Another Test Of Their Faith

A few days after God provided Manna, the children of Israel left the desert floor to cross some of the foothills of Mount Sinai, an area known as Rephidim, as described in Exodus 17:1-3.  “And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.  Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink.

And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”

Though they were following the pillar of cloud and fire exactly where God led them, the people again blamed Moses for the lack of water, accusing him of not caring what happened to them.  Moses became concerned that they might well turn on him, and prayed for help, in Exodus 17:4-7.  “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.  Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”

God caused water to gush out of one of the large rock formations when Moses hit it.   Moses referred to the area as Massah, a place of testing’, and Meribah, or ‘quarrelling”.  Israel clearly failed the test of their faith.   Years later, in Numbers 33, they would return to the same place to be tested again. 

God proceeded to show them that it was him who was taking care of them, and not Moses, using the Amalekites, in Exodus 17:8-13.  “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

Clearly, if it was dependent on Moses, they would have been defeated.  Moses wasn’t even strong enough to hold up his hands in prayer long enough to gain the victory, and Joshua could not win except when Moses was praying.  It isn important reminder that success is due to God’s power, not our leadership. 

God specifically instructed Moses to record this event as a permanent reminder of what God had done, and reminding them that God would exact revenge on the Amalekites at the proper time, in Exodus 17:14-16.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.  And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Genesis 36 tells us that the Amalekites were descendants of Esau.  Five hundred years later they attacked Jacob’s family in an attempt to destroy them.  God said he would hold that against them for generations, as they clung to the old enmity, and another five hundred years later, he would order Saul to destroy them in I Samuel 15.  Saul’s disobedience resulted in Haman’s attempt to kill all the Jews, in Esther 3-7.   Haman was a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag, who Saul was ordered to destroy.     

God provides Manna

Israel had held the first Passover at sundown on the fourteenth day of the first month.  At midnight, the death angel Killed the firstborn, and the Egytpians forced them to leave early in the morning of the fifteenth .  Seven days later, they saw Pharaoh and his army destroyed in the Red Sea.  Three days later, they came to Marah where the water was bitter and they complained.  From Mara they went to Elim, staying for several days.  On the fifteenth day of the second month, they came into the wilderness of Sin, on the southern and eastern side of Mount Sinai, according to Exodus 16:1.  “And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” 

They had used up the food they brought from Egypt and the the dessert did not grow enough food to feed the six hundred thousand men, much less the women and children that accompanied them.   Just a month after leaving Egypt the people began to complain that they wished they hadn’t left, as Exodus 16:3 tells us.  “And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 

God promised to provide food on a daily basis. He gave specific instructions as to how they were to collect it, in an effort to teach them to follow his instructions day by day and grow their faith, as Exodus 16:4-5 describes.  “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.  And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” 

Note:    The writer of Exodus also describes them getting quail to eat in the evening, but Numbers 11 tells us God did not start sending the quail until a year later, making it clear the two books were not written by the same person, despite the tradition. 

Exodus 16:14-18 describes Israels first experience with Manna.  “And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was.

And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.  This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.  Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.  And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.  And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.”

During the week the leftovers had spoiled, so on Friday, when the people gathered twice as much, following Moses’ instructions, the leaders came to Moses to complain that the people were doing something different.    Moses pointed out that the people were doing exactly what god had commanded, in Exodus 16:23-26.  “And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.  And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.  And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.  Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. “

The leaders were not the only ones who did not listen, as we see in Exodus 16:27-31.  “And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?  See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  So the people rested on the seventh day.  And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

People tend to forget what God has said or done very quickly.  Israel began to complain just a month after God had delivered them from slavery, and just a week after he gave them manna, many of them forgot or ignored his instructions.  Sadly, many today do the same things.  They woulod spend the next forty years eating manna, learning to trust God day by day. 

Trusting Moses Rather Than God

Israel had just seen God wipe out Pharaoh and his army on their behalf.  In Exodus 15:1-18, he led the people in a great song of praise, recounting the wonderful things God had done for them.  “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.  And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.  And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.  Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?  Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.  Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.  Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.  Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.  The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.  For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.”

