#24 – Exodus 12:37-51
Lest We Forget
The tenth and final plague has left the Egyptians in deep mourning. In one night of G-d’s judgment, the firstborn male in every household was struck dead. Pharaoh now is willing to release the Jewish people, without restrictions. Laden with clothing, gold and silver contributed by their neighbors, the Hebrews depart in haste.
Time to go
Our narrator provides details that help us understand the scale of what G-d is doing. Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. (Exodus 12:37-38.)
In addition to the sizable Jewish contingent of men, women, and children a large number of others of “foreign descent”[1] joined the exodus. In Exodus 7:5 He had said to the Egyptians “that you may know that I am the L-RD.” That so many of them joined the departing throng is a testimony to the effectiveness of the G-d of Israel’s demonstrations of judgment upon the gods of Egypt.
We are reminded of the haste in which the departure took place. The bread was made without leaven since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions[2] for themselves. (Exodus 12:39.)
We also are given a time marker. It was at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, that all the hosts of the L-RD went out from the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:40-41 NASB.)
A meal to remember
The first 27 verses of Exodus 12 contain G-d’s instructions to His people regarding Passover. Included were the necessity of applying blood to the doorway and the commands regarding the perpetual celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
That Passover is a night to be observed for L-RD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt is emphasized by the repetition of “For the L-RD.” That it is to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations indicates the broad scope and lasting duration of the ordinance. (Exodus 12:42,47.)
G-d continues to provide clear guidelines for how Passover is to be kept, including:
No foreigner, including sojourners or hired help, may participate (unless circumcised) – Exodus 12:42-45,48-49 NASB.
This is not a “moveable feast”; the meal must be eaten entirely in each Jewish home – Exodus 12:46 NASB.
Obedience – and deliverance!
Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the L-RD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
And on that same day the L-RD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. (Exodus 12:50-51)
No firstborn male died in a Hebrew home in Goshen. One may imagine the oldest son in every home who was old enough to understand the consequences of disobedience would have made sure the blood was properly applied to his front door.
Now after long years of hard labor and oppression the Jewish people finally were free – and heading home.
Fear factor/Misery index
No mention is made in this text of the emotional state of the Jewish people. In stark contrast to the bitter cries of grief of the Egyptians, each mourning a death in their home, the children of Israel likely were dealing with a roiling mixture of hope (Can you believe it? We’re finally getting out of here!) with concern (Pharaoh has changed his mind before. Will he really let us go this time?).
Having hope amidst uncertainty can be considered “whistling in the dark” while wishing for the best. For the believer, it is a matter of the will to entrust our lives and loved ones to our all-wise and compassionate G-d.
Where is G-d?
The L-RD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:51.) Think of all that transpired from the time G-d told Moses He would deliver His people from bondage. We could have been given just the summary statement that He did so.
But the L-RD is purposeful in all He does. The details of the unfolding plagues, Pharaoh’s hardened heart, and the demonstrations of G-d’s power over the gods of Egypt are included for our instruction. As is the reminder to remember, perpetually, what He has done for us.
G-d is in the details (even small ones)
Among the small details included in our text is the phrase nor are you to break any bone of it. (Exodus 12:46.) Instructions given earlier in this chapter included selection of an unblemished year-old male lamb or goat on the 10th of the month to be sacrificed, roasted and eaten on the 14th. But now the “don’t break any bone” command is added. Why is that? we may wonder.
The answer is found when we learn Messiah was prefigured in the Passover. In the New Covenant we read, For even Messiah, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7.) Here are some connecting points:
The “Last Supper” of Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) with His disciples was a Passover meal.
Psalm 22, written by King David about 1,000 years before Messiah came, includes:
o Yeshua’s cry from the cross, “My G-d, my G-d, why have You forsaken me?” (verse 1).
o A depiction of the crowd of mockers who despised Him, taunting Him to call on G-d to rescue Him (verses 6-8).
o The description of physical suffering which parallels what those crucified[3] endured, including bones out of
joint and great thirst (verses 14-15,17a).
o Pierced hands and feet, just as when a victim is nailed to a cross (verse 16).
o Lots were cast for his garment (verse 18), as was true for Yeshua.
Though the thieves crucified on either side of Yeshua had their legs broken to hasten their deaths, the Roman soldier pierced Yeshua’s side with a spear. Not one of His bones were broken.
Just as G-d instructed the Jewish people to remember what He had done in redeeming Israel from bondage by retelling the Passover story annually, so Yeshua instructed His followers to remember Him through the bread and cup at the L-RD’s Supper.
John the Baptizer had identified Yeshua as “the lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world” as He began His public ministry (John 1:29 NASB).
Sometimes our G-d displays His power in ways that are visible to all, as in the judgments with which He struck Egypt. At other times His fingerprints are seen in the smallest of details. But He is always present and ever at work.
[1] The Egyptians who joined the throng of Hebrews represent millions of gentiles who have benefited over the millennia from the L-RD’s promise to Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Exodus 12:3.)
[2] The provisioning of this multitude would be a daunting challenging for any leader in the best of circumstances, much less in a desert setting.
[3] Crucifixion was unknown at the time David wrote Psalm 22. Executing people on a cross was introduced by the Romans centuries later as a form of punishment and public example of what happened to enemies of the Empire.
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