January 2023 – Praying Pint

42.j. “Let My People Go” – 10.g. Parting of the Red Sea

Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Joshua 4:23   For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,

Nehemiah 9:11   And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters.

Psalms 66:6   He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,

Psalms 78:13    He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.

Psalms 106:7-10    Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.  Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power  He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.  So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.

Psalms 114:3-5  The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.  What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?

Deuteronomy 3:22   You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.’

The dividing the Red sea was the terror of the Canaanites, Jos 2:9; the praise and triumph of the Israelites, Ps 114:3; 106:9; 136:13. It was a type of baptism, 1Co 10:1,2. Israel’s passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls, Isa 11:15; and the Egyptians being drowned in it was typical of the final ruin of all unrepenting sinners. God showed his almighty power, by opening a passage through the waters, some miles over. God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it. It was an instance of his wonderful favour to his Israel. They went through the sea, they walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea. This was done, in order to encourage God’s people in all ages to trust him in the greatest straits. What cannot he do who did this? What will not he do for those that fear and love him, who did this for these murmuring, unbelieving Israelites? Then followed the just and righteous wrath of God upon his and his people’s enemies. The ruin of sinners is brought on by their own rage and presumption. They might have let Israel alone, and would not; now they would flee from the face of Israel, and cannot. Men will not be convinced, till it is too late, that those who meddle with God’s people, meddle to their own hurt. Moses was ordered to stretch out his hand over the sea; the waters returned, and overwhelmed all the host of the Egyptians. Pharaoh and his servants, who had hardened one another in sin, now fell together, not one escaped. The Israelites saw the Egyptians dead upon the sands. The sight very much affected them. While men see God’s works, and feel the benefit, they fear him and trust in him. How well were it for us, if we were always in as good a frame as sometimes! Behold the end to which a Christian may look forward. His enemies rage, and are mighty; but while he holds fast by God, he shall pass the waves in safety guarded by that very power of his Saviour, which shall come down on every spiritual foe. The enemies of his soul whom he hath seen to-day, he shall see no more for ever. (Henry)

We understand that those in darkness will not believe in the parting of the Red Sea, or any other miracle, and we don’t really expect them to understand or believe in this. What is more troubling is those who profess to believe and then try to prove there was a natural wind that could have happened and that God used this natural phenomenon to part a place in the Red Sea. They try to find a means to “naturally” explain a miracle of God. Doing so is to deny the awesome power of God over all of His creation. They actually dilute this with man’s ideas of how God could have done this and still obey their understanding of nature and science. God’s miracles do not need any other explanation than they were of God. Why do we have to know the mechanics of God’s all-powerful hand? The most intelligent person in all of mankind does not have the capacity to comprehend or understand the Power of God over His creation.

There is a peace that passes all understanding for those who put their complete trust in the All-Powerful Hands of God!

42.i. “Let My People Go” – 10.f. Angel of God stood behind them

Exodus 14:19  Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them,  coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

Numbers 20:16     And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.

Isaiah 63:9    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalms 18:11    He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.

Proverbs 4:18-19    But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

The pillar was a source of darkness to the Egyptians but a source of light to Israel. This is a vivid picture of how the glory of God or work of God can be light to one person yet seem dark to another. “Thus the double nature of the glory of God in salvation and judgment, which later appears so frequently in Scripture, could not have been more graphically depicted. We often have little idea how much God does to protect us from the attacks of our unseen enemies. We sometimes feel that we are overwhelmed in a present spiritual struggle, but we may not know what it would be like if the LORD pulled back His protection. (Guzik)

The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward the people of the Lord. He, who divided between light and darkness, Ge 1:4, allotted darkness to the Egyptians, and light to the Israelites. Such a difference there will be between the inheritance of the saints in light, and that utter darkness which will be the portion of hypocrites forever. (Henry)

Thus, the same cloud produced light (a symbol of favor) to the people of God, and darkness (a symbol of wrath) to their enemies (Brown)