After seeing all the plagues God sent on Egypt, and then seeing Pharaoh destroyed, the people were excited to sing a song of praise and talk about what God had done.  It seemed like they were wholly trusting God, but three days later everything changed, as Exodus 15:22-24 tells us.  “So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”

God was leading Israel day by day with his pillar of fire and cloud, and all the people could see it any time they looked.  Moses was just leading them to follow that cloud, just as he had led them to the edge of the Red Sea at Nuweiba, and just like they had then, they blamed Moses for leading them in the wrong direction.  Moses prayed, asking God what they should do, In Exodus 15:25-26.  “And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

God had deliberately brought them to this point to demonstrate whether they were depending on God or on Moses.  Periodically he still brings Christians to the point of showing whether their faith is in god or in the pastor or teacher.  Clearly the focus was on Moses at this point.  God told them that if they would trust Him completely, obeying all his commands, they would not experience the plagues and diseases the Egyptians experienced.  He showed Moses a tree that would make the waters drinkable, demonstrating again, t5he God had the power to deal with whatever situation arose.   He still does, and will bless if we just obey him. 

God Breaks Pharaoh’s Power

When Pharaoh saw the Israelites turn southward into a dead end route, he apparently concluded that God really wasn’t leading them or they should have known better than to go that way.  Perhaps all the plagues had been merely a coincidence.  He took the army after them, catching them on the beach at Nuweiba with nowhere to go.  The people panicked, sure Pharaoh was going to be very angry, as Exodus 14:10-12 tells us.  “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.” 

The people thought it would have been better to just stay slaves than to take the chance of being killed in the desert.  Moses told them to take a good look at the Egyptian army because they would never see it again, in Exodus 14:13-14.  “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.

God asked Moses why he was wasting time praying about what to do,when he already knew what God wanted in Exodus 14:15-18.  “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.”  God told Moses to lead the way and they would cross the Gulf of Aqaba on dry ground.  He also promised that he would harden Pharaoh’s heart to the point he would follow them into the sea, completely ignoring obvious danger, where God would destroy them. 

The Wadi Watir is a narrow gorge, preventing the Egyptiand from attacking in force through it.  Theo only other way to attack was by climbing over the cliffs., asnd God prevented them coming that way in Exodus 14:19-20.  “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.”  With the cloud blocking out even the stars and moon, the Egyptians were unable to see and did not dare try to scale the cliffs, but were forced to wait until daylight. 

When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, God caused it to part and the wind began to dry the soil beneath, according to Exodus 14:21-22.  “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.”   

Some have speculated that the wind pushed back the water and froze it in a manner similar to what happens in various ice caves around the world.  There are a number of factors that indicate this was a miraculous event and not just a large scale version of the natural phenomena. First off, the wind was from the wrong side to produce such and effect, since it was an east wind.  Secondly, the water is over a thousand feet deep at this point in the Gulf of Aqaba, and about eleven miles wide, and it would be impossible for such a natural event to freeze water to such a depth in such a few hours, even if the wind were strong enough to divide the water to such a depth, and finally, it takes months after a lake is drained for the soil to dry.  For it to dry overnight is unheard of.  Whatever mechanism God may have used, it was not a natural event. 

The Egyptians were so blinded by their determination to recapture the slaves they ignored the situation they were getting into, according to Exodus 14:23-25.  “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.  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.”

It must have been like going into a deep canyon, where even a small flash flood can trap and kill people, and in this case the walls of the canyon were of water.   If anything went wrong, there would be no way to escape, but Pharaoh and the army ignored the danger.  When they got too close to the Israelites, God caused their chariot wheels to come off, slowing them down a great deal.  Suddenly they realized the danger they were in and began to try to get back to safety. 

God directed Moses to stretch out his hand again and the waters went back to their normal places, in Exodus 14:26-28.  “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.”  With a thousand feet of water crashing down on them, the Egyptians had no chance.  There were no survivors, although a few bodies washed ashore. 

God used the very thing that destroyed the Egyptian army to save Israel, as Exodus 14:29-31 reminds us.  “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.”  As a result, the Israelites believed in God’s power. 

