All written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Exodus – God Makes a Way.” All corresponding video presentations may be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFXW6HwOySA&list=PL7JRppjEn33ZzlfbuQKdvQQfsrkwm0GC5. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send a message via the “Contact” button.
Ex 11:1-10 The Warning of the Last Plague
Pharaoh – not just “let go,” but “drive out!” Ex 6:1; 11:8; 12:31-36.
Silver and gold: perhaps overdue payment for service. Irony: Egyptians “contributed” to equipping the tabernacle! Also clothes. Ex 12:35.
He “gave the people favor.” Cf. Ex 3:21; 12:36; Ps 106:46; Pr 16:7.
And “Moses was very great.” Sounds like …? Gen 39:2-6, 21-23.
God’s anger with Moses. Pharaoh with Moses. Moses with Pharaoh.
Pharaoh was [your answer]. Stubborn? Unbelieving? Proud? [Other}?
Was God just in killing the firstborn? Ex 1:22; 4:23.
11:9-10 Summary statement re: the plagues.
Ex 12:1-13 The Lamb of the Passover
Abib (or Nisan) (Mar-Apr) – to begin religious calendar and nation.
10th Abib: choose the lamb. Small families combine and share.
Unblemished (Dt 15:21; Mal 1:8). Male. One year old. Sheep or goat.
14th Abib: kill all lambs at same time, between sunset and darkness.
Must apply the blood! Grace free, yet received via required conditions.
Lintel: horizontal beam connecting the doorposts on the top. Unleavened bread: of affliction, prepared in haste (12:39; Dt 16:3). Herbs bitter, as was their bondage.
Dressed, faithful, expectant, ready and eager to leave! Same for us!
“When I see the blood …” HYMN.
Ex 12:14-23 The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Abib 14 – Passover. Abib 15-21 – Feast to follow.
Leaven: added to dough to ferment, causing bread to rise. Hebrews’ custom – save a pinch of leavened dough from the previous day of baking and knead it into the new batch.
Why would Yahweh forbid leaven, on pain of being “cut off?”
By Jesus’ time, leaven became a symbol of corruption and evil that quickly spread (Mt 16:6; Lk 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:9).
“Alien or native of the land (a Hebrew)” – anticipates Canaan.
Hyssop: common herb, bunched and used to sprinkle (blood).
For … “Pass over,” prevent “destroyer” (death angel)?
Ex 12:24-28 The Memorial of Salvation
“Forever” often = “throughout the age.” A specific king’s reign, a slave’s service, Levites’ and priests’ actions, sacrifices, tabernacle, etc.
Good discussion here: https://www.bible.ca/7-perpetual.htm.
“You and your children.” Discuss the home’s role in faith formation.
Read Ex 12:24-27. Note the process:
“First do it. Then let your children ask why you do it.” Then explain it!”
What happens when fathers follow this practice, or when they don’t?
Can church Bible classes or youth ministries replace home Bible study?
Why or why not?
Ex 12:29-33 The Execution of the Firstborn
From the greatest to the least to the cattle. None spared.
Pharaoh, revered as a god, could not face the true God, Yahweh.
All Egypt would see that their “god” could not deliver them.
Pharaoh’s oldest son would have inherited the throne.
Change from Moses asking Pharaoh to Pharaoh urging Moses.
“Go!” … “And bless me also.” Too late for that.
Egyptians: “Hurry up, before we all die!”
Note the New Testament re: God’s wrath and judgment … and hell.
John 3:36; Lk 19:27; Rom 1:18; 2:5; 2 Th 1:5-10; Rev 19:11-21.
Ex 12:34-41 The Exodus of the Hebrews
How quickly they gathered up their things! Excited! Couldn’t wait.
They “plundered” the “favorable” Egyptians. Perhaps the Egyptians did the favor not out of kindness, but out of urgency. “Take what you want, but just get out of here ASAP!” In any case, they chose to give.
From Rameses (storage city – Ex 1:11) to Succoth (“booths”).
About 600,000 men. 603,550 (Ex 38:26). (Num 1:46; 2:32; 11:21). Total number over two million people. “Mixed multitude” – Egyptians!
No time to pack food! Baked the unleavened dough they had brought.
430 years, to the day. (Gen 15:13-16 has 400. Rounded number, or 430 includes patriarchs’ previous time.) Acts 7:6; 13:17-20; Gal 3:17.
Ex 12:42-51 The Ordinance of the Passover
Because Yahweh kept vigil that night, Israel is to keep vigil.
Who may participate? Foreigner. Hired worker. Circumcised slave.
Sojourning stranger, if all males circumcised.
Gentiles (non-Hebrews) welcome, not excluded as in NT times!
Stranger treated as native (Ex 12:19; Lev 16:29; 17:8, 15; 18:26; 19:33, 34; 20:2; 22:18; 24:16, 22; Num 9:14; 15:14-16, 26, 29, 30).
Israel: to be a light, drawing all nations to Yahweh. Same for us!
All of it to be eaten, in a single house.
Not a bone to be broken. Num 9:12; Ps 34:20; John 19:33, 36.
Ex 13:1-16 The Consecration of the Firstborn
Each male (13:12-15) that “opens the womb” set apart for Yahweh, because He spared the firstborn in Egypt. (13:15; Num 3:13; 8:17, 18)
Remember this day. Keep this service. Eat this bread. Tell your son!
“As a sign on your hands” = directing your actions. “As a memorial between your eyes” = directing your mind and view. (Dt 6:4-9; 11:18).
Later Jews literally placed leather bands with small Scripture boxes (“phylacteries”) on their foreheads and left arms. Mt 23:5.
Redeem a donkey (unclean) by offering a substitute (lamb).
Redeem (buy back) first son with 5 silver shekels (Num 18:15-16). Note Jesus’ own case (Lk 2:22-24).
