Divine Authority vs Human Power In this passage. Moses gets permission from his father-in-law Jethro to leave Midian. God reassures Moses that those who sought his life in Egypt are dead. God tells Moses to warn Pharaoh: “Israel is my firstborn son. let him go or I will kill your firstborn.”This sets the stage for the confrontation with Pharaoh. This is a bold declaration of divine ownership and protection. God is asserting His authority over Pharaoh’s political and spiritual control. Warning Before Judgment Much like a DDI (Divine Direct Intervention or perhaps Divine Declaration of Intent.) God gives Pharaoh a clear warning. He doesn’t immediately strike; He offers a chance for obedience. This mirrors the pattern of divine interventions throughout Scripture, God often warns before acting in judgment. Power Shift Pharaoh, who once ordered the death of Hebrew babies (Exodus 1), now faces the loss of his own firstborn. It’s a reversal of power and justice an divine reckoning. This echoes the idea that what one sows, one reaps, especially when it comes to oppressing God’s people. Covenantal Language Calling Israel “my firstborn son” isn’t just poetic, it’s covenantal. It signals a deep relationship between God and His people, and any threat to that relationship is met with divine response. Pharaoh’s DDI moment is essentially God saying: “Touch my child, and you touch Me.”

It reads in Exodus 4:18-23 EASY: Moses went back to Jethro, his wife’s father. Moses said to him, ‘Please let me return to my family in Egypt. I must see if they are still alive.’ So Jethro said to Moses, ‘Go in peace. The Lord had said to Moses while he was still in Midian, ‘Go back to Egypt. All the men who tried to kill you are now dead.’ So Moses put his wife and his sons on a donkey, and they started on the journey back to Egypt. And Moses carried the stick of God in his hand.Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you return to Egypt you must do the signs. Do all the signs that I have given you the power to do. Do them in front of Pharaoh. But I will make Pharaoh angry and cruel. Because of this, he will not let the people go.Then you must speak to Pharaoh. You must say, “The Lord says, Israel is my first son. I have already said to you, let my son go so that he can worship me. But if you refuse to let him, go, I will kill your first son.”’

Father God, Thank You and praise You for calling me, even when I feel unsure. Give me courage to follow Your path, like Moses did. Help me trust that You go before me and prepare the way. Thank You for loving Your people like a firstborn child. Teach me to walk in obedience and speak Your truth. May I never forget that I belong to You. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen and Amen.