Free To Leave

Exodus 12:29-42

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. “ (Exodus 12:29)

Israel had packed their stuff, and prepared a quick meal in preparation to leave as God had commanded Moses. They had also smeared the blood on the doorposts and lintel of their doors. That night, at midnight, the death angel passed through the land, killing the firstborn male of every family and domestic animal of every home where the blood had not been applied.

“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 there was not one dead.” (Exodus 12:30)

Moses had told the Jews what God commanded him and they had followed it. The Egyptians had not come to hear the warnings and thus had not followed the instructions, with the result that not one Egyptian door had the blood applied. Every Egyptian family lost one or more that very night. Somebody woke up and discovered the their loss. The screams and crying woke others, and before long every home knew about the deaths. The entire nation was in shock, from Pharaoh to the least of the servants..

“And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.” (Exodus 12:31-33)

Like political leaders throughout history, Pharaoh had been isolated from the worst of the suffering, and thus had ignored the peoples’ pleas to let Israel go, not fully understanding what they were going through. When his own children and grandchildren died, and his own cattle, it finally dawned on him how serious the problems really were. It is that disconnect between the leadership and the population that allows problems to get out of hand in every country.

Pharaoh finally realized that further delay might well result in death of the entire population including himself. Suddenly his concern was with saving his own family, rather than in maintaining his power and prestige. For the first time, his interests were the same as those of his constituency. All his conditions and demands were less important than survival. All his conditions were dropped.

The Egyptian people didn’t just let Israel leave, they were insistent, doing what ever could be done to facilitate their leaving, because they understood far more clearly than Pharaoh the results of delay.

“And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:34-36)

Normally, the sourdough or yeast would have been allowed to set overnight then mixed with the dough the next morning and allowed to rise before baking. Because everything had been packed the day before and the Egyptians were so insistent on their leaving immediately, There was no opportunity to prepare the bread normally, or even to cook it . The Egyptians willingly gave what ever they asked for in an effort to hurry them on their way. They were desperate to get them gone.

“And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.” (Exodus 12:37-38)

Ramses was an area in the Nile delta, possibly originally part of Goshen where Israel originally settled. About a century later, a dynasty of Pharaohs originating in the area would arise. Eleven members of that dynasty would be called Ramses. Ramses II would build a capital there, called by the same name. Many have assumed the description here referred to either Ramses II or his capital, rather than to the area, contributing to the confusion as to the date of the Exodus. Under pressure from the Egyptians, Israel journeyed several hours toward the Red Sea, before stopping at Succoth to prepare a meal.

Egypt was one of the most prosperous countries of the time and people from the entire middle east and northern Africa had immigrated there. The plagues and disasters and racial prejudice had made Egypt far less attractive and God’s obvious blessings on Israel convinced some of the immigrants it would be in their best interest to throw in their lot with Israel. Many of them accompanied Israel when they left Egypt. Israel itself had about six hundred thousand adults, besides their children.

“And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.” (Exodus 12:39)

At Succoth, Israel stopped and baked the dough they had brought from Ramses, even though it was unleavened and had not been allowed to sit and rise due to the hurry with which they had been driven out of Egypt. Since they had not been allowed to eat breakfast or prepare a lunch, the stop at Succoth was essential.

“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.” (Exodus 12:40-42)

Four hundred thirty years after Jacob moved his family to Egypt, to the very day, God cased them to be free to leave Egypt. For four hundred of those years, Israel had been enslaved by the Egyptians, with the slavery becoming increasingly onerous as time passed. It would forever symbolize their freedom just as the fourth of July , Cinco De Mayo, Bastille Day or Boxing Day does for other countries.

When Jacob moved to Egypt there was only a family group of seventy people. Such a small group would have attracted little attention moving into Egypt, especially at a time when people from the entire region were coming to Egypt because of food shortages elsewhere. Four hundred thirty years later that group had grown to about six hundred thousand adults and their families. They had played a significant role during entire the Middle Kingdom period.