The Final Plague: God Delivers His People (Exodus 11:1–10; 12:29–36)
Sometimes, even after many warnings, people refuse to change.
In the story of Exodus, Pharaoh’s heart stayed hard even after nine terrible plagues.
Now, God told Moses that one final plague would come — and this time, everything would change.
God’s Final Warning
God spoke to Moses and said there would be one more plague on Egypt — the death of every firstborn.
From Pharaoh’s own son to the firstborn of the servants, and even the firstborn of the animals, no one would be spared.
This would be the event that would finally make Pharaoh let the Israelites go.
God also promised that the Israelites would not be harmed. In fact, when they left, they would leave with gifts from the Egyptians — silver, gold, and clothing.
Moses delivered God’s warning to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh still refused to listen. His heart remained stubborn, just as God had said it would.
The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn
At midnight, exactly as God had warned, the final plague struck.
Every firstborn in Egypt died — from the son of Pharaoh himself to the firstborn of prisoners and animals.
The whole land of Egypt was filled with loud cries of sorrow. There wasn’t a single house without someone dead.
Pharaoh finally broke. He called Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night and told them to leave Egypt immediately.
He didn’t just ask them to leave — he begged them to take their families, their flocks, and everything they had.
Israel’s Departure
The Egyptians, terrified after what had happened, urged the Israelites to leave quickly.
They even gave them silver, gold, and clothing, just as God had said.
The Israelites packed up in a hurry, ready to follow God’s instructions.
Everything happened exactly the way God had promised through Moses.
After hundreds of years of slavery, the Israelites were finally free.
Key Lessons
Here are a few important lessons we can learn from this part of the story:
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God Always Keeps His Promises: Even when it seemed slow to happen, everything God said came true.
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God Judges Sin but Saves His People: Egypt faced judgment for their hardness of heart, but God protected the Israelites.
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Obedience and Trust Matter: The Israelites trusted God’s word, prepared themselves, and were ready when the time came to move.
Final Thoughts
After many chances and many warnings, Pharaoh’s refusal to listen brought great pain to Egypt.
But for the Israelites, this was a moment of hope and freedom — God was leading them to a new beginning.
Something to think about:
Are we willing to trust God and be ready to follow Him when He calls?
Exodus 11:1-10; 12:29-36 (WEB)
11:1 The LORD said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.” 3 The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.4 Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of livestock. 6 There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor will be any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 All these servants of yours will come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you;” and after that I will go out.’ ” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.9 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go out of his land.12:29 At midnight, 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. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and 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. 31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said! 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!”33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” 34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians.