Part 5: Wrapping it up

Meditations in Exodus: 37. Marching Orders

Ex 11:1 Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt . After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.

So enormous is the tenth and last plague that it takes two chapters to cover it. For clarity in our layout we end the previous part here and start a new part in which the focus moves away from the ongoing process of the plagues, to the last plague and all that goes with it, right through to the final destruction of Pharaoh and his army.

These ten verses that make up chapter 11 can be divided into three sections. Section 1 starts “Now the Lord had said to Moses…” so it is a recapping of what had happened, what the Lord had previously said to Moses but interestingly it does not include all of the Lord's instructions because Moses clearly knows what to say in section 1 but that was not mentioned here in the first section. Section 2 starts with, “So Moses said ,” which was what was happening in the present, his confronting Pharaoh. Section 3, like v.1, has, “ The LORD had said to Moses,” and so is again a recap-summary section.

Very well, Section 1, verses 1 to 3. The Lord had told Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt . After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.” (v.1) First there is the intention of a last plague. Next there is the effect of that plague: Pharaoh will let you go but, even more than that, he will drive you out, so dramatic will it be.

But then the Lord gave a simple instruction to pass on to the Israelites: “Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." (v.2) We'll see more of this later but it is God's way of blessing His people – and after all, they have earned it being slaves for these people!!!! Then there is what almost appears an aside and the interpreters have put it in brackets, “(The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)” (v.3) Some may want to say that this was simply because of the way Moses had brought the plagues with their gradual increasing in intensity but whether it is here, or elsewhere where it speaks of the Lord's favour (e.g. Gen 39:2-5, 20-23), I believe the Lord speaks into the minds of people, almost certainly without them realizing it but nevertheless influencing them. Remember the Lord had said this was to happen right back at the burning bush: “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." (Ex 3:21,22)

Next, Section 2, verses 4 to 8 . The fact that this section closes with, “Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh .” (v.8b) shows us that what Moses said, he said to Pharaoh, so he tells Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD says: `About midnight I will go throughout Egypt . Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.” (v,4,5) Again the warning is clear and very specific. It is horrendous! Every firstborn son throughout Egypt (and including any cattle they have presumably bought in from neighbours) will die about midnight.

Now note the differentiation: “There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt --worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel .” (v.6,7) This is going to be epic, this will cause an anguish in the people of Egypt like they have never before experienced. You will hear the wailing across the land, first from one house, then another, and another and another, until all over the inhabited parts of Egypt wailing will be heard – except in Goshen where the Israelites live, for they will not be touched.

So, Moses concludes, “All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, `Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will leave.” (v.8) In other words this will be so bad that all your officials will be past caring and they will not bother what you think, they will come and bow before me and plead for us to leave – and then we will (you stupid idiot!). OK I've added that last bit but that is clearly what Moses feels when we read, “Then Moses, hot with anger , left Pharaoh.” Hot with anger? He is fuming at Pharaoh's stupidity that has brought it to this point.

What is interesting is that at the end of the previous chapter we read, “Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die." "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again.” (v.28,29) Yet, now Moses is before Pharaoh and he has a message that is so devastating that he is past caring what Pharaoh might feel or say.

So we come to Part 3, verses 9 & 10 which simply provides context into which to put everything else – this is all panning out just as the Lord had said: “The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you--so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." (v.9) There are no surprises here – only what the individual plagues are, simply described as God's ‘wonders', And then comes the final description that sums it all up: “Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.” (v.10) Moses and Aaron had, in one sense, been called to a hopeless task, to confront Pharaoh again and again and again – knowing he would not relent!

Remember right from the outset at the burning bush the Lord had said, “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.” (Ex 3:19,20) He had then gone on to spell out the end-game: “The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt , see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, `This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' " (Ex 4:21-23).

So there it is, we are now into the end game – or perhaps not, there is a lot more to come from Pharaoh but for now we are about to witness a terrible judgment, not just because Pharaoh was pig-headed but because this whole people had so strayed from what God had designed human beings to be. How terrible.

Meditations in Exodus: 38. Passover Preparations

Ex 12:12 On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt . I am the LORD.

For a moment we step aside from the confrontations with Pharaoh for the Lord has to instruct His people how they are to get ready for when He will bring the tenth and last plague. They will have a part to play to avoid the destruction that is coming.

So significant will this event be that it is to signify the beginning of the calendar year for the Israelites from now on: “ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt , "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.” (v.1,2) The focus of every new year was to be the Passover in the middle of the first month, the reminder of how the Lord redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt and took them and made them a people of His own. That is at the heart of all this. Put it the other way round, the New Year month for Israel is always to start with the Passover because it is the very reason they exist and before anything else happens in a year, they are to remember that.

Then come the instructions about ‘the Passover lamb': “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.” (v.3,4) There is very much a community feel about this. They are, as a community, to do this every year and if they are only a small household they are to share with a neighbour.

Then comes an instruction about the lamb: “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.” (v.5) John the Baptist identified Jesus as God's lamb (Jn 1:29,36) and this was picked up by the apostles: “ the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Pet 1:19) and in the Revelation vision of heaven, the one before the throne had the same identity: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” (Rev 5:6)

When they chose their lamb, each family was to hold on to it so that they would all do the same thing at the same time: “ Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.” (v.6). So far the focus is on the oneness of them as a people, all doing the same thing as prescribed by God, but next comes instructions that will prove very significant: “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs,” (v.7) so that, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt .” (v.13) Of course the Lord knew those who were His but this putting blood on the doorposts is an act of faith, and act of obedience. In the same way “coming to Christ” means believing in his work on the Cross for us, his blood being shed for the forgiveness of our sins so that God's judgment would pass over us and we remain unscathed.

