EXODUS 12:12
UV’KOL-ELOHIM MITZ’RAIM EH’EH’SEH SHE’FA’TEEM
ANI YHVH
“And against all the gods of Egypt will I execute judgment—I THE LORD.”
Translations generally insert the stated verb “am” into this text, saying “I am THE LORD.” But a straightforward reading without the stated verb makes YHVH the subject of the prior verb “EH’EH’SEH”—“I WILL EXECUTE.” In other words, “I THE LORD WILL EXECUTE.”
This is a radical word for it indicates that THE LORD HIMSELF—YHVH—NOT AN ANGEL—EXECUTED THE JUDGMENT OF DEATH ON THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT! So have the Jewish sages said, according to the Stone TANAKH commentator.
BUT THIS BECOMES LOGOS THEOLOGY because the HOLY NAME refers to God in Mercy flowing down from transcendence through the MEMRA (the LOGOS) of Ha’Shem; and this ultimately refers to the Revealed Mercy of God in the Incarnation. It is as if THE LORD dwells in the Messiah as His Divine Throne bringing judgment on the gods of the pagan world.
Paul makes this very point in Acts 17:29-31 where he proclaims to the philosophers on Mars Hill in Athens,
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”
God will judge the world in relation to the LORD Jesus whom He raised from the dead to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel of Salvation to humanity.
Thus, in Revelation 4-5, we see the Court of Heaven with the Lamb before the throne of God, in the midst of the Court and interacting with the Divine Presence on the Throne in the sight of the attendants of the Court. (Revelation 5:6) Later we see that the Lamb is the Light of the New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:23)
One of the greatest truths ever uttered was that stated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:19,
“God was IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
The Lord Jesus plainly said in John 5:22-23, “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who honors not the Son honors not the Father who has sent him.”
The unity of the scriptures reveals to us that our LORD is not only the Savior but also the Judge. This is so from Exodus 12 all the way to the end of Revelation. In Exodus 12 YHVH was Savior to the Jews but Judge to the idolatrous pagan world. This is why at the end of the book of Revelation chapter nineteen we see Him Coming as THE WORD OF GOD with a sharp two-edged sword out of his mouth with which he smites the nations and rules them with a rod of iron as he treads the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God!
The punishment upon Egypt was a foreshadow of the coming judgment upon all.
We then should heed the exhortation of Hebrews 12:28-29, “Therefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.”
Revelation 1:13-18,
And in the midst of the seven candle sticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breast with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in its strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Praise be to our LORD for His infinite mercy toward all who abide in Him. Amen.
