Egypt’s Power Destroyed

Exodus 14:5-31 “And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” (Exodus 14:5)

Although Pharaoh had allowed the people to leave, he still expected them to spend a few days in the wilderness and then return home. When he realized they had no intention of returning he also realized the Egyptians would no longer be able to avail themselves of their services and would have to do those menial tasks themselves. It wasn’t a pleasant thought. Letting them leave seemed like a bad decision.

  “And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.” (Exodus 14:6-9)

 Knowing Israel might resist going back into slavery, Pharaoh took the main body of his army, including his calvary and armored troops to recapture them. Though the army could move faster than the Israelites it took them about six days to catch up, thanks to their forced marches and head start. Pharaoh’s army caught up setting up camp at the mouth of Wadi Watir, next to the cliffs of Pihahiroth. It must have appeared they were well and truly trapped, based on the pictures I have seen of the area.

“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:10-12)

 Knowing how badly the Egyptians had treated them in the past, when they saw the army coming, the Israelites panicked, expecting to be really punished this time. They quickly concluded it would have been better just to keep on enduring what the Egyptians handed out. They had resisted following Moses because they feared that very thing. Tyrants of all kinds, whether the childhood bully, the domineering mate or boss or a national dictator, depend on fear to keep control.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

Despite their fear, Israel was exactly where God wanted them to be. Moses explained they had no reason to be afraid because they would never again see these Egyptians. God would fight for them and they would not have to defend themselves. They would get a view of God’s power.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.” (Exodus 14:15-18)

Because they were afraid, the Israelites were praying. God rebuked Moses for their prayers because they were the product of fear rather than faith. Instead, they needed to take action and go forward. Moses was to stretch out his rod over the water and it would divide so Israel could walk across on dry ground. Determined not to let them escape the Egyptians would follow them and learn who God was. Pharaoh would never again ask “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?…” like he did in Exodus 5:2.

“And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” (Exodus 14:19-20)

Israel was already camped on the shore when the Egyptians caught up. The angel of God took his place between the Egyptian army and the Israelites to prevent an attack, and the pillar of cloud and fire also moved between them. With darkness already setting in , the cloud produced a fog that destroyed visibility on the Egyptian side while giving Israel to see. Unable to see what was happening and convinced the Israelites had no place to go, the army posted guards and rested until morning. Another night of worrying might well destroy their morale.

“And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)

A very strong east wind developed when Moses stretched out his rod, perhaps something like the Santa Anna winds of California and blew all night. It was strong enough to divide the waters, exposing bare ground and dry it over night. Some have speculated that the funnel effect through the canyon caused the water to freeze, similar to what occurs in various ice caves, but the sheer size and layout makes it impossible for this to have been a mere natural phenomenon. As soon as it was dry enough Israel began to cross the sea.

“And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.” (Exodus 14:23)

When the Egyptians saw what was happening, they were determined not to let them escape and chased after them to the middle of the Gulf. At this point the Gulf of Aqaba is about eleven miles wide, so the Egyptian army would have been about five or six miles from shore with walls of water on either side..

“And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:24-25)

About ten o’clock that morning, the army was getting too close to the Israelites, so God caused a disruption to slow them down. One of the things he did was to cause chariot wheels to come off. The result was very much the same as losing a wheel off your car. While they could still go, they were much slower and harder for the horses to pull. Since the chariots were far faster than the foot soldiers, this would have slowed the rest of the army as well. Suddenly the Egyptians became fully aware that they were five miles from shore between two walls of water with a bunch of broken down chariots. They decided they better get out while they still could.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.” (Exodus 14:26-28) 

Even a two foot wall of water will wash cars away and knock horses and people down leaving them gasping for air and it would have taken fifteen or twenty minutes for even the fastest runners to have made it to shore. When the walls closed in there was no chance to escape. No one survived.

In the early I900’s a number of Egyptian chariot wheels dating from about 1650 BC were discovered far out in the gulf of Aqaba at the location described. Near by were skeletons and chariots without wheels but the discovery was largely ignored. Archaeologists had discovered that Ramses II built a city called Ramses between about 1330 BC and 1309 BC. Bishop Usher assumed that the reference to leaving Ramses in Exodus 12:37 referred to the city of Ramses, he erroneously dated the Exodus as about 1300 BC. If the tradition that Moses wrote all five books of the Pentateuch makes it that possible, ignoring the fact that part of Egypt had been called the land of Ramses more than four hundred years before in Genesis 47:11.  He also ignored the time frame described in the book of Judges, assuming the period between the capture of Jericho and Saul assuming the throne to be approximately two hundred seventy five years. Judges records a period of four hundred seventy years, and does not include the administrations of Joshua and Samuel. 

