Exodus-Delieverance
Introduction:
All over the world, no matter what culture or time period, traditions are part of the human experience. Anticipating a gathering of friends and family, food, music, rest, and joy is something we all need. The God who created us designed and implanted this desire into humanity and guided His people to memorialize His story of rescue with them. As we continue our broad survey of Exodus, this week’s section of the book is as familiar as the plagues to most readers-the Passover and the Israelites escape from Egypt as they cross the Red Sea.
Not only did God establish these rituals to remind His people of His great power and holiness, He established them as a symbol for His people today. The Passover commemorated the Israelites escape from death, the blood on the door signaled the angel to pass over their home, the Unleavened bread gathered in haste as they left quickly. Our exodus from the slavery of sin was accomplished on the cross, once for all. As we receive the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, the act of communion remembers the Passover feast of our salvation.
A sacrament is a sign by which God offers his grace in an outward form. Rituals are a way to pass on God’s intervention in a concrete way. They are a way to worship, to physical reenact the glory of God on our behalf. In His kindness, God calls the Christian to reenact tangible symbols of His grace and power in our lives.
Scripture:
Read Exodus 11:1-15:21. As you read, take notes of the events in narrative sections and list the commands given about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In chapter 15, list all the names of God, how He is establishing Himself as trustworthy, and what He does on their behalf.
Commentary:
Chapter 11-The Final Plague Predicted
This chapter recounts the anticipation of the final plague, the last of the multiplied wonders God would show Egypt. As Moses had done many times before, he says in the court of the Egyptian monarch what is coming. He declares that at midnight, every first born of the Egyptians would die, from the king to the slave, even livestock. Yet to show the distinction between them and His people, the Israelites would be spared. Verse 10 ends with a summary of the first 9 plagues:
“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 this land.
Chapter 12-The Passover
As the Lord wanted to spare the firstborn of the Israelites, He gave them instructions to follow to mark their homes as belonging to the Lord. This ritual was so significant for the nation is changed their calendar year. They were to acquire a perfect sheep or goat on the 10th, kill it at twilight on the 14th, and eat as a household or with neighbors. Instructions on cooking is given as well as post meal instructions-get dressed and ready to travel. Most importantly, the blood from this sacrifice was to be put around the house to show those inside belonged to the Lord. The angel of death would pass over that dwelling. In God’s spiritual economy, blood is required to intercede for sin because sin leads to death. Logically the payment for sin then is loss of life. The people were given a substitute to cover the lintel of their home as blood was required as a payment. God chose His Son for us, the perfect Lamb whose blood covered the sins of all the world. This ceremony was a shadow of the perfect sacrifice to come.
Then the instructions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread are given to celebrate their deliverance from Egypt. As they were in a hurry, they were to eat flat bread as the leaven would not get a chance to rise. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says clean out your leaven for our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. In the New Testament, leaven or yeast was a picture of sin. Just small amount could contaminate the entire lump. This is a picture of the Christian life, after the sacrifice of Christ believer begin the process of participating with the Holy Spirit to clean out sin. Back to Exodus, the elders are called, the instructions given, and the people of Israel when and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did[1]. God did what He had declared to Pharaoh and the firstborn was struck down. The people were commanded to go.
As they left, the plundered the Egyptians getting silver, gold jewelry and clothing. The people journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, six hundred thousand men plus women, children, and livestock. The chapter ends with more directions about Passover.
Chapter 13 God leads His people
Again in this chapter, we see a blended genre of narrative and law sections. Chapter 13 opens with instructions about consecrating the firstborn. This dedication is to be enacted in future generations to remind the people that God spared them. In fact, Jesus is called the “firstborn from the dead” as a connection to this event. By this title, He demonstrates that He was our substitute. The Messiah was a firstborn son.
Next we move into instructions regarding the feast of Unleavened Bread. God shows the people His faithfulness once again. He swore to bring Abraham’s decedents in Gen 12:1-3 to a good land and is fulfilling His promise. God then leads them, not the closest way but the best way. Though the land of the Philistines was the more direct route, He leads them by the way of the Red Sea. God leads us today the same way; though we may wonder why our sanctification takes so long, He knows the way to lead us that bring us to good places. We may change our mind about following Him if we go directly into a battle we are not ready for. The Spirit takes the form of cloud and fire and goes before and behind them. This same Spirit lives in us today, and His quiet promptings guide our steps.
Chapter 14-The Red Sea
Israel encamps between Midgol and the sea. Pharaoh, as true to his pattern, hardens his heart again to purse the Israelites. Yet God is not done with His miraculous signs and deliverance. The Egyptians regretted letting their labor force go after the first pangs of grief in losing their children subsided. I’m sure anger and revenge were also motivating factors to recapture their workforce. Eventually the Israelites see the advancing army and respond in fear, complaining to God that it would have been better for them to die in slavery than in the wilderness. They so quickly forget the power of the God after witnessing His supernatural acts over men and nature. Indeed He is over all things that man cannot control. He says to comfort them in verse 14, The LORD will fight for you, and you only have to be silent.
How often do we like the Israelites forget how the Lord has delivered us out of many situations? God asks three things of them, and us, when faced with our enemies. One, don’t fear, remember the power of God and how He has delivered you in the past. Two, stand, don’t run back to what you had before—don’t go back to your sin. And three, be still, don’t control the situation, wait for God to act.
Then God begins His awesome display of power. The cloud and fire move between His people and the approaching army. He gives them protection and light. He commands Moses to lift up his staff, to stretch out his hand over the water and the sea is divided. All night, the east wind moves the water and the people who had been trapped by the water, now see it’s constricting boundary as a highway. The Egyptians follow and their clogged chariot wheels get stuck. Moses stretches out his hand again and the water returns to its normal course and the Egyptians are thrown into the sea. Not one who had pursued God’s people survived.
Chapter 15:1-21 The Song of Moses
One of God’s objectives in saving and leading Israel out of Egypt in the manner He did was that He would be made great before their eyes. The people respond in worship of the deliverance of God. He becomes the object of their worship and the people in song proclaim the things He has done and the things He will do. Their adoration and trust in Him builds. Verses 1-12 describe God’s victory over Egypt and verses 13-18 describe His faithfulness to bring them to the promised land. The plagues had been a challenge between Egypt’s gods and the Lord of Israel and He is found without compare. When enemies pursue, remember the power of God to deliver.
Reflection:
1. God shows His protection for His people through sparing them from the plagues and guarding them with fire and cloud. When has he shown you that same protection in your life?
2. As the Israelites leave Egypt, they plunder the people and receive gold, silver, gems, and rich fabric. As God releases the sinner from slavery, we enter into a rich inheritance. Think about the abundance of blessings you have been given and spend some time in worship.
3. After leaving Egypt, the people are led by the Lord not by the fastest way but the best way. Have you ever been frustrated on how and where God is leading you? Confess your lack of trust to Him and spend some time praying about acceptance.
4. What enemies are you currently facing? Disappointment, loss of a job, pride, lust, conflict in relationships, apathy? Does it seem that no matter what you do you can’t escape? Remember what God did for the Israelites He can do for you. No enemy is too strong for the Lord and no enemy too great. What steps of faith is He personally calling you to to demonstrate active dependence on Him?
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