Disaster struck Egypt and the king backed down on his word

Exodus chapter 7 through chapter 11 deal with the various disasters that struck Egypt, disasters brought on by God and communicated to the Egypt king through Moses and Aaron.

Disasters such as creating Nile River of blood, frogs so numerous they're even in the baking pans, gnats and flies, boils, hail, the death of their animals, locusts, and even darkness.  Each time, Moses and Aaron went before the king and announced what terrible event was going to happen.  To prevent it, all the king had to do was let the Israelites go out three days into the desert and worship God.

Each time the disaster struck, the king would plead to Moses and tell him to pray for him and then he will let them go.  But as soon as the disaster disappeared, the king backed down on his word and refused to let God's people go.

So many times, even in our own lives, when tragedy strikes us, we seem to remember God and pray to help us through those times.  We make even false promises--like the Egyptian king did here in Exodus--and once the tragedy is averted, we fail to fullfill our promises.

In chapter 11 of Exodus, Moses announced to the king that God will kill each first-born child, from the king's own son on down to the lowly slave girl.  Even the first-born livestock will be killed.  All the king had to do was let God's people go.

But, once again, the king refused to listen.