Wednesday after Septuagesima

Scripture: Exodus 11:1-10 (NKJV)

1 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 3 And 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 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst 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 handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

9 But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Devotion

God had pronounced a harsh judgment upon all of Egypt because of the disobedience of one man. The refusal of Pharaoh to obey God’s command would result in a grave punishment upon the entire nation. Acting on behalf of every subject of his kingdom, the king was responsible for bringing ruin to his entire nation. His sin and its consequences were counted against every member of his kingdom.

One man was the cause of our ruin, too. The disobedience of our father Adam to the clear command of God brought judgment not merely upon himself, but upon his entire household. As the head of the entire human family, Adam is responsible for causing the punishment for his sin to fall upon all of his children, even to each of us. The consequence of that original sin—death to all—is grave enough, yet we confirm our just condemnation when we add our own sin to our accounts.

One Man, however, is the cause of our deliverance from it all. Christ Jesus is the Greater Adam Who has come to reverse the curse of Adam’s sin, and every man’s sin. The Only-Begotten Son of God is the One Man Who has obeyed every command given by God to man, so that any man who believes in Him is accounted obedient to God. Even more, this One Man died the one death for the sins of all men, so that any man who believes in Him is declared forgiven of all sins. The Lord truly does make a difference between Egypt and Israel; bringing His righteous judgment against those who refuse to believe in Him and delivering the faithful for the sake of the One Man, Christ Jesus!

We pray: But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One Who lifts up my head. Amen.