Exodus 12:26-51 (Same Day Arrival/Same Day Departure)

The Israelites were instructed that when their children asked them about the reason for having the service, they should say, “It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.” The people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then they went and did as they were told by Moses and Aaron regarding getting the lamb just as the Lord commanded. At midnight, the Lord killed all of the firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh’s palace to the captive who was in the dungeon. All of the firstborn of the livestock died too. Pharaoh, his servants and all of the Egyptians got up during the night and there was a great cry throughout Egypt. Every household had a dead family member. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in the night and told them to leave from among his people and to take the children of Israel with them and go serve the Lord as they wanted. Pharaoh told them to take their flocks and herds as well. Pharaoh had the audacity to ask them to bless him also. Google sources indicate that Pharaoh was asking for them to pray for him. They also seem to suggest Pharaoh felt like he was doing the children of Israel a favor by letting them go, thus another reason for them to bless him. Really? Have you ever had to deal with a person who felt entitled through their twisted thought patterns? Not only did Pharaoh want them gone, but all of the Egyptians wanted them gone, fearing that they all would end up dead. So, the children of Israel took their dough before it was leavened with their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. The children of Israel did as they were instructed earlier, so they had articles of silver, gold and clothing from the Egyptians. God gave them favor with the Egyptians, so they granted their requests for the items. Thus, the Israelites plundered the Egyptians.

The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. Most Google sources show Rameses as a city or district in Goshen. There were about 600,000 men on foot in addition to children. Research (yes, Google) indicates that this 600,000 counted were men twenty years old and older. Anyone (male or female) under twenty was considered a child. A mixed multitude left Egypt with the Israelites also. Google research suggests that the mixed multitude possibly included some people from other countries who saw this as an opportunity to leave slavery in Egypt and even some Egyptians themselves left. There was a great deal of livestock that went with them also. In Succoth, they baked unleavened cakes from the dough they brought from Egypt. The bread wasn’t leavened because they were driven out of Egypt and couldn’t wait. They had not prepared provisions for themselves neither.

The sojourn of the children of Israel in Egypt was 430 years. A sojourn is a temporary stay in one place. Can you imagine a 430-year stay being considered temporary? From God’s point of view, this stay wasn’t even half of a day (2 Peter 3:8 – “…with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.”) At the end of the 430 years, on that very same day, all the armies of the Lord left out of Egypt. It is to be recognized as a night of solemn observance throughout the generations to the Lord for bringing them out of Egypt. Wow! Look at God! The day Jacob (Israel) and all of his family arrived in Egypt is the same day, the Israelites left Egypt, 430 years later – same day arrival/same day departure. Have there ever been circumstances in your life that you and/or others passed off as coincidences? Did you ever stop to think that it could have been God carefully orchestrating your life’s pathway?

Passover Regulations – No foreigner shall eat it. However, every man’s servant bought for money can eat it after being circumcised. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it.

The Passover food should only be eaten in one house. The flesh cannot be carried outside of the house, nor shall any of its bones be broken. All the congregation of Israel shall keep the Passover. When a stranger dwells with the Israelites and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, all the males would have to be circumcised and then they can come near and keep it. The stranger shall be as a native of the land. No uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger dwelling among them.

The children of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.

It was on that very same day, that the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt according to their armies. Same day arrival/Same day departure.

The next stop is Exodus 13.

To God Be The Glory!