In hand writing the bible, I am currently working through the book of Exodus. This is a famous story. Even people who have no interest in scripture are aware of this story. Most view this as a “big win” for the people of Yehova.
What often gets overlooked is the devastation inflicted upon Mitsrayim, or Egypt in English.

Their food sources as well as their health were affected by the plagues.  They suffered greatly, as opposed to being irritated and annoyed by the plagues.
In the end, they suffered beyond measure, when all of their first born perished.
We see this prediction in Exodus 11:6
⁶ There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, the likes of which has never been before nor will ever be again.

And we see it happen in Exodus 12:30
³⁰ Then Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was loud wailing in Egypt. For there was not a house where someone was not dead.

Throughout history, humankind has suffered many disasters.
But if we are to believe scripture, there will never be such heartbreak and suffering as occurred in Egypt on the night of the Passover.

Continuing on, we see in Exodus 14 the famous “Parting of the Red Sea,” the escape of the Hebrews, and the destruction of Pharaoh and his army.  Again, many deaths were suffered by Egypt in this following event.

I describe the events of Exodus as bittersweet.
The sweetness is realized in that the Hebrew nation, the people of Israel, were freed from slavery. Not only were they freed, but the end result is this:
Exodus 14:31
³¹ When Israel saw the great work that Elohim did over the Egyptians, the people feared Elohim, and they believed in Elohim and in His servant Moses.
The bitterness is realized in the extreme sadness because of the losses incurred by Egypt.  Even if they are considered the “bad guys” in this story, they suffered greatly.

We could say that the freedom of the people of Yehova came at a very high  price.
In fact, we do not have to say it.  In Exodus 15, the people of Israel rejoiced in their escape and freedom, singing songs which included this:
Exodus 15:16
Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.

The people recognized they had been “purchased”.
And the details of the story show us that the cost was very high.

Does any of this ring a bell, or bring another story to mind?
Is this story a shadow of things to come?

Romans 5:8
⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

Hebrews 2:9
⁹ But we see One who was made for a little while lower than the angels—namely, Yeshua. He is now crowned with glory and honor, because of the death He suffered so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone.

Matthew 20:28
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We have been bought.  Our ransom has been paid.  And make no mistake, the cost was very high — the suffering and death of our Messiah.

1Corinthians 6:20
²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Do we recognize “just how expensive” we are?
Do we realize just how priceless we are?
We were purchased, not with money, but through great suffering, to the point of death, by God in the flesh. Yeshua Messiah died a horrible death, but it could not hold Him.  He overcame death, such that WE might live.

Psalms 100:3-4
3Know that יהוה, He is Elohim; He has made us, and we are His – His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His Name.

If we belong to Him, this is no small matter.
We are to be surrendered to Him in all things.
We no longer belong to ourselves.  We belong to Him.
We are to recognize the value of the price that was paid, such that we experience changes in who we are and how we live our lives.

Does your heart belong to the One who bought you?
Do you hear Him?
Do you follow His instructions?

John 14:15 
“If you love Me, you shall keep My commands.”

John 14:21
“He who possesses My commands and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.”

John 15:10
“If you keep My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commands and stay in His love.

Men will tell you this does mean what it sounds like.
Men will teach you to NOT KEEP the commands.
Did those men suffer a horrible death on your behalf?
No, they did not, they have not, and they most likely will not.

Messiah said this about the Law of the Old Testament, the Torah:
Matthew 5:18
 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Has heaven and earth passed away? Has everything in scripture happened and been fulfilled?  No, it has not.

Messiah goes on to say this in Matthew 5:20 —
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Men, our pastors and ministers and preachers and whatever you want to call them — they teach AGAINST what Messiah said.
They use bits and pieces of Paul’s writings to say that our Savior is a liar and to ignore the things He said.

Yes, that is a harsh criticism, but it is true, and your eternity is at stake. Will you follow the teachings of men, or will you follow the words of the One who purchased and paid your ransom against death?

John 10:27-28
²⁷ My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.