Usher’s Chronology was generally accepted and since many scholars assumed the crossing to be of the Gulf of Suez, the discovery of wheels dating more than three hundred years earlier on the Gulf of Aqaba was assumed to be the result of a ship wreck. That an of ancient column dating to Solomon’s time containing largely unreadable inscriptions referring to Moses in various languages was discovered on each bank was also ignored. Halley’s Bible Handbook and a few other references recorded the discoveries, but most Bible maps and references never mention them.

 The Egyptian economy was in shambles as a result of the plagues. Pharaoh and most of the Egyptian army was wiped out when the Red Sea closed on them. With no leadership and no army, Egypt was easily taken over by a relatively weak Canaanite group know as the Hyksos about 1650 BC. Neither the Bible or the Egyptian records give precise dates to these events, and the main information about the Hyksos domination comes from countries that traded with Egypt. They would remain in power until the establishment of the New Kingdom about 1550 BC.

Egypt would not again lose it’s military power until the end of the New Kingdom. After the end of the New Kingdom they embarked on numerous wars, steadily losing power and being ruled by a succession of invaders , including the Greeks and Romans. Why does it matter whether the Biblical record is accurate or not? Quite simply, if the Bible is not accurate in the historical record, the things we can verify, we have no reason to trust things which cannot be verified. Attempts top adjust the biblical record to fit scientific discoveries rather than accepting what it says casts serious doubt on it’s validity. If it is true, eventually, science will prove it.


“But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:29-31)

 A few of the Egyptian bodies washed ashore, but Israel was no longer under pressure to escape. They could take the time to prepare leavened bread from that time on. Never again would Egypt have power to control them. Any future submission to Egypt would be voluntary. It is a powerful illustration of the Christian’s deliverance from sin. The tradition that Moses wrote all the Pentateuch himself made it easy to assume the reference to the land of Ramses in Genesis 47:11 referred to the future city of Ramses, rather than the area. If it was in fact written by a contemporary writer, it could not have referred to a city that would not be built for almost eight hundred years. Accepting tradition as fact without questioning is a frequent source of error.

Fleeing Egypt

Exodus 13:17-14:4 In the early days of settlement of the American west. Most wagon trains originated in St Louis, Missouri, proceeding to St. Joseph. After leaving St. Joseph, some wagon trains turned south on the Santa Fe Trail, some took the Oregon Trail, while still others proceeded almost due west to north central California. As a result, St. Louis became known as the gateway to the west. Just as St. Louis was the gathering point for wagon trains heading west, Succoth was the primary gathering point for caravans to the Middle East and East. Situated on the west side of the valley containing the gulf of Suez, but perhaps fifty miles north, it provided easy access to the Sinai peninsula. Crossing the swampy valley which now contains the Suez canal, the Caravan trail proceeded almost due East.        

About a hundred miles east of Succoth, the way of the Philistines turned northward, skirting the Mediterranean coast, and crossing the Philistine land to central Canaan. It was the easiest and most direct route and was probably the route Jacob used when he moved to Egypt. The main trail continued east ward, passing to the north of the Gulf of Aqaba, intersecting the main caravan Route from Canaan to Arabia about two hundred fifty miles east of Succoth.

  “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17-18)

Fearing a revolution as the Jewish population grew, the Egyptians had refused to allow them to serve in the military or practice with weapons. More than five hundred years before there had been a few minor incidents between Isaac and the Philistines over land. When Israel left Egypt there were six hundred thousand adult men besides their families. The Philistine and other populations had grown in a similar manner, and an invasion by such a large group would undoubtedly be violently resisted. With no military experience or weapons, when confronted with such a powerful army, Israel might well return to Egypt for protection. To prevent that, God instead led them southward into the Sinai peninsula between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The only settlements were along the coasts of the two gulfs.

  “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.” (Exodus 13:19)

Just before his death, Joseph had instructed his relatives to carry his remains back to Canaan when they returned. Genesis 50:24-26 tells the story. “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”  Four hundred years later, Moses fulfilled that request.

  “And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” (Exodus 13:20-22)

After following the caravan route across the relatively fertile Suez valley, Israel came to Etam, on the edge of the Sinai wilderness. From that point God led them off the beaten trail southward into the wilderness, using pillar of cloud by day to guide them and by night a pillar of fire both to guide and to provide light so they could travel around the clock.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.” (Exodus 14:1-4)

In addition to sending the cloud to guide them, God verbally instructed Israel to proceed south eastward toward a specific point on the Gulf of Aqaba. Just across the Gulf from the ruins of Baalzephon is the Wadi Watir, a large canyon providing the only ready access to the Gulf in that area. During the New Kingdom period, Egypt would construct a fortress at the upper end of the Wadi Watir at Migdol to prevent invasion by sea.

