The death of Egypt's firstborn demonstrates God's absolute sovereign control over every level of life — man, beast, and the exact timing of history.
God declared He would pass through the land and smite all the firstborn, both man and beast, and execute judgment against the gods of Egypt — because He is the Lord (Exodus 12:12; Clip 2). Israel alone escaped the death angel by faith, applying the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts (Clip 1). Les Feldick emphasizes that God is so completely in control of time that Israel left on the exact day the 430 years ended (Clip 4), and the nations heard how He laid Egypt waste (Clip 7).
Exodus 12:12 — God's own declaration that He would smite all the firstborn, man and beast, and execute judgment against Egypt's gods is the core demonstration of His sovereign control.
Exodus 12:13 — The blood as a token on the houses shows that God's judgment also made a way for Israel to be passed over.
God Himself declared the terms of the final plague before it fell: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD" (Exodus 12:12). No household in Egypt, and no level of its society — from man to livestock — was outside the reach of the judgment God said He would execute. Yet the same chapter reveals a way of escape for Israel: "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:13). Scripture records that Israel left Egypt on the selfsame day the 430 years ended (Exodus 12:40-41), and afterward the Lord claimed Israel's firstborn: "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine" (Exodus 13:2). The account even preserves the detail that Moses took Joseph's bones with him (Exodus 13:19), showing the exactness with which God's word was fulfilled.
Les Feldick teaches that the death of the firstborn was the final plague and the worst one of all — the one that really struck home to families and parents. Every house in Egypt would lose the firstborn, and everything firstborn, even the livestock, would die (Clip 1). God told Moses, "I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." The reason God can do this, Les explains, is because He is Sovereign — He says, "I am the Lord" (Clip 2). Les expands on this in several ways. God is in such complete control of time and events that He didn't miss the 430 years by 24 hours; the exact day the 430 years ended, Israel moved out of Egypt (Clip 4). God is in control of every jot and tittle of what takes place, not only in the life of Israel, but in the life of every child of God (Clip 5). And after the plagues, the news of what the God of Israel had done to Egypt spread across the then-known world, so that even the Canaanites knew He had destroyed Egypt and laid it waste — God did all this with Pharaoh in order to accomplish His sovereignty (Clip 7). At the same time, Les notes that Israel had an out, but it depended on their faith: if they would put the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and stay within the safety of their home, the death angel would pass over them (Clip 1). The blood was to be a token on the houses where they were (Exodus 12:13; Clip 2).
Les Feldick explains that God had put a division so that the Jews no longer experienced the plagues that fell on Egypt, but the final plague — the death of the firstborn — struck home to every house in Egypt, even the livestock. Israel had an out, but it depended on their faith: they had to put the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and stay within the safety of their home, and the death angel would pass over (Clip 1). God told Moses the blood would be a token on the houses where they were (Exodus 12:13; Clip 2).
Les stresses God's own words: "I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." The reason He can do it, Les says, is because He is Sovereign and He says, "I am the Lord" (Clip 2). Les goes further: God is in control of every jot and tittle of what takes place, not only in the life of Israel but in the life of every child of God (Clip 5). Egypt was laid waste, and God accomplished His sovereignty through what He did with Pharaoh (Clip 7).
Les points out that God is in such complete control of time and events that He doesn't miss 430 years by 24 hours — the exact day the 430 years ended, Israel moved out of Egypt (Clip 4). Afterward, God instituted the setting aside of the firstborn of Israel, which was always indicative of a family relationship throughout the tribes of Israel (Clip 4). Even the detail of Moses taking Joseph's bones — as Joseph had sworn — shows how accurately God's Word was fulfilled (Clip 3).
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
with me for just a moment, as Pharaoh is now coming under the pressure of all the plagues, and he's trying to do some compromising with Moses—and I don't think we covered him in our last study, but I'll just touch on him. He offers three compromises. One I know we touched on, and that is, he said, well, now if you want to leave, go ahead, but don't go too far.
The Final Plague: Death of the Firstborn
Les identifies the death of the firstborn as the worst plague, affecting every house in Egypt and even the livestock, with Israel escaping only by faith through the blood of the Passover lamb.
The Sovereign Reason for the Plague
Les quotes God's declaration that He would smite every firstborn, man and beast, and judge Egypt's gods, explaining that God can do it because He is Sovereign: "I am the Lord."
Israel's Firstborn Set Apart
Les shows that after the Passover, Israel's firstborn were set apart and Moses carried Joseph's bones, displaying God's control over even the small details of His Word.
God's Control of Time and Events
Les emphasizes that God is so completely in control that Israel left Egypt on the exact day the 430 years ended, and then God instituted the setting apart of Israel's firstborn.
God's Control of Every Jot and Tittle
Les teaches that God is in control of every jot and tittle, not only in Israel's history but in the life of every child of God — "the world is His stage."
Moses, the Ark, and the Second Coming: Unlocking the Prophetic Pattern
The pharaohs, in order to control it, have put them under extreme servitude. And now, of course, God is going to step into the picture and get ready to deliver His covenant people. But He's going to take a deliverer. And so now in chapter 2, we have the birth of what the Bible calls the deliverer.
The Nations Knew What God Had Done
Les explains that word of Egypt's destruction spread across the known world, so even the Canaanites knew the God of Israel had laid Egypt waste — all to accomplish God's sovereignty through Pharaoh.
Exodus 12:12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
God's declaration of the final plague is the primary proof of His control over man, beast, and the gods of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
The blood on the doorposts was the token that distinguished Israel from Egypt during the judgment.
Exodus 12:40-41: Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
Israel left Egypt on the exact day the 430 years ended, showing God's precise control of time.
Exodus 13:2: Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
After the deliverance, God set apart Israel's firstborn — the counterpart of the judgment on Egypt's firstborn.
Exodus 13:19: And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
The detail of Joseph's bones being carried out shows God's Word being fulfilled exactly.
God told Moses, "I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment" (Exodus 12:12). Les Feldick says the reason God can do this is because He is Sovereign — "I am the Lord" (Clip 2). It was the final and worst plague, striking every house in Egypt (Clip 1).
Israel had an out, but it depended on their faith: they had to put the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and stay within the safety of their home, and the death angel would pass over (Clip 1). God said the blood would be a token on the houses, and when He saw the blood He would pass over them (Exodus 12:13).
It proves God's control over every living thing — man and beast — and over the exact timing of history, since Israel left Egypt on the very day the 430 years ended (Clip 4). Les also stresses that God is in control of every jot and tittle of what takes place in the lives of His people (Clip 5).
Yes. Les Feldick says that even in the ancient world, word of what God did in Egypt spread across the then-known world; the Canaanites knew the God of Israel had destroyed Egypt and laid it waste (Clip 7). God did all this with Pharaoh in order to accomplish His sovereignty.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts