Exodus 11

 (1) Overview

(NET) The last plague is the most severe; it is that for which all the others were preliminary warnings. Up to this point Yahweh had been showing his power to destroy Pharaoh, and now he would begin to do so by bringing death to the Egyptians, a death that would fulfill the warning of talionic judgment—“let my son go, or I will kill your son.”

(2) Repeated phrases

v.1 "He will release you,"x2 "He will drive you out completely from this place." v.2-3 "Request...silver and gold," "favor with the Egyptians," "Moses was very great in the land of Egypt," "respected by Pharaoh's servants and by the Egyptian people." 

The end was foreseen by God. He knew that the last plague would bring the outcome, which would be the victory of Israel over Egypt in this "war."

Like the plague of flies, locust and darkness this plague would cover all the people of Egypt. 

In v.4-7, "I will go throughout Egypt," "all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die," "all the first born of the cattle," and "a great cry throughout the whole land of Egypt."

v.7b  "...but against any of the Israelites not even a dog will bark against either people or animals."

(NET) Or perhaps “growl”; Heb “not a dog will sharpen his tongue.” ...indicate that not only would no harm come to the Israelites, but that no unfriendly threat would come against them either—not even so much as a dog barking. It is possible this is to be related to the watchdog

(3) Reflection

What God said He will do because He is able to do so. He gave Pharaoh 9 chances before the last one, but Pharaoh did not change a bit. Do we take God's  Words seriously? Do we follow His plan for our lives? Do we obey His commands? Or we think it is optional for us to pick and choose when and what to obey Him.

Without the permission of God no dog or any threat could come to His people. What an encouragement to the believers who went through trials and troubles. Our lives are secure in God's hands.

Audrey