We may see and we may not see the protective hand of God in the midst of our troubles. Certainly, a retrospective look will clearly show us His mighty protective love was, in fact, there protecting and guiding us. It amazes me that the same darkness that God blinds people with is Light to others. It has nothing to do with our worthiness or being deserving of it. No, it has only to do with God’s grace, mercy, and love. How many times has God protected us from death while we were still unrepentant and unforgiven sinners, and thereby heading straight to eternal Hell should we have died? This should bring us to our knees in awe, humbleness, gratitude, and worship. Nothing but the Hand of God will soften the dark heart of those who see His holiness and the sinfulness of their sin. It is truly hard to understand the mystery of how a person can be pulled from darkness into light while others choose darkness over light. We often think we chose to come out of darkness to find light, but the truth is that while we were in darkness the light of the gospel was revealed to us. God displayed this light into the darkness clouding our lost souls. Somewhere in here we intentionally choose to believe in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent, trust, follow, obey, and rely in Him, but make no mistake about it, were it not for God softening our hearts, showing us the sinfulness of sin, removing the darkness clouding our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we would all be continue to be in darkness.

Every single person is surrounded by darkness and when this darkness is broken by the light of the Gospel some choose to run back into the darkness for they find comfort in it. Others will see the light, run to it, and want nothing to do with the darkness. How a person is able to reject the light and wants to stay in darkness truly is a mystery. Miracles, signs, wonders, creation, God’s Word, and the fact that God has placed within every person a beginning knowledge of Himself, and still people choose darkness. In Matthew and Mark we are told a parable of the seeds. Some of the seeds don’t make it, they are choked out and wither and die. These people saw the light, took hold of it, rejected the watering and nurturing required for growth. They saw the light was good. They spent time in the light. They tasted the drippings of its sweetness of peace, joy, hope, comfort and refuge, and yet they returned to darkness.

Stay in the light. Commit to living every single moment with purpose to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all you think, say, and do. To do otherwise will leave you ever inching toward darkness away from the light.

42.h. “Let My People Go” – 10.e. Exodus – we’re trapped

Exodus 14:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

God Instructs the Israelites as to Their Journey.God commands the Israelites to encamp at Pi-hahiroth,

Pharaoh and his servants repent for letting the people go

Pharaoh pursues and overtakes the Israelites

The Israelites are afraid and murmur against Moses

Moses encourages the people with a promise of deliverance

God encouraging Moses, bids the people go forward

God defends the Israelites with a pillar of cloud

Egypt will know “I am God over all”

God led the people in such a way that it seemed as though they were wandering without purpose or lost or both. When this was communicated to Pharaoh both he and his servants hardened their hearts toward Israel and were filled with anger, purpose, revenge, and obviously no thoughts about the previous 10 plagues displayed by God. Pharaoh and all the Egyptians, with urgency, fueled by the report and their want to deliver revenge, immediately prepare and held out to do just that. I can imagine their thoughts; Their God destroyed all of our crops, killed our livestock, caused us to break out with boils and sores, frightened us with utter darkness, killed our firstborn both of human and livestock, and we willingly gave them all of our gold, silver, and jewels – Are we just going to let them go???? Shouldn’t they be required to pay severely for what their God has done to us? What can they do to us, they have no weapons and no means to fight against our greatness. The more these thoughts ruminated in their minds the more confident and committed they were to their purpose. They were of one mind to exact revenge and bring them back into slavery, at least those they allowed to live.

God led the Israelites on a path with no escape. They could go neither to the left nor the right and the Red Sea was before them and Pharaoh’s army closed in fast behind them. It would be encouraging to have heard that the Israelites stood firm in their faith and were not afraid, but this was not the case. Though they had seen the miracles, signs, and wonders that God had performed, not to mention the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night “God-Guiding” them in their escape, they immediately lost all hope. We are surely going to die. Why didn’t you listen to us before and let us remain servant slaves to the Egyptians? The Israelites witnessed what God had done with His All-Powerful hand and at the first sign of trouble were afraid, worried, discouraged, and hopeless.

We look back at this historical event and marvel at the lack of faith they had. I presume we even harbor thoughts that we would not have acted like this. We would have been strong and courageous trusting in God. When things are going in our favor and life is easy we certainly have a seemingly strong faith and convince ourselves that we are firm and steadfast. Let us not be fooled by these thoughts and think we are stronger than we think. Nothing tests the hearts and minds like that of trials, troubles, sickness, death, poverty, chaos, disasters, etc….. We associate a flat tire, broken appliance, lost internet connection, natural disaster, or any other inconvenience as a major trial that tests our faith. Oh great day, what foolishness is this? How shallow is our thinking to think that this is a faith-testing trial?

Would our faith build an ark for a rain promised to come in 100 years?

Would our faith place our firstborn son on an altar?

Would our faith place blood on our doorposts?

Would our faith part the Red Sea?

Would our faith heal the sick?

Would our faith stand strong being nailed to a cross?

Would our faith call down fire?

Would our faith believe in rain during a drought?

Would our faith stand firm in the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace?

Would our faith face a giant warrior with only a sling and a stone?

Would our faith face an army of thousands with only 300 men?

Would our faith walk around Jericho for 7 days?

Would our faith stand strong in any of these?

Listen carefully. Unless you are growing in your understanding of God’s grace, mercy, and love through an intentional commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all you think, say, and do. With a soul-deep hunger and thirst for God’s Word to direct you in this purpose, you will not mature in faith, trust, or reliance.

Faith grows deep and wide when God’s grace, mercy, love, and holiness expose the sinfulness of our sins in our hearts. Oh, that you would see the importance and urgency for honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ more than the shallowness of faith that snares so many.

42.g. “Let My People Go” – 10.d. Pillar of Cloud and pillar of fire

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go,…. Gave them leave to depart out of Egypt, and even urged them to be gone in haste upon the death of his firstborn: that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; the land of the Philistines was the Pentapolis, or five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, which lay between Egypt and Canaan; and their way through it to Canaan, out of Egypt, was the nearest they could go; and was, as Aben Ezra says, about ten days’ journey; but Philo the Jew says (l) it was but three days’ journey; and it seems, by the sons of Jacob going to and fro for corn, that it was no very long journey: for God said: within himself, or he declared the following reason of so doing to Moses: lest peradventure the people repent: which is said not as ignorant or doubtful, but, as Aben Ezra says, after the manner of men: when they see war: the Philistines coming out against them to hinder their passage through their country; they being a warlike people, bold and courageous, and the Israelites, through their long servitude, of a mean, timorous, and cowardly disposition; and indeed as yet unarmed, and so very unfit to engage in war, and therefore would at once be intimidated: and they return to Egypt; judging it more eligible to continue in their former bondage, than to fall a prey into the hands of such fierce and cruel enemies. This is the only reason mentioned for not leading them this way; but there were other secret reasons for it, which afterwards opened in Providence, as the doing that wonderful work for them, leading them through the Red sea as on dry land, and the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in it; and by being brought into a wilderness, a solitude, they would be in the fittest place to receive and attend to the body of laws given them, and where they were formed into a commonwealth and church state, previous to their entrance into, and possession of, the land of Canaan; and here also they were humbled, tried and proved, and had such instances of the power and goodness of God to them, as were sufficient to attach them to his service, and lay them under the greatest obligation to him, as well as would be of use to strengthen their faith and hope in him in future times of difficulty and distress. (Gill)

We don’t always know what is best for us on our journey through life. As children of God be assured that His path for each of us is best. When our hearts and minds are focused on Him and our reliance, hope, and faith are in Him, and our leading is of Him, we will find peace, hope, calm, refuge, courage, and strength in the midst of trials and storms. We can trust His guidance because He loves us, knows what’s best for us, and is All-powerful, All-knowing, All-present, and sovereign over all of His creation. He will lead us on paths that strengthen and will build our faith. He will lead and guide us to that which is best for us. We need not question or grumble about His direction. We need only to follow, obey, trust, believe, and rely on Him. The easiest path may be easy but surely if this path is not the path directed then nothing good and only bad things will come of it.

