The Final Warning: Exodus 11:1–10

 

“The Final Warning—Exodus 11:1–10”

Text: Exodus 11:1–10

God is not impulsive. He is not rash. And He is certainly not unjust. When judgment falls, it is never without warning. In Exodus 11:1–10, we witness the sobering moment before the final and most devastating plague—the death of the firstborn. But even then, we see that God, in His mercy, gives a final warning. He speaks clearly through Moses, offering Pharaoh and Egypt one more opportunity to repent.

God Warns Before He Judges (vv. 1–2; cf. Amos 3:7)
In verse 1, the Lord tells Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here.” God reveals His plan in advance—He always does. This is consistent with Amos 3:7, which says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”

Before the flood, Noah preached. Before Sodom was destroyed, Lot was warned. Before the fall of Jerusalem, the prophets cried out. And here, before the death of Egypt’s firstborn, God speaks again—this time through Moses.

This shows us God's heart: even in judgment, He desires repentance. His warnings are not idle threats; they are gracious invitations to turn back before it’s too late.

Moses Leaves Pharaoh in Hot Anger (v. 8)
Moses, God's chosen deliverer, delivers the message: “About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land shall die…” (v. 4–5). The consequence is made crystal clear.

But Pharaoh’s heart remains hard. And we are told in verse 8, “So Moses went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.” Why the anger? It was not prideful wrath. It was righteous frustration. Moses had seen God’s power again and again. He had watched Egypt suffer and Pharaoh resist—plague after plague, nine in total—yet Pharaoh would not listen.

Moses is angry because he knows what’s coming, and Pharaoh’s arrogance guarantees it.

Light for the Israelites, Darkness for Egypt
While Egypt groans under God's judgments, the Israelites live in a different reality. In earlier plagues, we are told that the plagues did not touch the land of Goshen (Exodus 8:22, 9:26). Even in the plague of darkness, the Israelites had light in their dwellings (Exodus 10:23).

This physical distinction is a spiritual one too. God's people are covered by His grace and protection. His wrath is not arbitrary—it’s targeted against rebellion and pride, not those under His covenant.

This is a foreshadowing of Christ, who is our Passover Lamb. Just as God protected His people then, so He does now through the blood of Jesus.

The Significance of the Number Ten
This plague is the tenth—and final—plague. In the Bible, the number ten often symbolizes completion, fullness, and God’s established order. Consider:

• Ten commandments establish God’s moral law.

• A tithe is a complete portion—10% given to God.

• The ten plagues represent the complete judgment of God upon Egypt’s false gods and stubborn king.

The judgment of Egypt had come to full term. God’s patience had not failed; it had fulfilled its purpose. Now the time for final reckoning had come.

God Makes a Distinction (vv. 7–10)
God declares that “not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (v. 7).

God is just and sovereign. He does not treat all the same, because not all have responded the same. Pharaoh has repeatedly hardened his heart; Israel has cried out for deliverance. This final plague would be both a judgment on Egypt and a liberation for God's people.

God will always vindicate His name. His glory will be known—either in mercy or in justice. Egypt resisted until justice fell. But for Israel, deliverance was at the door.

Don’t Ignore the Final Warning
This passage reminds us that God warns before He judges, and that persistent hardness of heart leads to disaster. Pharaoh's story is a cautionary tale for every generation.

Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” God’s warnings—through His Word, His Spirit, and His messengers—are still being spoken today. Judgment is coming, but so is salvation for those who believe.

Let us be found like Israel, trusting God’s promise and preparing to walk in freedom—not like Pharaoh, proud and defiant until it was too late.

Key Scripture References:

• Exodus 11:1–10

• Amos 3:7

• Exodus 8:22; 9:26; 10:23

• Hebrews 3:15

• 1 Corinthians 5:7 (Christ our Passover)

Call to Action:
Have you responded to God’s voice, or are you resisting like Pharaoh? The time to listen is now. The time to act is now. The warnings are not for fear—they are for mercy. Don’t let the final plague fall before you bow. Let today be the day you come under the covering of the Lamb.

More: EXODUS Sabbath School Lesson 5 - Passover