Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. (Exodus 12:28)

So They Did

The tenth and final plague against Egypt would be the most overwhelming show of God’s power the world had seen. Pharaoh repeatedly refused to allow the Hebrews to leave. Nine plagues devasted the economy, religion, and spirit of the most powerful nation on earth. Pharaoh would not yield. The Lord told Moses the final plague would come at the cost of every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt. During the nine plagues, God had spared the Hebrews by His grace. The tenth plague would be different.

Moses and Aaron were told what the tenth plague would be, but this time, the Hebrews had to act in accordance with the word of God to save themselves. God gave strict instructions on how the Hebrews could save themselves from the wrath of the destroyer that would come that fateful night across the land of Egypt. The word of the Lord was specific to precise instructions, including the time of month, type of sacrifice, day of sacrifice, how to cook the meat, and how to eat the meal. Blood must be put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they ate the meal. The people were required to eat the meal with a belt on their waist, sandals on their feet, and a staff in their hand. When God saw the blood on the house, He would pass over them, and the plague would not be on them to destroy them on the night of death.

The Hebrews numbered six hundred thousand men, besides women, children, and other men, young and old. On the fateful night of the death of the firstborn, all of the Hebrews did what the Lord told them to do. They took the lamb in the right month and sacrificed on the right day. None of the lambs had any blemishes or broken bones. The meat was prepared exactly as God instructed, and the meal was eaten according to the law handed down by Moses and Aaron. At midnight, the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the captive and all the firstborn of the livestock. There was not a house where there was not one dead.

In the land where the Hebrews dwelt, there was no death. Unlike the first nine plagues, in which the mercy of God spared the Hebrews, the Hebrews had to obey the word of the Lord to be saved. When Moses and Aaron told the people what God commanded them to do, they did what God said. They believed in the promises of God, both of His wrath and His mercy. It was clear to the Hebrews that salvation required doing something, and they did what God told them to do. The children of Israel went away and did what was required for salvation. Salvation came by the grace of God and the obedience of the people.

The night of the death of the firstborn is illustrative of the law of God today. There is a great day of reckoning coming when the wrath of God will be revealed against all unrighteousness. God’s grace is abundant, providing everything a man needs to be saved. Sadly, most people do not believe they must do anything to save themselves. They would be the Hebrew family that chose not to put blood on the two doorposts and lintel of their home. When it came to eating the meal, they would have laid in bed waiting for God to save them by His grace. If that would have happened, the Hebrew family would have suffered the same fate as the Egyptians.

There was a night in the history of Israel when everyone did exactly what God told them to do. The children of Israel were saved by the grace of God and by works. God granted them salvation as He does today for those who accept His grace and obey (do) His commandments. If you do not believe you have to do anything to be saved, read the story of the Passover. Do not let error cloud your mind to believe you do not have to obey the word of the Lord. Obey the will of the Father.