus Christ , every attempt to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb , and every desire to attain increasing likeness and love to that Lamb , will be rewarded by increasing freedom from the enemy of souls . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

---