Moses was a prophet who knew God very closely. The Bible says that God talked with him face to face (Numbers, the fourth book of the Taurat, 12.8; Exodus 33.11). He was a man who hated sin and slavery, and he wanted to lead his people to freedom. He was called by God to be a man of faith. He carried God’s message of salvation for is people. He was willing to go into the place of the enemy and lead God’s people out of darkness. And so, Moses returned to Egypt from the land of Midian and challenged Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. This was his message:
Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival1 to me in the desert.’” Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 5.1-2
This began a great struggle between Prophet Moses and the rulers of Egypt. God performed ten great signs by sending disease and judgment down on Egypt. These judgments brought that great country to its knees in submission to the one true God. Each of these plagues that God sent against Egypt showed God’s power over things that the Egyptians believed were their gods. The Egyptians worshipped things like cattle, frogs, the Nile River, the sun and the royal house of Pharaoh.
The last great curse that God sent on Egypt was the death of the first-born sons in each family. Many Egyptians died, including the king’s own son. God told the people of Israel to kill, cook and eat a lamb for each family and put the blood on the door of their houses. When the angel of God saw the blood on the door, he would pass over that house and no one would die there. This is how the great Jewish feast of Passover was established, for God told them to remember that night and celebrate it every year. This is recorded in Exodus chapter 12:
On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Exodus 12.12-13
The people of Israel were saved by blood. A life had to be given because of the shame, corruption and darkness of sin and slavery. God made Israel a new people on that day of deliverance. Their freedom came by the judgment and death of thousands of people.
The king hardened his heart many times and threatened the people of God, but at last he said that they could go. However, after the Israelites had left, he changed his mind. As they came to the sea on the east of Egypt, the army of Pharaoh came to attack them before they could escape from Egypt. There again, God did great wonders to protect and deliver his people from slavery and darkness. The people of Israel saw the army coming and were very afraid, but Moses told them this:
Moses answered the people “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”…Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them and… followed them into the sea.… Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” … and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. Exodus 14.5-27
When a great prophet was leading God’s people, God showed his power to bring salvation and hope. This was a new life for Israel, the children of Abraham. This was a great victory for truth and true religion. God’s judgment on Egypt was a message to the nations that he is God. Because this world is so full of sin, false religion, and evil, it is necessary for the truth to struggle to overcome the darkness. There will be suffering before God’s glory can be seen through his faithful servants.