Exodus 7:5; 9:14

 

What do the plagues in Egypt teach you about God’s patience and power—and how does the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn, become the only true way to free us from spiritual captivity?

"5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them." (Exodus 7:5)

"14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth." (Exodus 9:14)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: "April 6–12: “Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt” Exodus 7–13 : 

"Plague after plague afflicted Egypt, but Pharaoh still refused to release the Israelites. And yet God continued to demonstrate His power and give Pharaoh opportunities to accept “that I am the Lord” and “there is none like me in all the earth” (Exodus 7:5; 9:14). Meanwhile, Moses and the Israelites must have watched with awe at these manifestations of God’s power on their behalf. Surely these continued signs confirmed their faith in God and strengthened their willingness to follow God’s prophet. Then, after nine terrible plagues had failed to free the Israelites, it was the tenth plague—the death of the firstborn, including Pharaoh’s firstborn—that finally ended the captivity. This seems fitting because in every case of spiritual captivity, there truly is only one way to escape. It is only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn—the blood of the Lamb without blemish—that will save us."

Nine terrible plagues first, before the death of Pharaoh's firstborn--this did show God's patience with Pharaoh. He was being given opportunities to accept the Lord as He is and to let His people go. All the ten plagues showed God's power in making His will happen. With God, all things are possible. So, we can always rely on His power. We can always give Him all our trust.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's Firstborn, is the only true way to free us from spiritual captivity, just as the death of the Pharaoh's firstborn made him free the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.  The death of God's Only Begotten Son, who is sinless and perfect is necessary to free us from spiritual captivity because He is the one who has the power to give His life up, take it again after dying, and become immortal in the full sense of the word, with the  physical body turned perfect, never to die again. And He is the only one who is able to bring us back to the presence of God, as He took upon us the punishment for our sins, freeing us from the consequences of our wrongdoings as we choose to take our personal responsibility by repenting of our sins and becoming His disciples.