Then come directions for the way the lamb is to be eaten – for it is NOT only to be USED, it is also to be ENJOYED as it is taken into each person. Taking this lamb into you was the human side of the act. Jesus was later to say, “ I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (Jn 6:53) Becoming one with Jesus is as important as relying on his work on the Cross. Note the instructions: “ That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire--head, legs and inner parts. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.” (v.8-10)

The meat was to be well and truly cooked, not in a rush, but as shepherds used to cook their meat. The bitter herbs in years to come would remind them of the bitter years they had served as slaves. Bread made without yeast reflected the haste with which they eventually left Egypt . To this last item was added, “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.” (v.11) They were to eat it all up at the meal in the night and anything left over was to be burnt; this is a one-off meal and their form of dress indicates they are ready to go at a moment's notice. Try to catch the picture of these Israelites in the middle of the night holding their feast and waiting for God to act.

Finally comes the awful judgment that will come on Egypt : “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt . I am the LORD.” (v.12) The death of every first born is the judgment and in their helplessness to stop it, the so called ‘gods' of Egypt are judged, found wanting, found powerless, found to be nonentities, figments of superstitious imaginations! Yet for the Israelites, they will be passed over: “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt .” (v.13). There it is, this is what will happen, God has decreed it.

These verses very much speak of community and today we are, as Christians, part of the community that the New Testament calls ‘the body of Christ', the Church. Individual local churches are important in that they give us local expression of this so we can each realise the wonder of it, but the bigger picture is that all Christians are part of the world-wide body of Christ, with no one greater and no one lesser than any other. Rejoice in who you are, a significant member of the body of Christ.

Meditations in Exodus: 39. An Ongoing Memorial

Ex 12:14 This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance.

In the previous meditation we noted that t he focus of every new year was to be the Passover, the reminder of how the Lord redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt and took them and made them a people of His own. That is at the heart of all this, and thus the Lord now reiterates that very clearly: “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance.” (v.14) but it isn't just a one-day thing, it is in fact to be a week-long thing. The trouble with a one-day event is that it is gone so quickly that it can almost be forgotten or lose its significance.

So we find instructions for this one-week memorial: “For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel” (v.15) Note, first of all, how serious this is: if anyone fails to follow these instructions that is tantamount to outright disobedience which will take away the meaning or significance of what they are doing. We noted before the absence of yeast in their bread is to be a strong reminder of the haste with which they eventually left Egypt . This is an important thing. For months (or years?) these plagues had been building and building and there was no sign of any movement in Pharaoh and then all of a sudden, after this last plague, there is going to be almost a violent spewing out of Israel from Egypt and they are going to have to be ready to leave at an instant and then go very hastily. This was all because of the work of God and that essential piece of information was to be incorporated in this ‘meal' lasting a week, every year.

Now what follows is not what will happen now before this plague comes, but what they are to do every year thereafter as a memorial. On the first and the seventh day of this ‘feast' everything else, except the food preparation, is to come to an end: “On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat--that is all you may do.” (v.16) i.e. there is to be no work done on either of those two days. Those two days were for a special gathering together to remember before the Lord, the wonder of what He had done for them.

This becomes the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because unleavened means to be without yeast (normally when yeast is used in making bread it takes time for it to rise in the bread. Such was their haste they would not have time to wait for the yeast to rise so they had to make bread without yeast, i.e. unleavened). “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt . Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.” (v.17)

Now we have to re-emphasise the importance of the absence of yeast: “ In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast , from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel , whether he is an alien or native-born. Eat nothing made with yeast . Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.” (v.18-20) We emphasise it because the emphasis is there in the Lord's instructions. Some, wanting to typify this, say that yeast is a picture of sin and therefore everything here is about obedience to the Lord and therefore the absence of sin. Nevertheless the main emphasis, we believe, is what we have already picked up on, that it was all about recognising the amazing work of God that brought about the exit of haste from the land of slavery, deliverance to a new life in a new land.

Now there may be some confusion between the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in terms of timing. Note again the timing in the verses we have already considered: “ In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.” (v.18)

In the Law we read, “The LORD's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the LORD's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast.” (Lev 23:5,6)

What actually happened was that the lamb was slain at sunset on the 14 th . Now in Hebrew reckoning the next day began after sunset of the previous day and ended at sunset of the next day. So technically the Passover was celebrated on the 14 th and because the 15 th started straight after sunset there would be no gap of time between the death of the lamb, the sprinkling of the blood and the keeping of the feast. In what happened in Egypt , the lamb was slain in the evening of the 14 th , the judgment fell at midnight and the redeemed people of God started out of Egypt in the morning of the 15 th .

The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread that would be celebrated in subsequent years was able to be celebrated because of the Passover and the two are often spoken of as one. In the days of Unleavened Bread there was opportunity to reflect upon the wonder of what the Lord had done, not only in the event of the Passover but also in the days of escape that followed in which the power of the Lord was seen yet further, which we will yet see in future meditations. It was also a time of communion with God and thankfulness for their very existence that was due entirely to Him. It wa-s a time of presenting burnt offerings to the Lord (Lev 23:8) as a gift to the Lord (Deut 16:16,17) – and it was all possible because a lamb had been slain. Hallelujah!

But that unique night in Egypt they were feasting on their particular lamb, as someone has said, ‘not in cool indifference, nor unconscious slumber, but in anticipation', dressed to travel, wondering about the hours ahead, how it will all work out. For years they have been slaves under the domination of the ruling Pharaoh, in the midst of this occult-heavy, superstitious people. Now the word has come to them – be ready, you are about to witness one of the most horrendous judgments of history and yet be untouched, and then you will be free to follow the Lord as He will lead you out of this place of slavery to a new future.

