Who Killed All the Firstborn Sons in Egypt?
I was raised in a Christian household, and the story of the Exodus from Egypt was one of the first Bible stories I learned. I remember being fascinated by the plagues that God sent upon Egypt, especially the tenth plague, when all the firstborn sons of Egypt were killed. I wondered who was responsible for this terrible event. Was it God? Or was it Moses?
The Plague of the Firstborn
The plague of the firstborn is described in the book of Exodus in the Bible. After the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for many years, God sent Moses to demand their release. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, refused to let the Israelites go. So God sent a series of ten plagues upon Egypt. The tenth and final plague was the most devastating.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. All the firstborn in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.'” (Exodus 11:4-5)
That night, the angel of death passed through Egypt and killed all the firstborn sons. Pharaoh’s own son was killed, as were the firstborn sons of all the Egyptians.
Who Was Responsible?
The Bible does not explicitly say who was responsible for the death of the firstborn sons. However, it is clear that God was the one who sent the plague. He told Moses that He would go throughout Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons.
Some people believe that God was directly responsible for the deaths of the firstborn sons. They argue that God is a just God, and He was punishing the Egyptians for their sins. Others believe that God used the angel of death to carry out His will. The angel of death is a supernatural being who is responsible for taking the lives of people.
The Significance of the Plague
The plague of the firstborn was a significant event in the history of Israel. It was the final plague that God sent upon Egypt, and it was the plague that finally convinced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
The plague of the firstborn also foreshadowed the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the firstborn son of Mary, and He was killed on the cross. His death was a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
What Can We Learn from the Plague of the Firstborn?
The plague of the firstborn teaches us several important lessons. First, it teaches us that God is a just God. He will not tolerate sin, and He will punish those who rebel against Him. Second, it teaches us that God is a merciful God. He is willing to forgive those who repent of their sins and turn to Him. Third, it teaches us that God is a powerful God. He can do anything He wants, and He will always accomplish His purposes.
Conclusion
The plague of the firstborn was a terrible event, but it also had a profound significance. It taught the Israelites that God is a just, merciful, and powerful God. It also foreshadowed the death of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sins.
Are you interested in learning more about the plague of the firstborn?
FAQs
- Who was responsible for the death of the firstborn sons?
The Bible does not explicitly say who was responsible for the death of the firstborn sons. However, it is clear that God was the one who sent the plague.
- Why did God kill the firstborn sons?
The Bible does not give a specific reason why God killed the firstborn sons. However, some people believe that God was punishing the Egyptians for their sins. Others believe that God used the deaths of the firstborn sons to show Pharaoh that He was serious about letting the Israelites go.
- What was the significance of the plague of the firstborn?
The plague of the firstborn was a significant event in the history of Israel. It was the final plague that God sent upon Egypt, and it was the plague that finally convinced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. The plague of the firstborn also foreshadowed the death of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sins.
