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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider The tenth and final plague

The tenth and final plague

Published Aug 8, 2020 10:25 pm

GENTLE BREEZE

Many of us have heard about Bible miracles.  But not many are familiar with the so-called midnight miracles.  Miracles are a very conspicuous feature of the Holy Bible.  When we talk about miracles, we are referring to extraordinary events which cannot be explained by the ordinary natural forces or by the operation of known human laws.

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The term midnight miracles is commonly used to refer to miracles that take place during “dark” times in our lives when everything seems so hopeless already. 

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In the Holy Bible, there is an awesome midnight miracle that God did at the special hour of midnight known as the tenth and final plague.  This story is found in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament.  The Book of Exodus is a narration of the captivity and escape of the Israelites from Egypt.  The tenth plague refers to the death of the first born of the Egyptian pharaoh and all the firstborn of all Egyptians then living as well as all the firstborn of their animals.  As described in Exodus 12:29: “And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.” This was God’s punishment to the Egyptians after the pharaoh refused to free the Israelites from captivity.  Despite the earlier nine different plagues in Egypt that had befallen the Egyptians.  

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In the words of the Holy Bible: “And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” (Exodus 11:4-7, King James Version)

The tenth plague happened during one of the darkest times in the history of Egypt.  It was also during this time that God performed one of His greatest midnight miracles in the history of Israel. 

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The Israelites were spared the sorrow of having their firstborn die like the Egyptians through the first Passover.  This observance of the First Passover has been continued by the Israelites up to this day.  The Passover in Egypt is the greatest deliverance miracle the Israelites enjoyed.  Their firstborn were spared the judgment of death that God imposed on all the Egyptian firstborn because of the Pharaoh’s hardness of heart.  The ceremony of the First Passover is well-described in detail in Exodus 12 of the Old Testament.

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There are a few other cases of midnight miracles in the Holy Bible.  But they pale in comparison to this awesome plague of death to all firstborn in Egypt.  Today, many of us experience dark situations in life (like sickness, addiction, defeat) and we get demoralized and feel abandoned.  We should seek God during our dark times.  The good news is that we can go to our God – even at the midnight hour and appeal for His miraculous intervention.  As Psalm 119:62 says: “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”  Yes, during dark times of our lives, we should not lose hope and instead cry out to our Lord God who is greater than all the circumstances in our lives including cheaters and evil-plotters. 

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By the way, Pastor Richard (Dick) Mirpuri of NEW VISION PHILS is giving out free soft e-copies of his book “Glimpse of Grace.” To get free soft e-copies, please send us your email address.

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This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.  

Be joyful and forgiving!

(Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected].)

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Nelly Favis Villafuerte
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