When God Draws a Line, How Seriously Do We Take It?
Exodus 11:1–10 (ESV)
The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbour and every woman of her neighbour, for silver and gold jewellery.” And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. But 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.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
There is a moment in every conflict where things become final. No more warnings, no more negotiations, no more gentle invitations. The line has been drawn, and what comes next will reveal whether the heart is hard or humble. That is exactly where this passage sits. Nine plagues have struck Egypt, yet Pharaoh remains unbending. And here God announces the final blow, one that will cut through every layer of Egyptian pride.
It is striking that, before anything else, God tells Israel to ask for silver and gold. In other words, He prepares their redemption before the judgment falls. The Egyptians, who had once oppressed them, now willingly give up their wealth. This is a quiet reminder that God works in the shadows long before His people see the outcome. He supplies for the journey while they are still in the land of slavery.
Then the tone shifts. Moses speaks words that would chill any listener. Every firstborn in Egypt will die, from Pharaoh’s own child to the child of the servant girl. The judgment is total, and the grief will shake the nation. Yet, at the very same moment, God promises absolute protection for His people. Not a dog will growl at Israel. This is not because Israel is morally superior, but because God makes a distinction. His mercy rests on those who belong to Him.
It is uncomfortable to sit with a passage like this, because it confronts us with a God who is not tame. He is patient, but His patience has a purpose. He warns, He calls, He invites repentance, but He does not indulge rebellion forever. Pharaoh is not simply stubborn, he is determined to be his own god. Every plague has been a chance to turn back. Every warning has been a door left open. Every word from Moses has been an act of mercy. Yet Pharaoh’s heart grows harder, not softer.
Before we shake our heads at him, we need to be honest about ourselves. We also resist God’s voice. We also delay obedience. We also assume there will always be another chance, another tomorrow, another gentle nudge. But God draws lines for our good. He exposes our idols because He wants to rescue us before our stubbornness destroys us.
The final verses are solemn. God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not listen, and He will use that refusal to magnify His wonders. Judgment and salvation unfold side by side. One heart is hardened, another is delivered. One kingdom is broken, another is born.
The question for us is simple. When God speaks, do we resist Him, or do we listen. When He draws a line, do we cross it, or do we trust Him enough to step back. This passage is heavy, but it is also full of grace, because it teaches us to take God’s voice seriously, and to run to the shelter He provides rather than harden our hearts against Him.
Prayer
Father, keep our hearts soft when You speak. Help us to listen quickly and obey willingly. Protect us from the stubbornness that blinds us, and teach us to trust the salvation You offer. Thank You that You prepare our redemption even before we know we need it. Lead us into Your light and keep us close to Christ. Amen.