 Knowing that there was no way to escape from the Sinai for such a large group of people, Pharaoh would assume that they were lost and trapped. It would seem relatively easy to recapture and enslave them again, and God would reinforce his determination to do so in order to conclusively convince the Egyptians that God was truly God.

The mouth of the Wadi Watir is about two hundred thirty miles from Succoth, and it would have required at least six days of forced marching from very early in the morning until late at night to have made the journey. There would have been no time to allow leavening to work in the bread during the this first part of the Journey. The seven days of unleavened bread following Passover were a reminder of this forced march. Knowing Pharaoh would be coming, Israel pushed hard to escape.

Please note that while the route described is not he route shown on most Bible maps, it is supported by geological and topological details described in the scriptures, by anthropological studies of local people’s place names, legends and traditions, and by archaeological discoveries. Many maps label the Gulf of Suez as the Red Sea but name the Gulf of Aqaba separately, causing many scholars to assume only the Suez is part of the Red Sea. As a result most maps list several alternative crossings of the Suez valley, often of swampy ground that is only occasionally flooded, rather than the Sea itself. This has fueled a lot of doubt about the entire story of the Exodus. Interestingly, during the 1967 war with Egypt, Moshe Dyan led group of Israeli soldiers across the same route in the opposite direction in six days, without traveling into the night.

Redemption Of The Firstborn Male

Exodus 13:1-16

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Exodus 13:1-2)

When the death angel passed through the land he was to kill the first born male offspring of every domestic animal and family that was not protected by the blood of the Passover. All those protected by the blood were saved from death, but from that time forward God claimed the firstborn male as his own. They would all have died except for God’s special provision. Later he gave specific instructions about the firstborn.

“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.” (Exodus 13:3-5)

God had given Moses specific directions as to how and why Israel was to commemorate the Passover. After explaining what they were to do to prepare for their deliverance, Moses then instructed the people about commemorating it in the future. When they obtained their own land it was to be observed on the same date, to remind them both of God’s deliverance from Egypt and his fulfillment of the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, more than four hundred thirty years before.

“Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:6-8)

For seven days after the Passover, Israel was to eat unleavened bread, to drive home what God had done for them. The use of unleavened bread was important to the children’s future understanding of what had been done. For the first few days, they had no opportunity to stop and fix food the way they had done it in Egypt. Seven days of eating the unleavened bread would help drive home an understanding of what had taken place. Almost everyone would prefer leavened bread, and the fact of eating it for several days would call attention to the fact that they had no choice.

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” (Exodus 13:9-10)


A thing repeated too frequently loses it’s significance. For example, taking one’s family to McDonald’s, is special for people like my brother’s family when they lived in Wyoming. The closest McDonald’s was eighty miles away and they couldn’t go very often. On the other hand, for people who eat out regularly, even a dinner at Red Lobster may mean very little, simply because they do it so often.

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” (Exodus 13:9-10)

God specified that the Passover was to be celebrated once a year, on a specific date, by individual families, just as they would have eaten during the original event when they left Egypt. Each command was to make Israel’s deliverance more real to future generations. It was to be done in memory of what God had done. The next seven days would further reinforce their understanding. Modifying any aspect of the celebration would lessen the effectiveness as a memorial.

“And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” (Exodus 13:11-13)

When the death angel passed through Egypt he was to kill the oldest male offspring of every human and domestic animal. By painting the blood on their doorposts and door lintels, showing that the lamb had been slain for them, the Jews were able to keep their males from being taken. In recognition of the fact that God had the right to every one of them, Israel was to give him all the first born males. Animals approved for sacrifice could be sacrificed to the Lord. Donkeys were not approved for sacrifice so they had the choice of giving a lamb in his place or killing the colt. Every first born male baby had to be redeemed with a lamb.

“And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.” (Exodus 13:14-15)

This custom was to be practiced when the Israelites took the land of Canaan, at every birth. Sooner or later the children would ask why they always did this, and they were then to explain the basis for it.

“And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:16)

Just as Hindu women may have a jewel on their forehead or wear a particular identifying ring or bracelet, the Jews were to make these customs a part of their everyday life that constantly reminded themselves and others of their Jewish heritage.

As Jesus pointed out, these things are not for a show to others but for a reminder to us.

