The Lord Makes a Distinction

Note from today’s Bible reading: Exodus 10-14

Despite the plagues that God sent against Egypt, Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the people of Israel go. God told Moses He was going to send one last plague, after which Pharaoh would “surely drive [them] out…completely” (Exodus 11:1).

The final plague was the death of the firstborn. This would affect “all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well” (Exodus 11:5).

However, the Israelites would not be affected at all by this. On that dreadful night, the Lord said that “a dog will not even bark” (Exodus 11:7) among the people of Israel, indicating that there would be no disturbance among God’s people. In this way, God said He would make “a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (Exodus 11:7).

This is a reminder of what Paul told Timothy: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). As a nationwide calamity was affecting the Egyptians, the people of Israel were completely unharmed. None of them were suffering inadvertently. His people were safe and secure.

So remember that the Lord makes a distinction. Though we live among the wicked, we will not be swept away with them if we remain faithful to the Lord. He will take notice of us and will save us in the end.