After stating this I must say that in a life of prosperity and ease, there is little attention being given to the Word of God, things of God, and the need for seeking His direction. In this state of neglect and complacency, people will intentionally choose paths for themselves and it will seem right in their own eyes. Throughout their life, they will never grow in wisdom and understanding of God’s grace and mercy. They will never see His hand helping them. They will be blind to the things of God and His leading for their lives.

What is a person to do if after reflection you see yourself in this state? Repent and confess and purpose to seek and desire God’s leading in all things. Learn to live in such a way that in all you think, say, and do, Jesus Christ is honored and glorified.

42.f. “Let My People Go” – 10.c. Remembrance

Exodus 13:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.” Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year. “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

“Israel had been saved through the destruction of Egypt’s first-born, and now they were required to dedicate their own first-born as a constant memorial of their deliverance.” (Thomas)

In remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast, and the deliverance of the Israelites out of bondage, the first-born males of the Israelites were set apart to the Lord. By this was set before them, that their lives were preserved through the ransom of the atonement, which in due time was to be made for sin. They were also to consider their lives, thus ransomed from death, as now to be consecrated to the service of God. (Henry)

In connection with the deliverance from death of the Israelite first-born by the blood of the lamb, and still further to fix the remembrance of the historical facts in the mind of the nation, Moses was commissioned to declare all the firstborn of Israel for all future time, and all the firstborn of their domesticated animals “holy to the Lord.” There was, perhaps, already in the minds of men a feeling that peculiar dignity attached to the first-born in each family; and this feeling was now strengthened by the assignment to them of a sacred character. God claimed them, and also the first-born of beasts, as His own. The clean beasts became his by sacrifice; but the unclean ones could not he similarly treated, and therefore had to be “redeemed” (verse 13) by the sacrifice of clean animals in their place. The first-born of men became at the first institution of the new ordinance God’s ministers; but as this system was not intended to continue, it was announced that they too would have to be “redeemed” (verses 13, 15). The exact mode of redeeming them was left to be settled afterwards, and will be found in Numbers 3:40-51; Numbers 18:16 (Unknown)

Remembrance of what God has done is good for the soul. It is good for the mind of man to remember what God has done by His own mighty hand. It is good to remember God’s mercy, grace, and love. A heart and mind that is ever remembering God’s strength, power, love, mercy, refuge, wisdom, holiness, and promises, will act differently than the world, will see things of God, will be continually thanking God, will serve God, will honor and glorify God, and will display humbleness, gentleness, kindness, peace, hope, faith, and love. It is when we are consumed with things of this world and the busyness of life that we allow ourselves to be neglectful and complacent in remembering, following, repenting, obeying, and relying on God. Remembering God’s love, grace, and mercy is not a burden and yet should not be taken lightly. It is not an obligation, and yet, it pours out of the redeemed soul like a floodgate opened and never-ending. Without it the heart and mind will wander away from God on paths that neither honor nor glorify Him.

42.e. “Let My People Go” – 10.b. Institution of the Passover

Exodus 12:43  And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it,   but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Numbers 9:14    And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.”