So much of this study has been about ‘remembering' in the future the events that were about to take place. When we participate in ‘Communion' or ‘the Lord's Supper' we are remembering Jesus' death on our behalf. That is something built into our corporate life, but I wonder how often we reflect back on our own lives and remember the things that the Lord has done for us over the years. Some times those things will be very obvious, other times less obvious and we say by faith, ‘it had to be the Lord.' It is important that we remember and keep on remembering.

Meditations in Exodus: 40. Moses instructs Israel

Ex 12:21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

The Lord has instructed Moses and now Moses instructs the people. What follows will depend entirely on their obedience. Earlier in the chapter the Lord had said to Moses, “te ll the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household,” (v.3) and then, “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month , when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. ” (v.6) That was the timing of what follows.

So now, “ Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb,” (v21) which must be happening in that time-frame. The elders would no doubt have been over a group of families and so each elder would take the men and they would chose the best of the lambs as instructed and made sure there were no cast-offs being used. Stage one was selecting the lambs, and stage two was slaughtering the lambs and making sure each family had one. Now stage three was the most important part: “Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe.” (v.22) Hyssop was a plant that grew naturally in the desert regions and so would be plentiful and when several pieces were tied together would act as a brush with the blood of the lamb so it could be dabbed clearly on the doorframe of each of their houses.

Then comes a crucial instruction: “Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.” (v.22b) Why was that so important? “When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (v.23) Reference to ‘the destroyer' suggests, as so often was the case, the Lord had an angel carry out the destruction. It may be that it was Satan himself so that, as in the case of Job, he was given permission to bring destruction, “thus far and no further”. The blood on the doorpost indicated obedience of the family within and thus they should be spared, but it was only those behind such a door that could receive that protection.

Now, so significant was this who affair that, as we have said before, it was to become something remembered by all future generations of the Lord's people. So now we come to how it is to be remembered: “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.” (v.24,25) So, this wasn't something to be done just this once, but it was to become an annual event and so, “And when your children ask you, `What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, `It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' " (v.26,27) Such an annual ceremony was bound to raise questions from the younger generation and so when the asked, they would be told all about the Passover and the deliverance from Egypt .

The result of this communication? “Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.” (v.27b,28) Belief, worship and obedience! How things have changed since Moses first came back to them and Pharaoh turned on them. They have now witnessed amazing miracles of judgments on this land and this people – and they have been spared. Now when they are told what is about to happen, unlike Pharaoh, they have no reason not to believe and they fall on their knees in awe and wonder at the goodness and greatness of God and they worship Him, and then they do what they have been told to do – and wait.

I wonder if we need to see nine miracles before we will believe? We have the miracle of the Bible. We have the miracle of the coming of Jesus to earth, we have the miracle of his life and ministry, we have the miracle of his death and resurrection, we have the miracle of his ascension, we have the miracle of the coming of the Holy Spirit, we have the miracle of the indwelling Spirit, we have the miracle of the history of the Church, we have the miracle of revivals in that history, we have the miracle of the worldwide Church today, we have the miracle of the body of Christ. That is ten miracles that I suspect we so often take for granted, but miracles of blessing they are. Not miracles of judgment but miracles of blessings. Do we need anything more to be people of faith, people of obedience, people who truly worship? Perhaps it is, as we said at the conclusion of the previous meditation, that we need to revisit each of these things on a regular basis and thank the Lord for them. Look back in this paragraph to the ‘ten miracles' I identified and thank the Lord for them.

Meditations in Exodus: 41. Tenth Plague - Firstborn

Ex 12:29.30 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

Imagine the street where you live (assuming you know the people who live there). Imagine the families; some have young children, some have teenagers, and others have those who can no longer be called ‘children' for they have been to Uni, come home again, maybe even got a job and were in the process of setting up a home of their own. One morning you hear the sound of an ambulance, and then another and another. All up and down the street there has been a terrible inexplicable ‘plague' and every single eldest boy in the family is dead. There is absolute mayhem.

Now I put this plague into a modern setting like this because if we have read Exodus before we may become blasé about the nature of what was happening. Perhaps we have almost become conditioned by the previous plagues – it's just another plague. No, it isn't ‘just' another' plague, it is something that hits every single family that has male children. If a family only had daughters they might be thankful they had no sons for their neighbours were in absolute crisis. Only yesterday, given in the notices in church, the death of a child – we believe by suicide probably – of a family no longer with us but who we know. The announcement was given in sombre tones and a silence fell on the room as we felt for the parents. Multiply that a thousand fold or tens of thousands perhaps, and you have what is happening in Egypt at this moment.

Now, as we started out looking at the actually plagues, I reminded us of God's words through Ezekiel: “ Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezek 18:23) and then, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezek 18:32) and then there is also, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?” (Ex 33:11) Three times Ezekiel heard that same message which is born out elsewhere in the Bible.

Now I am in the process of writing a book (not yet complete) called, “The Judgments of a Loving God”, in which I investigate every judgment of God in the whole Bible. The vast majority of judgments I call ‘disciplinary judgments' because they do not end in death and are designed to bring about change of behaviour. The other judgments that end in death I call ‘terminal judgments' but as I explored this subject more and more, I came to see that perhaps a better description of such judgments as this one is a ‘judgment of the last resort', i.e. God only take life if there is no other action that will remedy or correct a situation to save the earth, save a people from other destruction; God steps in to surgically limit the damage to the world.

