The final straw: Death of firstborn breaks Pharaoh's will
Published: Thu, 01/22/26
Updated: Thu, 01/22/26
7pm tonight: Nafshenu Bible study
7-8pm tonight at: bit.ly/NafTorah
10th plague finally breaks Pharaoh's will
DEATH OF FIRSTBORN
What the nine first plagues failed to do the 10th succeeds in doing: breaking Pharaoh's resistance to freeing the Israelites.
Stubborn resistance is a recurring theme in the opening chapters of Exodus. First, Moses repeatedly resists God's call to lead the campaign to free the Israelites, Moses' own people, from slavery to freedom. Last week, we saw Pharaoh repeatedly refuse to release the Israelites, despite a
series of seven devastating plagues.
Now, in this week's Torah portion (Bo, Exodus 10:1-13-16), Pharaoh finally gives in, but only after three more plagues strike his people. It is the last that shatters his resolve, the deaths of the firstborn of all the Egyptians, including Pharaoh's own son.
Please join this week's Nafshenu Bible class and consider the problematic nature of God's actions: hardening Pharaoh's heart as a pretext for showing off the terrible strength of God's power.
