God's Mercy at Midnight

As we have traveled through Psalm 136, we have been acquainted with the God of everlasting mercy and his work in creation. Beginning with verse ten, though, the psalmist narrows his scope. Our vision is refocused onto the nation of Israel—the recipients and intended channels of God’s blessings. We see our God, the creator of Heaven and earth, the sun, moon, and stars, and of you and I, now as our covenant whose faithfulness, like His mercy, is unwavering. The narrative of Israel’s history is nothing more than a biography of their God, and His love for all mankind.

God’s Presence in Darkness
We are introduced to the nation of Israel, by the Psalmist, in one of their darkest times. They have been taken captive by the nation Egyptian people, and are living as their servants. But God sends a deliverer by the name of Moses to stand up to Pharaoh, in the name of the Lord, and to deliver the people of Israel from their bondage. God has orchestrated nine plagues in his redemptive plan for Israel, but Pharaoh's heart has just become harder. And now, God’s final plague has come to the forefront—the death of the firstborn.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn
For his mercy endureth forever.

It seems an unusual way to celebrate the mercy of God, but as we know God’s mercy endureth forever. Even when the darkness of despair proves too thick a fog through which to see, God is in control. Look to the Savior, he is the Light of the world! And oh, what a view of the Savior we find in this story.

God’s Promise of Destruction
In Exodus 11, God reveals to Moses His plan for the tenth and final plague upon Egypt.
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 firstborn 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.
God promises that all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, every first born child, every firstborn animal, even the future King of Egypt would die. What a night of terror and utter despair! But, no matter how great the despair, God’s deliverance is always greater.

God’s Provision for Deliverance
In Exodus 12, instructions are given to the people of Israel to take a lamb of the first year, and to slay it. The blood of the lamb was to be painted on the posts of the door, and at the sight of this barrier of blood, the death angel would pass over that house, and spare the firstborn. As was promised, death came upon all the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 11:29). But that midnight hour proved to God’s mercy hour, for the slaying of the lamb meant the sparing of a life. Just as each plague brought upon the land of Egypt was accompanied by God’s hand of protection upon His people, this plague, too, had no power upon the children of Israel.

We too are haunted by a destroyer—it is sin. But, because God’s mercy that endureth forever, He provides a way of our salvation. And, again the path to life, is along the rails of death. This death is not of a lamb though; it is of the precious Son of God, Jesus Christ. By His death we may have life. It is by faith in the blood of God’s Holy Lamb, that we may escape destruction. When we apply His blood to the door posts of our heart, by trusting Christ, and Him alone, for salvation from sin, we, too will know His deliverance.