Now this particular judgment is unusual in that it discriminates between people. The only ones whose lives are taken are eldest sons. No one else is touched, the vast majority of the nation are spared – but shattered! In writing the book I have also sought to consider what would have happened had this judgment NOT occurred. It is difficult to know because our knowledge of their times is limited, but let me suggest the following possibilities, and that is all they are:

1. The superstitious religion of the day founded on fear would have continued to grow in power and even more ‘gods' would have been dreamt up and even more terrible rituals promoted. As it was so often, it meant the sacrifice of a child.

2. This same religion was occult based and the occult would have grown and grown in power accompanied by all the characteristics that go with the occult – denial of God, rejection of God for self-serving purposes, including the worship of Satan, fear and oppression

  Now those would almost certainly be ongoing outworkings and somewhere along the line there would come almost certainly THE greatest negative of all that was going on in Egypt when Moses arrived – Pharaoh would eventually turn on Israel and destroy them in large numbers if not completely. The Bible shows us that Satan is out to destroy God's people and this would almost certainly have come about if left.

  So, I would suggest, as terrible as this judgment is, it is restrained in as far as the majority of the population are untouched, and yet it is sufficiently horrific to have the desired effect, of bringing down the power of false religion and eventually the power of Pharaoh while bringing release for Israel.

The effect of this plague is instant: “During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" (v.31-33) Pharaoh acts straight away and even the Egyptian people understand and urge them on their way. The haste of the Israelites is seen by what was later institutionalized in the feast: “So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.” (v.34) Moreover, “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.” (v.35,36)

And so it comes to an end – but not quite, there is a further act yet to be played out as we'll see in the next meditations. Remember the ‘theology' behind this plague and never let people say foolish or unwise things born out of ignorance about God: i) God does not like taking life. ii) Where He does take life (fairly rare in reality in the Bible in comparison to what could be) it is always an act of last resort to save His people or save the world from something worse. Our questions arise from the fact that we never have the full facts of the situation. God does, so trust His love and mercy – and seek to learn the full picture of what the Bible teaches.

Meditations in Exodus: 42. A Hasty Departure

Ex 12:40,41 N ow the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt .

It is important to catch and hold on to the details of all that happened to Israel . Pharaoh has apparently capitulated and told them to leave. The Egyptian people have encouraged them to leave and have heaped them with goods to take with them. The slave people have eventually been paid for their years of servitude!

They are on their way: “ The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth.” (v.37a) Rameses was one of the store cities the Hebrew slaves had helped to build (see Ex 1:12) and they obviously still lived in the vicinity. It is thought to be somewhere on the Nile delta (possibly to receive imports from the sea). Succoth is thought to be to the west of the Bitter Lakes near the eastern border of Egypt . As we had noted in a much earlier meditation the Egyptians had used the Hebrew slaves for mining in the south of the Sinai peninsular and so they were possibly kept in Goshen in the north of Egypt for easy access. What was once used to his benefit by Pharaoh, now works for the benefit of Israel as they look to make a quick escape from Egypt . (Yet, as we will see in a later study, that brought its problems!)

Who went? We are told that, “There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.” (v.37b) When they had arrived in the land some four hundred years earlier there had been just some seventy or so of them (see Ex 1:5), “ but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.” (Ex 1:7) Adding women and children it is quite possible that they exceeded two million people departing the land.

But that is not all: “ Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.” (v.38) The ‘many other people' have to be Egyptians who had had enough of Pharaoh and the ways of Egypt . As you follow the adventures of Israel you see that various non-Hebrews joined themselves to this people (e.g. Rahab and her family – Josh 6:25, and the Gibeonites – Josh 9:27) but not always without difficulties as we will see later on in their travels.

And then we are reminded yet again of the haste with which they go and the effects of it: “With the dough they had brought from Egypt , they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.” (v.39) It is a point made again and again, e.g. “ This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste ; it is the LORD's Passover.” (Ex 12:11) The references to using no yeast (which would delay the making of the bread, waiting for the yeast to rise) come again and again – 12:15,17-20,34,39) The point is being made again and again – this is a hasty exodus and it is hasty because of the activity of God. So great and powerful was His work that Israel are almost being shot out of the land. It is a mighty work of God and it will be remembered every following year by the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The facts of the case are then simply stated: “ Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt .” (v.40,41) Centuries before the Lord had said to Abraham, “ In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here.” (Gen 15:16). At that earlier time a "generation" was the age of a man when his first son (from the legal standpoint) was born, as in Abram's case, 100 years (see Gen 21:5). ‘In' the fourth generation means in the time in excess of 400. Here the chronicler details it very specifically as 430 years. God had said it and it is clear from the Lord's conversation with Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3 & 4) that He knew exactly when He would be acting against this current Pharaoh (thought by many to be Ramses II).

It is summed up: “ Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt , on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.” (v.42) The Message version expresses this verse as, “ God   kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt . Because   God kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honour   God   by keeping watch this night—a watchnight.” Vigil – kept watch. A slight understatement of what happened in respect of the last plague but the Lord certainly was watching over Israel and protecting them. Thus future generations would hold the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread and would hold a ‘vigil' to remember what had happened.

In these verses we are presented with very specific information. Some commentators have struggled with the numbers of Hebrews leaving and there a questions as to how the 430 years is calculated but the record is quite specific and has been put there for our information and to build our faith, and that is the all-important thing – this was a work of God. God decreed it hundreds of years before it happened. The Lord saw what the need would be with the passing of time. He saw how history would work out and spoke of that and then fulfilled it.

