Exodus 12:34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35 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:
36 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.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39 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.
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41 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.
42 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.
In these verses we see again how God is in charge of all things. The devil is given some power but the LORD is all powerful. In verse 34 we read that the Hebrews took their dough before it was leavened and their kneadingtroughs in preparation for travel. The dough was the food they would eat on the way. Obviously there would be time to stop and bake this dough so they could eat it. God would protect them as they travelled.
In verse 35 the children of Israel obeyed the LORD through Moses, and they borrowed things from the Egyptians. They borrowed jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. The silver and gold would be used later in the construction of the Tabernacle. We know that God reminded the people near the end of their forty year wilderness wanderings that their clothing and their shoes never wore out during that time. This was an amazing thing, Some of those raiments that they borrowed may have been used for the materials needed for the Tabernacle.
In verse 36 we see that the Egyptians did not argue with the Hebrews. The LORD granted the Hebrews favour in the eyes of the Egyptians. At this time, the Egyptians did not blame the Hebrews for the tragic loss of life. They were willing to give them what they asked for. We read that the children of Israel spoiled the Egyptians. They did not need to go to war for this. The LORD had prepared the hearts of the people to be willing to give of their possessions. This was all material goods. God worked in the hearts of the Egyptians to give to the Hebrews.
God works in people’s hearts and He shows them their need to be saved, but it is never in a moment of emotional weakness that the LORD traps a person against their will. Salvation is something that must be entered into with the heart and the mind. It requires a genuine humility and a yielding to the will of the LORD. There are many who have been manipulated through subtle speakers who know how to work the emotional strings of the listener. There are car salesmen who know how to get the inquirer to agree with them and they can sell their wares. Others do the same. A God-fearing preacher does not do that. The Holy Spirit is the One working in the heart of the sinner to bring them to see their need and to respond in the right way. No true Christian can ever look back with regret and wish they had not bowed the knee to God. There are many who claim to be saved but they never let go of the love of the world. Their mouths betray them. Their actions betray them.
In verse 37 the nation of Israel began their journey out of Egypt. We are told the route they took. We read there were about six hundred thousand on foot that were men beside children. There was a large group of people here that needed to keep together on this journey. This group would grow in number as they journeyed as well.
Verse 38 tells us there was a mixed multitude that also went with them and flocks and herds and very much cattle. That mixed multitude that is mentioned here would be a thorn for the nation of Israel and for Moses, as they travelled. They were not on side and they would encourage the many doubters in the nation of Israel to work against Moses and the LORD. They would not win, but they would be there.
This opposition would be a problem for Moses but they would also cause him to trust in the LORD as he led the people. He could not guide them according to popular opinion. This was not a democratic population. This was a theocracy. If democracy would have prevailed, Israel would never have left Egypt.
In verse 39 we see that they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt. They did not have time to leaven this dough because they were thrust out of Egypt. They were also commanded by God not to use leaven at this time. They did not have time to prepare a lot of food ahead of time. God gave them enough food taken from Egypt to start their journey. From there they would need to trust the LORD to provide for them. God had a plan. The people did not always trust His plan, but He did not bring them on their way out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness.
Some years back a man named Jim Jones led over 900 people to a secluded place where he continued to convince them that they needed to prepare to escape this world. Some of those people were well educated people. However, they were all fools. None of them knew the LORD and they ignorantly followed Jim Jones. They eventually drank the cool-aid and they all perished.
In our account the nation of Israel saw the powerful hand of the LORD at work through Moses and Aaron. The LORD had prepared the people to follow a true leader. Moses was not like Pharaoh. Moses was a man of God who followed the LORD’s instructions. Pharaoh was a wicked man who followed the lies of the devil.
In verse 40 we read that Israel had spent four hundred and thirty years in Egypt, several generations removed from Joseph. Joseph was a man of faith. Moses’ parents were also people of faith. As we will see there were many within the nation of Israel who were not people of faith. They were too busy thinking of themselves and spent too little time learning the importance of knowing and trusting the true God.
In verse 41 we see that the nation of Israel left Egypt right on time. There were 10 plagues that God used to bring them on their way. None of that was a delay to His timing. He had everything under control. The people did not see that, but God wanted them to trust Him. No one will ever go wrong in trusting the true God. He tells us what we need to do and those who listen to Him are blessed. He tells us how to be saved and then He instructs His children how to walk by faith. He is faithful.
In verse 42 we see that this night of the Passover was one to be much observed. Notice it was to be much observed unto the LORD. It was the LORD that brought them out with a strong hand. It was important for the children of Israel to observe this night in their generations.
As we have noted before, we need constant reminders of God’s goodness and His truth. In the Old Testament times they had the sacrifices and they had the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They had priests who were to teach them the law and to conduct the sacrifices in accordance with God’s law. In the New Testament the fulfillment of the Tabernacle and the Temple came in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sacrifices were fulfilled in Him as well. He declared that He would build His church upon Himself. It is unwise to downplay the importance of a true local church. God expects His people to be a part of a true local church. We need to be reminded of His truth. We are not to take His Word and use it as a smorgasbord when and if we feel like it. We are to faithfully attend a true church for the purpose of learning and fellowshipping in the presence of the true God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and with other saints. Lost people need to be taught as well. They need to be saved and become a part of a true local church. There is also the need to invite others to come and hear the truth and be saved. We need the truth. The Lord commands every true believer to be faithful in a true local church each and every Lord’s day. According to New Testament writing, the early churches got together daily to be instructed in the Word of the Lord. We certainly need more than one day of assembling together today. We can see how compromise and weakness has beset many professing Christians today. Let us learn the importance of attending a true house of God today and let us obediently be a part of a true local church.
Pastor Bartel