Ephesians 2:12     remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Numbers 15:15-16   For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”

None of the bones of the Passover lamb were to be broken. This looked forward to Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, who had not one bone broken even in His crucifixion. All who were part of Israel had to commemorate the Passover redemption. You couldn’t be part of God’s people and not share in Passover. Israel kept the commandments of God that Moses delivered. Their faith and obedience saved their firstborn, plundered the Egyptians, and set them free from Egypt. When Israel left Egypt, it was a nation born in a day. It was as if the 430 years were a time of gestation when the baby grew large. The plagues were like labor pains before birth and now the nation was born. (Guzik)

In times to come, all the congregation of Israel must keep the passover. All that share in God’s mercies should join in thankful praises for them. The New Testament passover, the Lord’s supper, ought not to be neglected by any. Strangers, if circumcised, might eat of the passover. Here is an early indication of favour to the gentiles. This taught the Jews that their being a nation favoured by God, entitled them to their privileges, not their descent from Abraham. (Henry)

It was by virtue of a divine call, and not through natural descent, that Israel had become the people of Jehovah, and as it was destined in that capacity to be a blessing to all nations, the attitude assumed towards foreigners was not to be an altogether repelling one. Hence the further directions in Exodus 12:44 : purchased servants, who had been politically incorporated as Israel’s property, were to be entirely incorporated by circumcision, so as even to take part in the Passover. (Keil)

“This is the law, in respect of the persons who are to partake of it” – there shall no stranger eat thereof, or literally, “No son of a stranger shall eat thereof.” By a “stranger” here is meant one of a foreign race who wishes to retain his foreign character and to remain uncircumcised. (Unkown)

The establishment of the Passover and the remembrance of God’s mighty and awesome power in redeeming the Israelites from Egypt was given with strict rules for partaking in it. Specifically, those who were not Israelites. Provision was made for those who were foreign and wished to follow God through this remembrance of Passover observance. Under no circumstance was a foreigner who did not fully commit to the requirements allowed to partake. It was clear there is no room for a person to add to or take away from what God set in place. Man will try to water down what God says. Satan will confuse minds about what God has said and will try to convince these minds of another easier way.

God has given many promises, warnings, and directions to us through His Word. We will do well to study it, meditate on it, learn it, obey it, trust it, rely on it, believe it, and follow it. Being ignorant through neglect and complacency harms the soul, weakens the heart, and shallows the commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

I can only imagine what it will be like to stand before the One and only Son of God who gave His life for us. We will fully see His Holiness and our sinfulness. Will we be ashamed of how our lives were lived, how we thought, how we talked, and how we acted? Will we see all of the wasted efforts of self-reliance? Will we see all of the half-hearted head nods toward living for Him? We will even be in heaven or will we be made aware of our state from Hell?

The shallowness of commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do in our lives is clearly visible to God. Oh, that our eyes to our hearts and minds would be open to see and feel the sinfulness of sin and the holiness of God.

42.d. “Let My People Go” – 10.c. Exodus 1.a.

Exodus 12:33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

The Egyptians feared that, if any further delay took place, the God of the Hebrews might not be content with slaying all the first-born, but might punish with death the whole nation, or at any rate all the males. It is easy to see how their desire to get rid of the Israelites would expedite matters, and enable all to set out upon the journey on the same day. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians—Such a dread of them was inspired into the universal minds of the Egyptians, that whatever they asked was readily given. (Brown)

600,000 – This includes all the males who could march. The total number of the Israelites should therefore be calculated from the males above twelve or fourteen, and would therefore amount to somewhat more than two millions. This is not an excessive population for Goshen, nor does it exceed a reasonable estimate of the increase of the Israelites, including their numerous dependants. (Barnes)

So long the promise God made to Abraham lay dormant and unfulfilled, but now it revived, and things began to work toward the accomplishment of it. The first day of the march of Abraham’s seed toward Canaan was four hundred and thirty years (it should seem, to a day) from the promise made to Abraham, Genesis 12:2, “I will make of thee a great nation.” What reason have we then to admire the exact accomplishment of God’s promise! Notwithstanding the various revolutions and changes of all worldly affairs that must necessarily have happened in the space of four hundred and thirty years, yet God’s promise stands sure amidst them all. Yes, God’s word will stand fast for ever and ever! Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word cannot pass away. (Benson)

They had little provision for their exodus. They had unleavened dough and the flocks. There were no fast food stops, no grocery stores, no convenience stores, or no fresh produce markets, along the way. Their provision was God. Remember this when we get a bit further on into their exodus.