For us in our lives, be assured that God is Lord over all and knows everything there is to know about us and despite that (AND because of it) sent Jesus to die for us at the right time in history (Gal 4:4). He is not caught out by anything happening in your life and He is there for you in every circumstance. As with Israel here, our circumstances may not always work out as we expect – but the Lord KNOWS and is there for us! Be at peace and rejoice in that!

Meditations in Exodus: 43. Unique to God's People

Ex 12:43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover: "No foreigner is to eat of it.

In the verses we now come to there is an important if not vital principle to be noted: the things of the Passover apply ONLY to God's people. This may not appear important in respect of the instructions as to the feast, but when we see the wider implication and application through the New Testament, it becomes crucial.

Let's simply note first of all, the Lord's instruction to Moses and note its exclusivity : “ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover: "No foreigner is to eat of it. Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it.” (v.43-45) In respect of the Passover no foreigner can partake of it, i.e. it is only for Israel , God's people. If a slave has truly been brought into the covenant community (as seen by him being circumcised) then he may eat of it but not anyone who is temporarily with them or who is hired by them. No, this is for the covenant community only. That is important!

Then comes the way it is eaten, individually : “It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. “ (v.46) Note, one house per animal, i.e. each home must have their own sacrificial lamb and not rely upon anyone else. Each individual family must be obedient to God and show it by having their own lamb. They are to eat it within their home and not take any of it outside the home and have a picnic outside. No, in Egypt they were huddled in their own home and there they fearfully took their own lamb which was to be roasted whole, without breaking it up; this will have significance in the later application.

Then, we might say, come a reiteration of who may eat it and take part in it, how it is taken corporately : “The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.” (v.47) It is to be taken by ALL of Israel , men, women and children, all who are part of the covenant community. We can't help repeating this because the Lord does, that is only for those who have entered into covenant with God and so any aliens or foreigners who have joined themselves to Israel must show their commitment to Israel but doing the same things as Israel: “An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you.” (v.48,49) If you wanted to be an Israelite and you were male you would have to be circumcised. No circumcision, no Israelite, no Passover.

And so it is summarized: “All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.” (v.50,51) Note the two halves to this: Israel 's obedience and the Lord's deliverance; one opened the way for the other.

Now to the wider application today, and of course it focuses on Jesus. When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming he heralded him by declaring, “ Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29) and then later, “When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1:36). It could not be any clearer. This prophet-herald whose job was to prepare the people to meet their Messiah portrayed him as God's lamb. Isaiah had prophesied, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth,” (Isa 53:7) indicating the meek and humble way the Messiah would come, but John's emphasis on taking away the sin of the world takes us back to the picture of the Passover lamb. In his Revelation John recorded, “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne,” (Rev 5:6) and the onlooking assembly sing, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” (Rev 5:9) and in that they encapsulate the work of Christ on the Cross for it is clear this is who it is.

The lamb was slain so that the destroying angel would Pass-over the offeror and his family and they would be saved. For the Israelite their lamb was literal. Each individual family had to do it and it would only be applicable for anyone in the covenant community. In the bigger, world-encompassing picture, the Lamb is Jesus who was crucified for us, but his death acts only as a means of staying the destroying angel if we take his death for us; we believe he came and died for us, we claim his death for our own lives and we rely entirely upon his death to save us. We become the covenant community of God by our surrender to God and acceptance of His way of salvation, the death of His Lamb, Jesus Christ on the Cross, and in so doing we are saved. Saved from destruction and saved for a life in God's presence in eternity. Hallelujah!

Picking up a point from earlier on, the lamb's bones were not to be broken. When it came to Jesus being crucified, to make it even more obvious for those with eyes to see, his bones were not broken contrary to the usual custom (so the body could not support itself and in hanging in tension would suffocate and finish off the crucified person). See Jn 19:36.

If you have never realised that this is what it is all about when we talk of Jesus, then surrender your life to God right now and accept His Passover Lamb as the means of your life being saved from judgment and for a life with God that goes on into eternity. Declare your belief in Jesus and his work on the Cross on your behalf and let him lead and guide your life from now on in this new covenant relationship. My it be so.

Meditations in Exodus: 44. Redeeming the Firstborn

Ex 13:1,2 The LORD said to Moses, "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."

We come to yet another passage that may seem strange to us but which contains great significance. We will be considering verses 1 to 16 which is divided as follows:

v.1,2 Consecration instructions for the firstborn

v.3-10 Reiterating the instructions to celebrate the feast

v.11-13 Instructions to redeem the firstborn

v.14-16 Explanation for future generations

So the first and third parts: the Lord's first instruction is to, “Consecrate to me every firstborn male.” (v.2) To consecrate means to set aside as holy. We immediately remember that we are talking about a group of people (and animals) here who were spared when the destroying angel passed over the land. It was only the firstborn males in every Egyptian home who died and these eldest sons in the Hebrew families are to be considered as special, the ‘spared ones'.

To emphasise their special-ness and act as a reminder in the future, they are to ‘redeem' or buy back from God these first-born sons of every future generation: "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.” (v.11-13)

The instruction is specific about place and time – when they are in Canaan in the future. The extent of the redemption is stated – to include flocks as well as sons. Failure to redeem the beast means its destruction. This law is repeated in Ex 34:20 and in Numbers the amount of the redemption money is set: “When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.” (Num 18:16)

Perhaps we would do well to turn to the last part next, the explanation for this law. “In days to come, when your son asks you, `What does this mean?' say to him, `With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt , out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt , both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand." (v.14-16) The redemption act was to be part of the overall feast – Passover and Unleavened Bread, and naturally children would ask why their father was doing it and he would tell them what had happened and how God had destroyed every first-born Egyptian but spared every first-born Hebrew who were then considered to be His. To figuratively get them back from God, the father then paid each year this redemption fee as a constant reminder of what God had done and who they now were.

