Exodus 11 - The Great Cost of Rebellion

In Chapter 11 of Exodus, the tensions were mounting between Pharaoh and The Lord. The final plague is reminiscent of the decree the former Pharaoh established against the Israelites to kill the baby boys. God's plague however would destroy all firstborn sons. Pharaoh's own son would die as would the first born throughout the land and the cattle as well. 

Even the people of Egypt saw how Pharaoh's stubbornness was bringing them to ruin and they were in favor of the Israelites and honored Moses. The people would willingly turn over their possessions of gold and silver so that the wealth of Egypt would leave with the Israelites. More often than not, sin will impact our finances. Our selfish living is costly. 

There is a high cost to pay when people refuse to give God honor in their lives. God waits for us to see our sin from His viewpoint and acknowledge it before Him. He wants us to turn from trying to make our own way independent of Him and to rely on His wisdom and obey His instructions. 

Pharaoh was stubborn alright. But we all have been in his shoes when we have chosen to sin rather than follow God's commands. Our pride, our selfishness, our greed take over our thinking and we attempt to direct our own destiny. 

I confess, I don't like to examine my sins before God. I would rather talk in generalities and ask God's forgiveness of my sin rather than list them in detail. I would rather ask God to create in me a clean heart rather than confessing the ugly nature of sin I have wrapped up in me. Even saved people who have put on Christ's righteousness still battle with their sin nature daily. 

There is a high cost to pay for going against God. God tells us that eternal punishment awaits those who stubbornly stand against Him when He has offered a way of escape. The escape hatch that all of us must take if we are to enjoy fellowship with God here and Heaven through eternity is Jesus. Jesus is the way - he took the punishment we deserved and fully paid the price for our sin. Our righteousness is found in relationship to him. We must confess that we have sinned and that we need God's provision of a Savior; otherwise the price is ours to pay. God gave his first born son not as a curse as with Pharaoh, but paying the high price of sin for us. The son had to die; sin is that dire. 

Pharaoh and all the people of Egypt paid a high price for going against God. So all the world would hear of God's provision for His own and would turn to Him and worship. God separated his own from the penalty. Notice in verse 7, God makes a distinction between his people and Egypt. The good news if the gospel us that even though you may deserve death as a result of your sin, you don't have to experience it. The price was paid and we are free from the bondage we were in! 

Egypt represents the influence of the world - a world that would ignore God and deceive itself into believing that sin does not have a price. Israel is representative of God's own people who receive blessing beyond any merit. They are God's special ones who escape the judgement against sin and have joy beyond what the world can know. 

Who's side will you select?  If you have sinned (we all have) confess that to God, accept the provision of forgiveness offered by Jesus and walk in the knowledge that you are God's special person protected and secure. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.