Death of the firstborn

[Has_A_Question]

I did some skimming of this forum and could not find an answer that fully answer the question for me, so if I missed something I apologize.

My question has to do with the following passage:

“Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.” Exodus 12:29

I can understand the justice in the punishment of sinners throughout the Old Testament, but why exactly are the firstborn being punished for a sin that is not their own. Also, it seems to me that at least some of these first born had to be innocent and it leads me to the question of why didn’t God just punish the sinful firstborn?

Thanks in advance.

 

[mumof5]

Has A Question:

I did some skimming of this forum and could not find an answer that fully answer the question for me, so if I missed something I apologize.

My question has to do with the following passage:

“Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.” Exodus 12:29

I can understand the justice in the punishment of sinners throughout the Old Testament, but why exactly are the firstborn being punished for a sin that is not their own. Also, it seems to me that at least some of these first born had to be innocent and it leads me to the question of why didn’t God just punish the sinful firstborn?

Thanks in advance.

Way to make an impact, I guess. The punishment was not for the firstborn but for those left behind. We have to trust that God is perfectly just and needed certain things to happen to lead to his plan unfolding - the plan to bring the Messiah. Everything that happens in the Old Testament leads to that event. He did try many time to get through to Pharoah by other means to no avail so this final plague was particularly harsh to speak to the stubborness of Pharoah. And it worked, didn’t it?

 

[LilyM]

mumof5:

Way to make an impact, I guess. The punishment was not for the firstborn but for those left behind. We have to trust that God is perfectly just and needed certain things to happen to lead to his plan unfolding - the plan to bring the Messiah. Everything that happens in the Old Testament leads to that event. He did try many time to get through to Pharoah by other means to no avail so this final plague was particularly harsh to speak to the stubborness of Pharoah. And it worked, didn’t it?

Not just that, it had to impress the Israelites too - God knew they had tough times of wandering through the wilderness ahead and that they had been spiritually weakened during their time in Egypt. He wanted them to stick with him through their time in the wilderness. As it happened they still grumbled and stuffed up occasionally.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Has A Question:

I did some skimming of this forum and could not find an answer that fully answer the question for me, so if I missed something I apologize.

My question has to do with the following passage:

“Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.” Exodus 12:29

I can understand the justice in the punishment of sinners throughout the Old Testament, but why exactly are the firstborn being punished for a sin that is not their own. Also, it seems to me that at least some of these first born had to be innocent and it leads me to the question of why didn’t God just punish the sinful firstborn?

Thanks in advance.

Of course, God could have struck dead only the sinful first-born but, since sin can be either secret or public, such an action might have resulted in some confusion among the survivors when those who appeared to be innocent but were secretly sinful died. And, if only the publicly sinful were struck dead, would not those who were secretly sinful be disedified, thinking that God could not read their heart? The better solution would be to do what was done and strike down all the first-born, the sinful as well as the innocent, showing that God is Lord over life and death.

Besides, death itself is not necessarily a punishment for personal sin; we all die eventually, the innocent and the sinful.

 

[Thal59]

How many of the children of Israel died a harsh death during the 400 years of bondage?

Israel is considered by God to be His firstborn which is the child who receives the greatest favor from the Father. Throughout the story of Moses and Pharoah, God intentionally hardens Pharoah’s heart so He can punish Egypt.

The physical abuse of the Hebrews is returned to the Egyptians in the form of lice and boils. The hunger returned through blight of harvest or locusts. The thirst through the poisoning of the Nile, etc.

And of course, the “premature” deaths of God’s firstborn (the Hebrews) from abuse, whipping, and excessive slave labor is returned through the death of the firstborn of Egypt; which also makes it clear to the Egyptian’s that the children of Israel have a much greater relationship to God - one of father and son, not merely God and servant.

Don’t forget that a firstborn does not necessarily mean a child. An 80 year old, who is the firstborn of his parents would also be slain, even if his parents had died decades ago.

Thal59

 

[Prodigal_Son]

I’ve thought about this a lot. A related passage: when Joshua leads the Israelites to the promised land, he is told by the Lord to kill all the inhabitants, including the women and children. The Old Testament isn’t *full * of this stuff, but it does come up quite a few times.

A New Testament quotation might be helpful, though: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The sinner – and we are ALL sinners – deserves to die, because He is alienated from God. That’s what original sin is: the separation of ourselves from God, even before we ever *commit * a sin.

When the Lord makes the judgment of death on a person (especially in the OT), He is simply pursuing justice. In this context, we ought to be amazed at God’s mercy – that He didn’t eliminate the whole human race! (He almost did, eh, Noah? But that’s another story).

My understanding is that we deserve death, but God gives us the free *gift * of life. And God may very well have given to those infants the free gift of eternal life in Heaven.

And when you compare a lifetime in ancient Egypt to an eternity in Heaven, I know which one I’d pick.

 

[Della]

God exacted justice in taking the firstborn of the Egyptians as payment for the innocent sons of the Israelites deliberately killed at birth by order of pharaoh (cf. Exodus 1:8-22). The destruction of the Israelite boys foretells the slaughter of the innocents that Herod enacted in order to try to kill the infant Jesus, for the Messiah was prophesied to be “another Moses,” who is the main subject of the story in Exodus. There are many parallels between the story of Moses and Jesus which carry on the theme of God’s justice and mercy.

 

[gardenswithkids]

Has A Question:

…why exactly are the firstborn being punished for a sin that is not their own. Also, it seems to me that at least some of these first born had to be innocent and it leads me to the question of why didn’t God just punish the sinful firstborn?

Jesus is called the Firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) He is the only firstborn who was completely innocent, yet He was punished and died for other people sins. His death occured around the time of a Passover celebration. What happened to the firstborn Egyptians at Passover latter happened to the Son of God around the time of a Passover celebration.

Della:

There are many parallels between the story of Moses and Jesus which carry on the theme of God’s justice and mercy

Great point Della. Besides being the Firstborn of all creation, Jesus is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) The original Passover in Exodus prefigures how Jesus saves us from death by His blood. Just as the Israelites were freed from slavery following the first Passover, Jesus frees us from slavery to sin. (Romans 6:16-18). There are many more parrallels in the Old Testament. If we read the Old Testament stories in the light of Jesus, we see the mercy of God.

 

[CrossoverManiac]

God is the Lord over existance and of time. He can choose how much to give. All people will die when God chooses them to die, including you and I. Why make a case over God taking these people’s lives over every single instance when God decides when a person dies.

 

[puzzleannie]

Has A Question:

I did some skimming of this forum and could not find an answer that fully answer the question for me, so if I missed something I apologize.

I can understand the justice in the punishment of sinners throughout the Old Testament, but why exactly are the firstborn being punished for a sin that is not their own. Also, it seems to me that at least some of these first born had to be innocent and it leads me to the question of why didn’t God just punish the sinful firstborn?

Thanks in advance.

read the passage before this. Pharaoh himself decided the punishment. The Lord warned him that he would be punished in the same manner he treated the Hebrews. He ordered the slaughter of the firstborn of the Hebrews, so that is the punishment visited upon the Egyptians.

 

[Ted_CharlotteNC]

puzzleannie:

read the passage before this. Pharaoh himself decided the punishment. The Lord warned him that he would be punished in the same manner he treated the Hebrews. He ordered the slaughter of the firstborn of the Hebrews, so that is the punishment visited upon the Egyptians.

Yul Brenner said it and Charleton Heston grieved about it.

I am surprised the Ten Commandments hasn’t been re-made.
Just think of the cast: Who would be Moses, voice of God, Pharoah, wow !!!

 

[coyote]

Thal59:

How many of the children of Israel died a harsh death during the 400 years of bondage?

Israel is considered by God to be His firstborn which is the child who receives the greatest favor from the Father. **Throughout the story of Moses and Pharoah, God intentionally hardens Pharoah’s heart so He can punish Egypt. **

---

Do you realize the implications of what you are saying here?!
Pharoah and the Egyptians are equally children of God.
Do you actually believe that GOD, who is LOVE would victimize one of his own creatures so to indulge in cruelty on all those associated with the Pharoah? To what, prove that God although God created all humans he plays favorites.
Ludicrous and absurd. This statement defies common sense and logic.

---

The physical abuse of the Hebrews is returned to the Egyptians in the form of lice and boils. The hunger returned through blight of harvest or locusts. The thirst through the poisoning of the Nile, etc.

And of course, the “premature” deaths of God’s firstborn (the Hebrews) from abuse, whipping, and excessive slave labor is returned through the death of the firstborn of Egypt; which also makes it clear to the Egyptian’s that the children of Israel have a much greater relationship to God - one of father and son, not merely God and servant.

Justify for me how and why God would select certain people and favor them over all others.

Don’t forget that a firstborn does not necessarily mean a child. An 80 year old, who is the firstborn of his parents would also be slain, even if his parents had died decades ago.

Thal59