All of this was to be integral in the details of the Feast, hence the instructions of verses 3 to 10 coming between the instructions to consecrate and the instruction to redeem. It comes as instruction from Moses to his people to commemorate this day every year as a reminder of this deliverance (v.3,4) and they are to do it every year once they are in the Promised Land (v.5). It is to be a seven day feast where there is to be no yeast in their bread (v.6,7) and they are to tell their children it is a reminder of what the Lord did for them (v.8). Although the Jews took this instruction literally the word ‘like' indicates the sense or purpose of what they were doing – a constant reminder ever year (v.9,10)

The strong injunctions to remember each and every year at this same time what had happened is an acknowledgment by the Lord that human beings have a tendency to forget. The picture language in all that we have been considering declares the truth to future generations in ways that are easily explained. The focus was put on the firstborn son – to be consecrated , given over to God, and acknowledged that he belonged to God, and then redeemed so he could be bought back by the family to be an ongoing part of their family life – and focused the mind on the reality that he only lived by the mercy of God who spared him in the destruction of that night in Egypt. The fact that future generations had to do it was a declaration or reminder that they too only lived by the mercy of God, they only existed as a unique people because God had redeemed them from Egypt (Ex 6:6). That was how significant the Passover was.

Now we have already applied all this into the New Testament and the death of God's lamb, Jesus Christ. When we ‘come to Christ' we so often say we surrender our lives to God for Him to be our Lord as well as our Saviour (He cannot save us unless we let Him be Lord) but what we are doing there is consecrating ourselves, or giving ourselves over to God so that we belong to Him. However, there is no ‘buying us back' from Him as the Israelites did, we are His full stop. Indeed we are adopted into His family and because His Holy Spirit indwells us, we are one with Him, and this applies not merely to first-born sons but every person who becomes a child of God, men, women and children. For us, our reminder is not once a year but every time we celebrate ‘the Lord's Supper' or ‘Communion', being reminded of the wonder that is the Son of God dying for us as God's lamb who took away our sin. Hallelujah!

Meditations in Exodus: 45. The Wisdom & Provision of God

Ex 13:17,18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt ." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea . The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

These chapters appear to be made up of blocks of information, each one different and yet each one highly significant in its own way. This block of the remaining verses in this chapter contains three distinct sets of information.

The first set of information (v.17 & 18) is about the route that Israel took at the Lord's leading and in it we see the Lord's wisdom: “ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt ." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea . The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” (v.17,18)

Their end goal is the Promised Land or what we have often called Canaan and in more modern times, Palestine , directly north on the cost of the Mediterranean Sea . However the most direct route to it was through the land of the Philistines (south west of what became Israel ) and they were known for being marauders and that route, as it left Egypt , was heavily guarded by a string of Egyptian fortresses. Neither wanting His people to have to contend with the Philistines nor possibly have trouble with the outlying Egyptian fortresses, the Lord led them more to the east towards what is known as the Red Sea or Reed Sea , or Sea of Reeds . If Israel found immediate conflict with the Philistines the Lord foresaw that they were not yet a great fighting force but more of a motley mass of individual families, and they might lose heart and turn round and go back to Egypt . This is the declared reason of the Lord but as we shall see there might yet be another double reason why He took them this more easterly route but we will have to wait until the next meditation to see that.

We then come in the second mini-block of information (v.19) to what is an action based upon history: “ Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” (v.19) In Gen 50:24,25 Joseph had made his brothers make this promise which Moses now fulfils and Joshua will see is done (see Josh 24:32). It is a prophetic fulfillment sign that emphasises the strength of the will of God that had been declared to the Patriarchs and was now being fulfilled. Jacob had already been buried in Canaan and now Joseph can be as well (when they reach there! Amazing to think they carried Joseph's bones around with then for what eventually turned out to be over forty years!)

In the final mini-block of information we see the Lord's ongoing provision for this people – His visible guidance! “After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (v.20-22) In 12:37 we noted they had moved to Succoth, thought to be west of the Bitter Lakes , and now they move north east to Etham, thought to be nearer the Bitter Lakes in the north of Egypt .

Now note very carefully this is no random moving but they moved as guided by God and only when God guides. His provision of guidance is clearly visible and can only be described as divinely supernatural, a pillar of cloud by day which turned into a pillar of fire by night. Both of these pillars indicate the presence of God (see Ex 14:24). It would appear that subsequently the Lord often spoke to them from the pillar (see Num 12:5-6; Dt 31:15-16; Ps 99:6-7)

There are those (who presumably don't read the text carefully) who would make suggestions for a variety of paths for Israel to take but I suggest there are sufficient names to make it quite clear. Some would like to suggest theirs was a random wandering but the Lord's very obvious presence with them in these two ways challenges that. Now this is going to become significantly important shortly and so we will retrain making comments that are more applicable in the next study. Simply bear it in mind that Israel are where they are NOT by accident but by the Lord's design. I will stop at that point.

However there is one further point to be observed in passing, the final part of verse 18: “ The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” Although we were told earlier that the Lord didn't want Israel to get into skirmishes with the Philistines, nevertheless they go out fully armed. One can only surmise that this was part of their “plundering the Egyptians” (12:36). Before they enter the Land many years will pass but when they eventually do they will need to fight both on their way towards the land and once they are in it. At least they are equipped for a fight even if mentally they may not yet be ready for it. Is there something for us to ponder on in that?

Meditations in Exodus: 46. Tricky Circumstances

Ex 14:12-14 encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea….. Pharaoh will think, `The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them.