42.c. “Let My People Go” – 10.b. Death and Passover

Exodus 12:29  At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

Job 34:20    In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3   For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Psalms 78:51   He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Psalms 135:8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast;

Hebrews 11:28    By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Psalms 105:38    Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.

James 2:13   For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Egypt and Pharaoh would not give God His firstborn – Israel (Exodus 4:22-23); so God took the firstborn of Egypt. Finally, Pharaoh knew that the LORD God was greater than all the Egyptian gods and was greater than Pharaoh himself – who was thought to be a god. Pharaoh didn’t simply allow Israel to leave; now he commanded them to go. This was just what the LORD told Moses would happen: When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. (Guzik)

What a scene of horror and distress must now have presented itself, when there was not a family in Egypt where there was not one dead!

The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity. The plague struck their first-born, the joy and hope of their families. They had slain the Hebrews’ children, now God slew theirs. It reached from the throne to the dungeon: prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God’s judgments. The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked with blood, as the messenger of woe. He did his dreadful errand, leaving not a house in which there was not one dead. Imagine then the cry that rang through the land of Egypt, the long, loud shriek of agony that burst from every dwelling. It will be thus in that dreadful hour when the Son of man shall visit sinners with the last judgment. God’s sons, his first-born, were now released. Men had better come to God’s terms at first, for he will never come to theirs. Now Pharaoh’s pride is abased, and he yields. God’s word will stand; we get nothing by disputing, or delaying to submit. In this terror the Egyptians would purchase the favour and the speedy departure of Israel. Thus the Lord took care that their hard-earned wages should be paid, and the people provided for their journey. (Henry)

at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt—At the moment when the Israelites were observing the newly instituted feast in the singular manner described, the threatened calamity overtook the Egyptians. It is more easy to imagine than describe the confusion and terror of that people suddenly roused from sleep and enveloped in darkness—none could assist their neighbors when the groans of the dying and the wild shrieks of mourners were heard everywhere around. The hope of every family was destroyed at a stroke. This judgment, terrible though it was, evinced the equity of divine retribution. For eighty years the Egyptians had caused the male children of the Israelites to be cast into the river [Ex 1:16], and now all their own first-born fell under the stroke of the destroying angel. They were made, in the justice of God, to feel something of what they had made His people feel. Many a time have the hands of sinners made the snares in which they have themselves been entangled, and fallen into the pit which they have dug for the righteous. (Brown)

I can’t even imagine the terror and horror this plague inflicted. I don’t know the devastation of losing a child. The sorrow, emptiness, and heartache have to be immense. All I can think to say to this passage is; “It is a terrible thing to fall under the judgment and commendation of the hand of God.” As terrible as this loss is felt by those who experience it, there is a time coming for those who reject and deny God’s redemption and salvation that will be much greater and last for eternity. This is the promise given by God to all who reject and deny Him. Eternity in Hell – an eternal living death of torment – forever and ever in agonizing death but not dying.

Just as the hour of death came unexpectedly to every Egyptian family so it will be to all those who reject and deny God, things of God, and the redemption and salvation made possible through Jesus Christ.