Historical notes:  Columns dating back to the time of Solomon were found on either side of the gulf  in the late 1800’s,  Inscriptions in Hebrew, Egyptian and Arabic indicate they marked the place where Israel crossed the Red Sea.  One of the markers was later placed in the British Museum, while the other remains in its proper place.  Divers say that there are a number of Egyptian chariot wheels dating back to the seventeenth century BC lying on the sea bottom. 

Egyptian record indicate Pharaoh’s sister ascended the throne but a revolution of foreign slaves forced her to flee to Memphis.  The slaves seized power, and held for about a hundred years, during what is known as the second intermediate period.  The slaves were known as the Hyksos, or foreigners. 

No Where To Go

The most obvious way for Israel to go to the land of Canaan was to follow the ancient caravan route north along the Mediterranean coast from Succoth.  Instead, God took them by a different route, according to Exodus 13:17-22.  “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.  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.

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.” 

The people had been slaves for four hundred years.   The Egyptians had been responsible for protecting them all that time, and if they had to fight the Philistines they might run back to Egypt for protection.   God led them in a different direction to prevent that from happening.   They journeyed east from Succoth to Etham, at the edge of the wilderness, possibly the fortress Ketham, located on the ancient Great Wall to of Egypt, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Suez to prevent invasion.   At Etham, they turned south rather than north, going into wilderness of the Red Sea, the area now known as the Sinai Peninsula.   

Historical note:  The Great Wall would be replaced with a canal, enabling Egyptians to sail from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and on to the Persian Gulf.  Eventually the canal walls collapsed and the canal was forgotten until the Suez Canal was built following roughly the same route, between 1859 and 1869 AD.

Israel was able to travel night and day, thanks to the pillar of cloud which showed the way by day and the pillar of fire which lighted the way at night.  They could be sure exactly where God wanted them to go by following the pillar.  When those in front played out they could stop for a rest and those behind would leap frog past them so that they never stopped. 

To accomplish his purpose and demonstrate his power fully upon both the Israelites and the Egyptians, God directed Led Israel southward into the Sinai Peninsula, where he directed them to turn eastward and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and Baalzephon.   Pihahiroth means literally “the mouth”, referring to the mouth of a gorge and is believed to refer to the mouth of the Wadi Watir, at present day Nuweiba, on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba.   Migdol refers to a tower or lookout and seems to refer to an Egyptian outpost on the cliffs above Nuweiba, while Baalzephon refers to a Temple to Baal which was built later on the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba.   Towering cliffs bar land access to Nuweiba except through the Wadi Watir, making it seem like a trap. 

This was the way God directed them, in Exodus 14:1-5.  “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.”

God warned that when they went into the Sinai Wilderness, Pharaoh would think they were lost and had trapped themselves.  He would change his mind and decide to recapture them, giving God the opportunity to show his power one more time. So that the Egyptians would recognize God as God. 

Exodus 14:5-9 tells what the Egyptians did.  “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?  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.”

When Pharaoh heard Israel had turned south, he was sure there was no way for them to escape from the Sinai Peninsula except by coming back North.   He and the Egyptians began to question why they had allowed Israel to leave.  Since God had obviously led them into a trap, it seemed likely that even the death of their firstborn had been just a coincidence.  Pharaoh determined to recapture them.  Six days after they left Egypt, he caught up with Israel encamped on the beach at Nuweiba, with no way to escape. 

Allowed To Leave

God had instructed Moses what Israel was to do to prepare for leaving Egypt.  He also instructed Moses as to how they were to celebrate their deliverance in the future so that they would not forget what god had done for them.    Moses gave the people a simplified explanation of what they needed to do, in Exodus 12:21-27.  “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.

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.”

Like the Egyptians, the Israelites had seen what God had done in each of the previous plagues..  Only part of the Egyptians had taken God’s warnings seriously.  The Israelites took this last warning very seriously as Exodus 12:28 describes.  “And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.”

Everything turned out exactly as the Lord had promised, according to Exodus 12:29-33.  “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.  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.  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.”