Qualifications To Partake Of Passover

Exodus 12:43-51

While most Americans today understand that the Fourth of July commemorates the signing of the declaration of Independence, Many do not appreciate the sacrifices involved in obtaining our freedom. Many don’t understand the reasons for the adoption of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights and thus or of the Declaration of Independence and thus are willing to overlook actions by our government that encroach on those protections.

To many who have grown up as Americans and been educated in our schools. the Fourth is just a day of partying, listening to some music and enjoying a fireworks display. Those who have immigrated and obtained their citizenship are far more familiar with American history than most who have grown up here. The group most aware of what our freedom has cost is our veterans, who placed their lives on the line to preserve it.

God instituted the Passover as a way of ensuring that Israel would never forget what had happened to them and be willing to return to the same state. For those who were not citizens of Israel, Passover would have no more meaning than Cinco de Mayo does for most residents of the United States, who view it as just a day to party.

“And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.” (Exodus 12:43-45)

Before anyone could participate in the Passover, he had to become a Jew. Just being present did not enable him to participate. It was not open to outsiders. Remembering that the Lord’s supper was instituted during Passover, the same rules would have been in effect when it was instituted, although they might or might not be required. Since Communion serves the same purpose for Christians as Passover does for Jews, it seems that a similar standard should probably apply.

In I Corinthians 11:26-29, Paul warns, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” Clearly there are restrictions as to who should partake of the Lord’s Supper.

“In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” (Exodus 12:46)

The Passover was only to be partaken by those who made the effort to be present and take it with the rest of the family. It was not to be carried to shut-ins or others who couldn’t attend. The modern practice of taking communion to those who can’t attend is prohibited if these guidelines apply to the communion.

“All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.” (Exodus 12:47)

All the Jews were to keep Passover, not just a select few, not just those in good standing or positions of authority. Each person was responsible to prepare himself to partake. Today some avoid attending Communion because they are involved in sin they are not willing to give up. In Luke 22:19-20 Jesus declared that the elements of the lord’s supper represent his body and the new covenant he offered with his blood. He commanded us to take it in remembrance of him. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

“And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” (Exodus 12:48-49)

A person who was not qualified to partake of Passover could become qualified by first submitting to circumcision as a sign of his acceptance of God’s promises to Israel. Doing so removed any distinction between himself and any other Jew. Failure to do so prevented his being allowed to partake. Just as circumcision signified acceptance of God’s promises in the Old Testament, Baptism signifies acceptance of Christ’s atonement and salvation in the New Testament. An unsaved person can qualify to receive Communion by accepting Christ and being baptized. If he does not, he falls under that judgment described in I Corinthians 11:29-30. “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” He is, albeit unknowingly, making a mockery of Christ’s death on the cross.

“Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” (Exodus 12:50-51)

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.

Preparing The Passover

Exodus 12:21-28

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” (Exodus 12:21-23)

God had informed Moses of what he was going to do and given instructions how Israel was to commemorate it forever as a way of being reminded what God had done. Before they could commemorate the event, it had to occur. Moses gave specific instructions to Israel as to what they needed to do to prepare for their deliverance.

Each family was to take a lamb sufficient to feed their household and kill it, catching the blood. A handful of hyssop stems were to then be dipped into the blood and used to paint it onto the door posts and lintel or top member of the door of the house. Anyone entering or leaving the house would thus have to pass through the blood. Once the blood was applied no one was to go out until the following morning. The judgment was to destroy the Egyptians, and anyone inside the doors where the blood had been applied would be safe. The God would not allow the death angel to enter where the blood had been applied. Anyone outside the blood was at risk.

All that was required to save a person’s life was to apply the blood, and then stay inside. Christ is our Passover as Christians, “and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” according to I John 1:7. John 3:36 declares, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John is specific that belief is sufficient.

Just as the Hebrews had to remain inside the doors, “Christian” must remain in the faith of Christ. Colossians 1:22-23 states, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;…” Unfortunately, there are those who mentally assent to belief but never commit to it, and as I John 2:19 states, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” Those who turn away appear to be unsaved people who simply attached themselves for while but leave when difficulty or persecution comes.

“And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” (Exodus 12:24-27)

Celebrating the Passover exactly as specified by God would cause future generations to ask the meaning and learn what God had done for them. The New Testament ordinance of Communion serves the same purpose, giving us a reminder of what Christ has done for us. Passover was not a sacrament, because keeping the ritual did not save them from the death angel, although refusal to keep it was grounds for disfellowship. In the same way, Communion is not a sacrament, but an ordinance. The verses in John 6 do not imply that partaking of the communion service will save anyone.

After hearing what was promised, the Israelites bowed their heads in worship. Worship in scripture always resulted in bowing humbly before the Lord. It is frequently missing in modern “worship” activities. The people then went on to obey God’s instructions..

