Listen To The Warnings

God sent various signals to the Pharaoh to make him free the people, but he was hardened and gave no authority for this to happen. Much did the Egyptians suffer and the more they suffered, it seemed, the least they wanted to let the people free. Moses was the messenger who told the pharaoh what was coming to give him time to reflect and consider the proposition. These warnings are a symbol of how nothing of what happens to us is coincidence, but we look for what we get. If we are proud and wish to ignore these warnings, we suffer the consequences of our indifference. And Moses so told the Pharaoh: “And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts (chapter 11).” He was being warned about what was to come even though it was foreseen that he was to ignore this warning, and even after the consequences, he chose to defy God and his power.

Israelites lived in Egyptian land, and feared that Gods punishments would also end up affecting them because of the pharaohs ignorance. To this God answered: “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel (chapter 13).” The people of the LORD where protected and wouldn’t be influenced by the punishments, which shows how God wished to punish only the guilty and not everyone, unlike he had wanted to do in genesis. This development in the character is interesting in a way because it shows that even divine figures are vulnerable to change and development, because one must change as his context changes; all beings are meant to adapt. God changed and his followers had changed, but their connection and objectives remained essentially the same.

Finally the pharaoh was forced to free the people when he was no longer able to survive through the punishments sent by the LORD. Moses was able to lead his people out of Egypt with help of God, who guided them day and night through the dessert. “And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten (chapter 13).” It was a memorable day and it demonstrated that mortals are no match to God, because even if they defy his power and are able to live with it for a while, this will never mean that mortals can have victory over the LORD.