Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.'” (Exodus 11:4-6)

All The Firstborn In The Land Of Egypt Shall Die

According to 2024 statistics of population in the United States, there were 342 million people counted. The last census reported that less than 50% of families have children, indicating there were around 171 million homes with children. Moses writes the story of the final plague the Lord God brought against the most powerful nation on earth. He describes how God has plagued Egypt with nine terrible plagues devasting the nation. One final judgment is coming against Egypt, and it will decimate the population and economy of the land. As a final sign of God’s great power, the Lord will come upon the land at midnight and kill every firstborn of the land. The children of Israel will be spared when they follow the commands of the Lord letting the Lord pass over them, avoiding judgment. The Egyptians will not be spared the wrath of God.

It is impossible to know the population of Egypt at the time of the final plague. Using the United States as a model will help develop the scale of what God brought upon a nation that denied His glory. In one night, the Lord killed more than 171 million people. The tenth plague was the death of the firstborn among men and beasts. Every firstborn child died. This did not exclude adults. It was possible that in one family, a father and mother were the firstborn of their families, and they died along with their eldest son. Three people in one household suddenly died, leaving the other family members to grieve. The numbers were staggering. Millions of souls died in one night.

Adding to the horror of the night, the firstborn of the livestock died. God did not kill the animals because they were accountable in a spiritual way. This was to show Pharaoh, who stubbornly refused to obey the Lord’s word, that the Egyptians’ gods were lies and there was only one true God. Imagine the extent of animals that dropped dead that night throughout the land. The United States is home to approximately 87 million cattle and calves. Every firstborn of the land of Egypt died, totaling in the millions of dead livestock from one end of Egypt to the other. God’s wrath was clearly impressed upon the minds of the world.

When the sun rose the morning after the night of the Passover, death was everywhere throughout the land. That is what the world looks like when the world denies God. Moses told Pharaoh a loud wail would rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again when the tenth plague comes. That night, a cry went through the land of Egypt as never before. Death filled the homes of the Egyptians and in the stables and barns. The Egyptians feared the Hebrews, begging them to leave for fear God would strike them dead. God’s power was shown to the world, proving He is a God of mercy and wrath.

Moses told Pharaoh that death would come to his house and the house of the servant. God’s wrath could have been directed toward Pharaoh alone for his stubborn rebellion, but the people were guilty and must suffer judgment. On that terrible night of death, it did not matter if a person was rich or poor, young or old, male or female, or begging their gods. They all died if they were the firstborn. The night of death reminded the world that death is the equalizer of all men. Pharaoh’s firstborn died the same way the firstborn of the female servant behind the hand mill. God is not a respecter of persons. Sin demands justice and all who sin will die.

In the land of Egypt, millions of souls died as a testimony to God’s wrath against those who seek to oppose Him. In a remarkable turn of events, as if the night of death was not enough, Pharaoh’s heart hardened again when he sent his army to destroy the fleeing Hebrews. The death of his firstborn and the millions of other souls did not change the heart of the king. He remained defiant to the end. God destroyed the Egyptian army, and Egypt would never be a great nation again. Many continue to believe in the word of God, defiant and rebellious to the grace and mercy of God. His wrath will come, and no quarter will be given to the disobedient. It is impressive to consider the millions who died that night. But the only number that matters is one – your soul. Are you ready to meet the Lord God Almighty? He’s coming, and He will bring His wrath. No family escaped the terrible night in Egypt, and no one will escape the judgment of God.