“And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.” (Exodus 12:28)

Instructions For Commemorating The Passover

Exodus 12:14-19

God had instructed Israel what they were to do in order to escape the Judgment on Egypt and be prepared to leave when they were allowed to go. When Israel came into Egypt, they had gone as a small family unit. In Egypt, they had just been a minor ethnic group, serving the Egyptians. The day they are set free will be their Independence Day, the day they became a free nation. Politically, celebrating Passover is very much like celebrating the Fourth of July in the United States, Boxing Day in Canada or Cinco de Mayo in Mexico. It reminds them of how their nation was formed.

Because Israel’s freedom was accomplished through a series of actions by God with no real action by Israel itself beyond simply following God’s instructions, Passover is a tribute to God’s power and love. Religiously, it is about the equivalent of Christians celebrating the resurrection on Easter or Christ’s birth at Christmas.

Frequently in the United States, our Fourth of July celebrations have focused entirely on the day off and the fireworks displays, with little attention given to what they meant. Christmas is so focused on Santa Claus and giving presents that the reason for Christ’s birth is forgotten and hunting Easter eggs is more important than the Resurrection. To prevent losing it’s meaning, God gave specific instructions as to how Passover was to be celebrated.

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” (Exodus 12:14)

That very night Israel would be delivered from the power of Egypt. They would never return to Egypt again. They were to celebrate Passover as a reminder of deliverance that would never be needed again. Though sin would lead to their becoming slaves in the future, they would never lose their national identity. They were to never stop celebrating God’s deliverance.

The night before he was executed, under the Jewish method of keeping time, on Passover day, Christ celebrated Passover with his disciples. While partaking the Passover, He instituted the Lord’s Supper as described in Luke 22:15-19. “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

I Corinthians 5:7 tells us that Christ is our Passover, and he has commanded us to celebrate the Communion service in remembrance of him just as the Jews celebrated the Passover. Just as specific guidelines were laid down here for celebrating the Passover, to prevent it losing its meaning, specific guidelines were laid out for the celebration of communion in I Corinthians 11. We will look at those guidelines as we go.

“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. ” (Exodus 12:15-16)

In the future celebrations of Passover, Israel was to eliminate any leavening agent for a period of seven days, Any one who ate leavened food during that period was to be cut off from Israel, to be disfellowshipped. For the seven days after the Passover thre was to be no leavening found in any of their homes or food. Both the first day and the seventh Day were to an holy convocation or special religious assembly.

“And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.” (Exodus 12:17-18)

The feast of unleavened Bread was to start with the Passover in the evening of the fourteenth day of Nissan and continue through the twenty first day of Nissan. Since a three hundred sixty five day year does not divide evenly into seven day weeks, The fourteenth day of Nissan does not always fall on a certain day of the week. One of the ways we know that the Gregorian calendar, the modern system of dating is in error as to when Christ was crucified is that the record of the Passover in the New Testament and the Jewish calendar do not coincide with the Gregorian calendar for that year. In fact it must be at least three years later or four years earlier. It complicates giving exact dates for many of these events.

“Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.” (Exodus 12:19-20)

The importance of the use of unleavened bread was repeated, stressing that leavened bread during the feast would require separation whether by a resident or by a non resident.

In I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul was addressing the issue of those who claimed to be Christians and refused to stop their sin. He said it was the church’s responsibility to separate from those who refused, using this prohibition of leavened bread as the basis. “…Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

In I Corinthians 11:27-32, Paul gives a specific warning to those who would partake of the Lord’s supper. “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

In taking Communion, we are commemorating that Christ has forgiven us and taken away our sins. A person who partakes of the Communion with unrepented and unforgiven sin makes a mockery of what Christ has done. As Paul points out, it is not a matter to take lightly. Prior to taking the Communion there should be a time of self examination to see if we are qualified to partake and to put away any sin that might prevent us partaking. I John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Paul introduces his teaching on Communion in I Corinthians 11:23-26. “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." It must never become just a ritual or custom we follow.

Israel was commanded to keep the Passover annually. Christ did not specify that Christians were to keep the communion just once a year although the fact that it was instituted during his celebration of the Passover would seem to imply such was his intent. Over the years I have known a number of people who refused to partake because of sin in their lives. He commanded us, “… this do in remembrance of me.” Refusal to do so implies they are not willing to put the sin out of their lives and they do not appreciate what Christ has done for them. Matthew 18:15-17 describes the steps to be taken with people who refuse to quit sin, and is the basis for Paul’s teaching in I Corinthians 5.