My wife and I have a saying that owes its origin to those stars of early films, Laurel and Hardy. So often they got themselves in difficulties and Oliver Hardy would turn to Stan Laurel and say, “Fine mess you've got us into Stanley !” ‘Fine mess' for us has become shorthand for “Fine mess you've got us into,” when things are all going wrong. I suspect that that is essentially what Israel are about to think about Moses: this is a fine mess you've got us into, except they would be screaming it in terror. Let's see what happened and don't forget how I ended the previous meditation.

Note the starting words of this chapter: “ Then the LORD said to Moses.” (v.1) This is all initiated by the Lord and the Lord doesn't make mistakes. Initially Israel are going to panic and think their end has come, but what is taking place is happening by God's design. Watch! “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.” (v.2) Instead of going due north around the lakes, Israel are to appear to turn back and although there is historical uncertainty about the locations and place names, they end up, we must suppose, opposite the sea.

Now again there has been much debate what exactly the ‘Sea of Reeds' means but we must assume I believe that it refers to the upper end of what we now call the Red Sea and, again, I have a neat little story for this. A little old Christian lady was explaining this story to an unbelieving friend and explained how Pharaoh's army came to be drowned in the Sea of Reeds and her friend challenged it and said it could not be because that upper end of the sea was so shallow. “Oh how wonderful,” the little old lady cried, “an even greater miracle, the Lord drowned an army in three inches of water!” The point is we either accept the story as we find it (incomplete on some information no doubt) or we reject it all. The Exodus story is too complete, too complex and too meaningful at every stage to be made up so why start disbelieving simply because we don't have all the facts. The point about the story of the little old lady is that there was sufficient water to destroy an entire army – believe it!

But back to the story. The Lord actually explains to Moses His thinking: “Pharaoh will think, `The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert .” (v.3) i.e. Pharaoh will hear what is going on and will assume that Israel are lost and confused and appear a leaderless bunch who could be easily recaptured. The old Pharaoh will rise up again. Why? The Lord explains: “I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them.” (v.4a) Ha! The Lord has not finished with Pharaoh; he knows that he is still that old self-centred, pride-filled despot and so He will speak into Pharaoh's mind (or perhaps get Satan to do it – see Job 1 & 2) and stir him up so he decides to go after Israel .

But that isn't the end of it; the Lord continues, “But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” (v.4b) The Lord is quite clear, He is going to do something in respect of Pharaoh and his army that if the onlooking world hadn't realised it before, they will now, that all this was God at work! He doesn't appear to explain to Moses exactly what He will do but after these instructions we simply read, “So the Israelites did this.” (v.4c)

This all pans out as the Lord had said. Pharaoh is told what is happening to Israel (v.5) Pharaoh got together his army (v.6) with all his best chariots (v.7) and pursued them. (v.8,9) It was then that Israel realise they are in ‘fine mess' situation: “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.” (v.10) They pour out their anguish to Moses: “They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt ? Didn't we say to you in Egypt , `Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (v.11,12)

Have you ever thought about your Christian life and thought, ‘Life would be easier if I hadn't come to the Lord?' Now don't get upset by that suggestion because there are times when to stand out as a Christian is costly, and sometimes we seem to be taken through circumstances – yes, circumstances we prayed about – that frankly seem to be going wrong, and you wonder what is going on. In fact you wonder did you actually hear God's guidance? You wonder, has God brought this on me, or it is the enemy coming against me because I am a Christian?

No don't get me wrong; coming to the Lord is the most important thing you can ever do in your life on earth and the outworkings of that are so wonderful than in no way am I suggesting anything otherwise, but what I am asking for is honesty to accept and recognize what we sometimes feel deep down; this is tough!

So why did the Lord lead Israel into this ‘fine mess'? We'll see that in the next study but it was NOT a mistake! We live in a fallen world, a broken world and if the Lord sometimes allows that to apparently lean heavily on us, if I may put it like that, then there is a good reason and it is for your ultimate blessing. Don't go on the outward appearances of the circumstances, learn to wait on the Lord to sense what He wants to achieve in you through them. He may deliver you OUT of these circumstances (you escape them) or He may deliver you THROUGH these circumstances (you weather them with His grace). His primary goal through all such things is to draw you closer to Him, that you may know Him more fully. Amen? Amen!

Meditations in Exodus: 47. The End Game

Ex 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Whenever you are faced with a block of Scripture, it is important to our understanding to see how it is made up. In the remainder of this chapter we see Moses encouraging the people (v.13,14), the Lord declaring His intent (v.15-18), the Lord's protection of Israel (v.19,20), Israel crossing the sea dry (21,22), the Lord confusing the pursuing Egyptians (v.23-25), Moses releasing the water to destroy the Egyptians (v.26-38) and a final summary (v.29-31). That is the breakdown of what is here.

But before we cover those verses let's remember that this is the end game, if we may put it like that, of a long play on God's behalf which He spoke of right at the beginning but it is interesting to note that He had spoken from the beginning about the death of the first born, but never about Pharaoh's death. It is almost as if the Lord was reticent to declare terminal judgment upon him, almost as if the Lord was keeping the door open to the possibility of Pharaoh eventually relenting. Yet we see that never happened and in fact Pharaoh still has pride bubbling in him so that a simple suggestion from the Lord's emissary has him charging off after Israel .

So, first of all Moses' encouragement of his people : “ Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (v.13,14) It is a threefold declaration of faith:

i) “you WILL see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today,”

ii) “ the Egyptians you see today you will never see again,”

iii) “The Lord WILL fight for you.”

