👉 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the LORD.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this passage from Exodus 12:12. Itās a really significant verse that sets the stage for a dramatic event in Godās plan to liberate his people from slavery. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is going to use Egypt as a temporary place for his people to be free. Letās unpack it piece by piece: āFor I will pass through the land of Egypt this nightā¦ā ā This is Godās plan. He's deliberately choosing a specific location (Egypt) to take action. Itās not just any place; heās going to go through it. āā¦and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beastā¦ā ā āFirstbornā refers to the sons of Egyptian royalty and those who were considered the most important. āSmiteā means to punish severely. This isnāt a casual act; it's a deliberate and forceful judgment. God is going to inflict pain and destruction on everyone in Egypt, specifically targeting the firstborn of their population ā men and animals. āAnd against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgmentā¦ā - God is rejecting the worship of the Egyptian gods. Heās declaring that he will not be influenced by them. āā¦I [am] the LORD.ā ā This is a powerful declaration of God's authority and power. It emphasizes that he is the one doing this, and that his judgment is absolute and unchallengeable. It's a statement of complete control. Whatās the big takeaway? This verse speaks to a pivotal moment in Israelās history. God is choosing Egypt as a temporary place for them to be free from slavery. Heās demonstrating his power, rejecting idolatry, and establishing His divine rule over this nation. Itās a powerful message of judgment and deliverance, but also one of God's sovereignty and plan. Think of it like this: Imagine someone deliberately setting fire to a city ā thatās kind of whatās happening here. God is using Egypt as a target to show his power and deliver his people. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this verse was important in the Bible? Discuss the context of the story behind this verse? Or would you like me to explain another Bible passage?