Introduction – When Pride Meets Power

Nine plagues had struck Egypt. Blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness had all shown Yahweh’s power. Yet Pharaoh’s heart stayed hard.

Now came the final blow—one so devastating it would shatter Pharaoh’s pride, break Egypt’s will, and finally free God’s people.

This wasn’t just judgment on Egypt. It was judgment on Pharaoh himself, the man who claimed to be a god.

Here’s What We’ll Discuss in This Post:

Life in Egypt before the plague — how Pharaoh’s pride blinded him to mercy.
The final plague itself — the death of the firstborn across Egypt.
The god defeated — Pharaoh himself, who claimed to be divine.
The Passover protection — why blood on the doorposts made all the difference.
The Jesus connection — how this plague points directly to Christ as the Lamb of God.

Life in Egypt Before the Darkness

Egypt was already broken: crops ruined, livestock gone, people weary. But Pharaoh remained defiant. He saw himself not just as a king, but as divine—the “son of Ra,” the living god who held power over life and death.

The Hebrews were still slaves. Pharaoh believed he controlled their destiny. But God was about to show that no man, no king, no Pharaoh is sovereign over life.

The 10th Plague: Death of the Firstborn

“At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh… to the firstborn of the prisoner… and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.”
(Exodus 12:29–30)

At midnight, judgment fell.

In every Egyptian household, the firstborn died.
From Pharaoh’s palace to the lowliest hut, death visited without discrimination.
Egypt’s pride turned to wailing in a single night.

For the first time, Pharaoh was powerless to stop death. His gods were silent. His throne was broken.

The God Defeated: Pharaoh Himself

In Egyptian religion, Pharaoh wasn’t just a ruler. He was worshiped as a god.

Pharaoh was called “son of Ra,” ruling as Ra’s representative on earth.
Pharaoh claimed to be the protector of Ma’at—order, truth, and life.
To disobey Pharaoh was to defy a god.

But in one night, Yahweh struck Pharaoh where it hurt most: his heir, the next “god-king” of Egypt. The very bloodline Pharaoh believed divine was exposed as powerless before the true King of kings.

This plague was the ultimate overthrow—not just of a false idol, but of a false god in human form. Pharaoh’s pride met the power of the living God, and Pharaoh lost.

The Science Behind the Death of the Firstborn

Historians and scientists have tried to explain the death of the firstborn with natural theories, but each falls short. Still, exploring them helps us see how unique and supernatural this plague was.

Grain Storage Theory: Some suggest Egypt’s grain silos contained moldy or contaminated grain. Since the firstborn often received the largest portion, they may have eaten more and been the first to die. But this doesn’t explain why livestock firstborn died too—or why the Hebrews were spared.
Toxic Gas Theory: Another idea is that gases from a volcanic eruption or earthquake might have settled low to the ground, suffocating those lying down. Since the firstborn traditionally slept on the lowest beds or mats, they would have been most affected. But again—why were homes with lamb’s blood untouched?
Natural Disease Outbreak: Epidemics sometimes strike the most vulnerable, but diseases don’t discriminate between firstborn and younger siblings, nor between Egyptian and Hebrew.

What these theories do show is that people recognize the scale of this event—it was real, devastating, and unforgettable. But none can explain the precise selectivity, timing, or protection promised through the lamb’s blood.

Science can give us possibilities, but Scripture gives us certainty: this was no accident of nature. It was the hand of God, overthrowing Pharaoh and pointing to the Lamb of God.

The Passover Protection

God gave His people clear instructions (Exodus 12):

Choose a spotless lamb.
Sacrifice it at twilight.
Spread its blood on the doorframe.
Eat the lamb in haste, ready to leave.

When the Lord passed through Egypt, every house with the blood was spared. The destroyer “passed over” those under the lamb’s covering.

This wasn’t about ethnicity—it was about obedience. Any household, Hebrew or Egyptian, could have been protected if they trusted God’s word and applied the blood.

The True Passover Lamb

This plague doesn’t just hint at Jesus—it points straight to Him.

Jesus as the Lamb of God.
- John the Baptist declared: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
- Just as the lamb’s blood marked the Hebrews’ homes, Jesus’ blood covers us, saving us from judgment.
The Power Over False Kings.
- Pharaoh claimed to be a god, but death proved he wasn’t.
- The rulers of Jesus’ day—Rome, Herod, the priests—claimed power, but the empty tomb proved only Christ reigns.
The Cross as the True Passover.
- On the night of Passover, Jesus broke bread and said, “This is my body… this is my blood… poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26–28).
- Just as the lamb’s blood caused death to pass over Israel, Jesus’ blood causes eternal death to pass over us.
Victory Over the “god” of This World.
- Pharaoh stood as a false god. Today, Satan is called “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
- At the cross, Jesus defeated him completely. Where Pharaoh lost his firstborn, God gave His only Son—so we could live forever.

The 10th plague foreshadowed the gospel with stunning clarity: the Lamb dies, the blood saves, and God’s people walk free.

Closing – Teaching Our Kids About the Lamb

Parents, the final plague is one of the clearest ways to show our kids the heart of the gospel.

Here’s what they can see:

Pharaoh failed. No man is God.
The lamb saved. Only the blood on the door brought protection.
Jesus reigns. He is the greater Lamb, the greater Deliverer, and the greater King.

When you teach your kids this story, remind them: