What does Exodus 4:22 mean?
The Lord plans to send a message to the ruler of Egypt (Exodus 3:10; 4:21). God sees the nation of Israel as a first-born son. In that era, this was the most precious and important child (Psalm 89:27; Colossians 1:15). When Pharaoh holds on to the Israeli slaves, it will be an attempt to take that son away from the Lord. In response, Egypt will be punished with the death of their firstborn (Exodus 4:23).Pharaoh will resist God's commands many times (Exodus 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7) before the Lord begins to amplify the stubbornness as a means of judgment (Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10). That plague of death on the firstborn will be the last of ten major catastrophes brought on Egypt (Exodus 3:20).