Someone died in every Egyptian home that night.  After the previous plagues. They were convinced they were all going to die if they didn’t set Israel free.  They literally drove them out of Egypt, in hopes of saving their own lives, offering their own belongings to encourage them to leave, in Exodus 12:34-36.  “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.”  Following Moses’ instructions. The people had prepared bread dough they could carry along and cook whenever they got the chance,, but had put no leaven in it so that it would keep for a few days.   With the dough already mixed, they would not need to unpack their kneading troughs or mixing bowls while they traveled.  The scripture is very clear that they were carrying mixed dough, not the separate ingredients, yet modern day Rabbis insist that if the dough has set for more than fifteen minutes before being cooked, is no longer unleavened.  It clearly reveals how easily people can distort what the scriptures teach.  Anyone who has ever baked anything knows that the dough will not rise unless a leavening agent such as yeast, sour dough, or baking powder is added.  Sour dough was the form of leaven most common in ancient times, and is probably what is referred to here. 

Forced to leave Egypt in the middle of the night, the people traveled to Succoth, just east of the present day Suez Canal and north of the Gulf of Suez.   Traders from Ethiopia and inland Egypt, and caravans from Libya or Morocco would assemble there before beginning the journey east or north.  The name come from the corrals and barns for holding their livestock and trade goods while waiting.  Exodus 12:37-39 describes this first stage of their journey, from the Delta region known as Ramses to the edge of Egypt.  “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.  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.”  Succoth was just outside to boundaries of Egypt, although still considered Egyptian territory.  At Succoth, they stopped to eat breakfast, using some of the dough they had prepared the day before. 

In Genesis 15:13-14, God had told Abraham Israel would be servants and slaves four hundred years.  “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.”  After that time they would be set free. 

Exodus 12:40-42 is very important, making it clear that the prophecy had been fulfilled.  “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.”  During the first thirty years joseph had great influence, but later, he was forgotten and the Israelites were enslaved.  They spent a total of four hundred thirty years in Egypt.  The celebration of Passover and the feast of unleavened bread is a reminder that God keeps his promise. 

Historical note  The Leiden Museum in Holland has a papyrus dating from the mid seventeenth century BC, known as the Ipuwer Papyrus.  It details a series of plagues similar to what is described in Exodus, and warns the Egyptians not to ignore the events.

Instructions to Prepare For The Final Plague

God had repeatedly warned the Egyptians what was coming.  When he warned them about the hail, some of them listened and some did not.  Many of the plagues did not hit the area where the Israelites lived so God had given them no special instructions.  The final plague would affect all the land, including Goshen.  As a result of it, God had said the Egyptians would almost drive them from Egypt.  He also knew that Pharaoh would change his mind within a few days, and that they needed to get out of Egypt as quickly as possible. 

He gave special instructions as to how they were to get ready for this plague, in Exodus 12:1-14.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.  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.”

They were to kill a lamb that evening, and paint the blood on both sides of the door jamb and across the top of the house where they were going to eat.  They were to have everything packed and be ready to leave as soon as they were given permission.  The meat was to be roasted over the fire so there would be no need for pots, and it was to be served with unleavened bread and wild herbs they gathered so there would be no dishes to wash when they got done.  Any leftovers were to be burned rather than trying to carry them along.   If a family was too small to eat an entire lamb, they were free to go to another family’s home and share with them, but they had to remain in the home where they ate. 

This was crucial because that night God was going to send the death angel through the land in any house that did not have the blood on the door, the eldest son would die as well as all the firstborn of their livestock.   If the blood had been applied to the door jamb as specified the death angel would Passover without killing anyone.   As a result, the Egyptians would be desperate for them to leave.  They were to simply wait where they were until told to leave.    

In the future, Israel was to re-enact what they did that night as a reminder of what God had done in setting them  free.  It was to be done every year on that specific date., as Exodus 12:14-20 tells us.  “ 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.  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.  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.  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.”

For the next seven days, they were to eat only unleavened bread  commemorating the seven days they would spend fleeing the Egyptians, when they would journey night and day, taking only a little time to mix up water and meal and cook it before going on.   Anyone who refused to keep the feast as specified was to be cut off or excommunicated from Israel.  On the first and last days of the feast there was to be a holy assembly of the entire nation, and during the feast there was to be no leaven allowed in their homes.