42.b. “Let My People Go” – 10.a. Death and Passover Preparation

Exodus 12:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

Clearly, the first purpose was that the blood might be sprinkled on the door-posts and lintels, and so the house be safe when the destroying angel passed through the land. Such is the explanation given in Exodus 12:13, which is the divine declaration of its meaning. This is the centre of the rite; from it the name was derived. Whether readers accept the doctrines of substitution and expiation or not, it ought to be impossible for an honest reader of these verses to deny that these doctrines or thoughts are there. They may be only the barbarous notions of a half-savage age and people. But, whatever they are, there they are. The lamb without blemish carefully chosen and kept for four days, till it had become as it were part of the household, and then solemnly slain by the head of the family, was their representative. When they sprinkled its blood on the posts, they confessed that they stood in peril of the destroying angel by reason of their impurity, and they presented the blood as their expiation. In so far, their act was an act of confession, deprecation, and faith. It accepted the divinely appointed means of safety. But clearly their obedience to the command implied a measure of belief in the divine voice; and the command embodied, though in application to a transient judgment, the broad principles of sacrificial substitution, of expiation by blood, and of safety by the individual application of that shed blood. In other words, the Passover is a Gospel before the Gospel. Is its chief purpose to prophesy of Christ, His atoning death, His kingdom and church, or is it not? John the Baptist’s rapturous exclamation, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ blends allusions to the Passover, the daily sacrifice, and Isaiah’s great prophecy.

The manner of preparing the feast and the manner of partaking of it are both significant. The former provided that the lamb should be roasted, not boiled, apparently in order to secure its being kept whole; and the same purpose suggested the other prescriptions that it was to be served up entire, and with bones unbroken. The reason for this seems to be that thus the unity of the partakers was more plainly shown. All ate of one undivided whole, and were thus, in a real sense, one.

The Passover as a feast is a prophecy of the great Sacrifice, by virtue of whose sprinkled blood we all may be sheltered from the sweep of the divine judgment, and on which we all have to feed if there is to be any life in us. Our propitiation is our food. ‘Christ for us’ must become ‘Christ in us,’ received and appropriated by our faith as the strength of our lives. The Christian life is meant to be a joyful feast on the Sacrifice, and communion with God based upon it. We feast on Christ when the mind feeds on Him as truth, when the heart is filled and satisfied with His love, when the conscience clings to Him as its peace, when the will esteems the ‘words of His mouth more than’ its ‘necessary food,’ when all desires, hopes, and inward powers draw their supplies from Him, and find their object in His sweet sufficiency. (MacLaren)

The Lord makes all things new to those whom he delivers from the bondage of Satan, and takes to himself to be his people. The time when he does this is to them the beginning of a new life. The blood of Christ is the believer’s protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell. We must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us, if sin be bitter. (Henry)

To be warned of impending death and disregard it is foolish. To be warned of impending death and given instructions of salvation from it and to not follow the instructions is foolish. Trying to make other provisions for safety from the impending death other than the instructions given is foolish. No one knows the time death will be at their doorstep and open the door and take them into eternity. What would you do right now if today you heard and believed it to be true; “Tomorrow death will take you from this world into eternity?” Would there be any urgency to be made right with God? Would you repent and seek forgiveness and salvation through faith, trust, belief, and reliance in/on Jesus Christ? If one could agree that being warned of death and being found lacking in the eyes of God and disregarding this warning is foolish, why would you pass up this opportunity to be saved? You know not the day, hour, or minute when death will take you into eternity. Imagine that someone knows you will die and face judgment resulting in eternal Hell and tells you that they love you so much that they have provided a way for your eternal life and that all the things you have done in the past that resulted in your judgment into eternal Hell could be forgiven resulting in eternal life. Would you listen? Would you follow their instruction? Would you believe, trust, rely on, and obey what they told you? Would you laugh it off, disregard it, deny you heard it, or try to find another way? The day of salvation is Now. There is no other way to be saved than through Jesus Christ.

Read this provision, instruction, and warning carefully:

John 3:16-21 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Rev. 22:7 And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.”
Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus

42.a. “Let My People Go” – 10. Promise of Death of all Firstborn of Egypt

Exodus 11:1  The LORD said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people. So Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.   But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Deuteronomy 4:34   Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Job 27:16-17   Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,  he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.

Psalms 24:1  The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

Psalms 105:37   Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

Proverbs 13:22   A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Job 34:20    In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

Isaiah 42:13    The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.