And from this there are two consequences:

i) “do not be afraid”, i.e. you need not be afraid.

ii) “stand firm” i.e. stay where you are and God will act – “be still”

Second, see the Lord declaring His intent. This comes in three parts. Part 1: a call to get moving: “Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” Then Part 2: How to cross the water: “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” Part 3: What He will do with the Egyptians: “I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” (v.17,18) Note He doesn't actually say at this point what He will do, only the result.

  Third, we see the Lord's protection of Israel : “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel 's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel . Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.” (v.19,20) The pillar of cloud comes between the two groups and thus prevents Pharaoh from reaching the Israelites.

Fourth, we see Israel crossing the sea dry : “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (v.21,22) Again it is to be something with Moses at its heart, so his staff stretched out over the sea enables the Lord to divide the waters and Israel pass through this miraculous divide.

Fifth, we then see the Lord confusing the pursuing Egyptians : “The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt .” (v.23-25) As the Egyptian army follow Israel what may be a combination of mud and rocks perhaps, cause big problems for the chariots and the charioteers soon see the impossibility of the situation and basically cry, “Let's go back, let's get out of this!”

Then, sixth, the destruction of the Egyptian army : “Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen--the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (v.26-28) Again note it is the combination of the work of Moses (with his staff) and the Lord that brings about the death of Pharaoh and his army.

Finally, seventh, there is a final summary : “But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” (v.29-31) Israel saved, the Egyptians destroyed, resulting in a new level of faith in the Lord in Israel .

Just a final point to conclude this part of the story of the Exodus. The judgment was a judgment of God. It was God who destroyed the first born and then it was God who destroyed the Egyptian army and Pharaoh. BUT Moses had a part to play even if it was merely holding his hand out again and again. He was God's signpost to the watching world that this was an act of God. Everything appeared to hinge on him. Now the Lord delights in using His people and in the New Testament the teaching about “the body of Christ” has you and me as members of this body, members who God uses to achieve things. If we refuse to be used, little will happen. We are to be God's signposts to the watching world, a means for them to come to belief. May that we so.

Meditations in Exodus: 48. Song of Triumph

Ex 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.

I am not a very musical person and songs and music don't play a large part in my life. Sorry about that. However songs, I believe, convey something of the state of mind and songs sometimes (in me as well) just burst out of us when we are feeling good. The first part of chapter 15 is a song: “ Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD.” (v.1a) They didn't just sing it, they sung it to the Lord; it was an offering of thanks, praise and worship because of who God is and what he had just done: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.” There is no question here but they refer to His having destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the sea that they had passed through.

They then speak of what they feel about Him as a result of this: “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (v.2) The ‘I AM' who had revealed Himself to Abram, Isaac and Jacob and then more recently to Moses, is not a distant God but one who had come and been their salvation, their deliverer.

Then they revert to what the Lord has just done: “The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea . The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.” (v.3-5) Now there are those who dispute whether the Exodus ever happened because , they say, there appear no records of such a thing in the Eg y ptian records. That is not surprising because it would have shown up Egypt very badly, but not only is there the record in the chapters we have just been following, we now have this song which refers to the overcoming of Pharaoh and the destruction of his army. Why bother to write such a thing, why bother to include it here if it were untrue? No Pharaoh 's army was drowned in the sea.

T his action truly revealed the greatness of the power of the Lord: “Your right hand, O LORD,was majestic in power.Your right hand, O LORD shattered the enemy. .In the greatness of your majestyyou threw down those who opposed you.You unleashed your burning anger;it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.  The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.” (v.6-8) In poetic terms they extol His greatnes s , His power, acknowledging how He had brought down the enemy and left them in the sea..

They remember Pharaoh's pride: “The enemy boasted,`I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them. ” (v.10 a ) Pharaoh had thought himself so strong that he would easily overtake and destroy Israel but, “you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead in the mighty waters. ” (v.10b) They were no match for the Lord and so they are all drowned.

This amazing action marks out the Lord from all other gods: “ Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. ” (v.11,12) He just stretched out His hand and the whole of Pharaoh 's army were dealt with.

But then the song speaks in faith of the future: “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble;anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,the people of Canaan will melt away;terror and dread will fall upon them. ” (v.13-16a) The Lord will lead His people and the onlooking nations wi l l hear of what He does and they will tremble. Yes, this is exactly how it will be: “By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone-- until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you bought pass by.” (v.16b) Yes, the neighbouring nations will hold their breath and stand as stone unt i l Israel have passed by and then they can breath easily again. But there is more; “You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance-- the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. The LORD will reign for ever and ever” (v.17,18) God has a plan for Israel, He has a home for them and He will take them to it and His glory will be seen.

The song concludes with a summary: “When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground . .” (v.19) This song concludes with the bald statement that GOD dealt with Pharaoh and his army by drowning them in the sea. This was His judgment on them. This was the song Moses and all Israel sang but Miriam added a rider: “Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them:

"Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea." (v.20,21)

Again and again this song testifies to the historical truth – God brought His judgment on Pharaoh and his army by drowning them in the same sea that Israel had just passed through safely. (v.4,5,10,12, 19,21) But it is more that just a song of victory, it is a prophetic declaration of what wil l yet happen in the days ahead as the Lord leads Israel and in that it is highly accurate.

Testimony is very important. Testimony is a declaration of what the Lord HAS done . The more we testify the more we realise the wonder of what God has done in our lives. Whether you do it before other people or you simply do it in prayer, declare again and again the wonders of what God has done for you personally. Let your testimony be a base for praise, thanksgiving and worship, and as you testify your faith will rise and the Holy Spirit may be able to speak through you the things yet to come, the things H e wants for your life, the things He wants to do through you. May it be so.