Daily Devotions
Exodus
"LORD, you have been favourable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob." Psalm 85:1
Text: Exodus 12 : 33, 35-38
THE DREAD OF THE EGYPTIANS
Ten plagues had been unleashed upon Egypt. One lesson stood out! The Egyptians now dreaded the presence of the children of Israel in their land. They could not wait to see them leave Egypt.
“And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might
send them out of the land in haste. For they said,
‘We shall be dead.'”
EXODUS 12:33
ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD
God had alerted Moses and the children of Israel that all these things would occur (Cf. Exodus 3:20-22)! And the word of God was fulfilled in every sense of the word!
“Now the children of Israel had done according
to the word of Moses, and they asked from the Egyptians
articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing.
And the LORD had given the people favour in the sight
of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested.
Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”
EXODUS 12:35-36
“The Word of Moses”
The children of Israel had come to accept and respect Moses as the one anointed by the Lord to lead them out of the land of Egypt! All that Moses told them to do, they willingly complied!
“The LORD had given the people favour”
Behind everything was the hand of the Lord! It was He who brought about this dramatic change of circumstances! The mighty hand of the Lord caused the Egyptians to have a very high regard of the children of Israel now.
All that the children of Israel requested, the Egyptians were more than happy to accede! The total result may well be summarized by the word “plundered”. (This word is not to be read in a negative way)!
THE SIZE OF THE EXODUS
Some have sought to downplay the size of the multitude that left the land of Egypt. These suggest that only a very small number of dissidents left Egypt. The Biblical record however offers a different perspective.
“Then the children of Israel journeyed from Ramases to Succoth,
about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.
A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds-
A great deal of livestock.”
EXODUS 12:37-38
A huge multitude left the land of Egypt! God had delivered Israel as He promised!