Psalms 105:36    He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.

Psalms 135:8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast;

Proverbs 21:13    Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

Revelation 6:16-17   calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Despite the great calamity to come, God would grant the Egyptians the ability to see the situation as it really was: the fault of their own Pharaoh, not the fault of Moses or the children of Israel. Here for the fourth time we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12, 10:20, 10:27, and 11:10). Yet God never hardened Pharaoh’s heart until he first hardened it against the LORD and His people (Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, and 9:7). (Guzik)

“The Lord hath put a difference between those who are his people and those who are not. There are many distinctions among men which will one day be blotted out; but permit me to remind you at the outset that this is an eternal distinction.” (Spurgeon)

Much could be said about the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and passages that show it to be of himself and passages that show it to be of God. A person can be tempted to say that it is not fair, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. But, clearly, Pharaoh hardened his own heart first. He did have free will to choose and he chose to defy God and the signs and wonders performed in His name. Let this be a warning and witness to all – a hardened heart does not start out like stone. No, it is soft and pliable but with continual and repeated intentional choosing to defy God, deny God, things of God, God’s creation, and God’s Word (written and proclaimed) the heart becomes harder and harder and harder. At some point, there is no possible softening. This is known to God.

God knows the beginning from the end. He knows who is His and who is not. He knows this before any person is born. There is nothing that happens on earth that would be a surprise to God, where He would say; “I did not see that happening”. God knows the beginning from the end. Every last bit of it. He knows the thoughts and intents of every single person born before they are born. He knows the hairs on the heads of every last person. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows who will honor and glorify Him. He knows who will repent. He knows who will believe. He knows who will abide in faith. He knows who will obey. He knows who will not. He knows who will be ushered into heaven and who will find eternity in Hell. He knows the sin(s) every man will commit before it is even a thought in their mind. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the beginning from the end.

Who is the man that they dare say to the Creator of all there is, “I am not at fault, You made me like this.” Each person is given knowledge of God in their innermost being and this knowledge is added to by the wonders of creation. No man is with an excuse when they stand before their Creator. It is by free will they choose to deny the One and only True God. They make images of wood and stone and bow down and worship the craft of their hands, or they deny any God at all. They harden their hearts day after day until the hardness is complete. They will never repent or believe in God and His redemption. They reject God’s Word, His grace, love, and mercy. They reject Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, salvation, and forgiveness. They reject eternal life and freely choose eternity in Hell, though they are warned 1,000 times.

While I write this I am humbled beyond words for I was once like these, without a care, without a need of God, without giving thought or concern to eternity, sin, death, heaven, hell, judgment, forgiveness, etc…. And yet, God, in His great mercy and love, softened my heart, opened my eyes and ears, and showed me my sin and the need for redemption, salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. I lived a life of no concern for God or things of God, and yet He pursued me, He kept knocking at the door of my heart, and at the right moment, He got my attention. At the right moment, a neighbor across the street (Rich) asked my wife and me to attend an evangelical meeting at the church they attended. It was at this meeting Thursday, March 22nd, 1979 my sin, God’s holiness, and my need for repentance and a savior were revealed deep within my heart and mind. I know there was nothing deserving within me of this grace and mercy – trust me I know. However, God’s great love brought me to the point of believing or rejecting. As I say this it is not as though I could have rejected it. I don’t really know how to explain it. The message preached and my need so revealed that there was no way I could say no to the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I don’t know how many times I reject God and things of God throughout my life up to the point of being saved. God does and I am sure it was a lot. God’s grace, mercy, and love are deep and wide. And yet, they have boundaries. These boundaries include “Faith and Repentance” (trust, obedience, reliance, honor, and glory to Jesus Christ). Good intentions, wishing, hoping, denying, rejecting, self-reliance, etc… all fall short of these boundaries of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Oh, that all of you would see the sinfulness of sin, the Holiness of God, and the need for repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.