Question:
Answer:
You refer to the tenth and final plague brought upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, as discussed in Exodus 11 and 12. I suggest using the effects of original sin as a teaching analogue. That is, as we see at various times in Scripture, the sins of fathers are visited upon their children.
This first occurred was because of Adam and Eve’s original sin, which brought death upon their ancestors, as well as the contraction of original sin and concupiscence (see CCC 402ff.)
Similarly, when Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go (see Exod. 7:14ff.), despite a series of earlier plagues, he brought God’s judgment upon his people. Because of original sin, those firstborn were destined to die. It just came earlier than Pharaoh and they anticipated.
Finally, let your child know that death doesn’t have the last word with God, and that the earlier death of these Egyptian firstborn does not necessarily portend their eternal destiny. We know that God mercifully judges each person in a perfect way that only he can, and we are heartened that God sent his only divine Son because he loves and wants to save us all (John 3:16-17, 1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).