Passing Over

Scripture Passage: Exodus 7 - 12

1. You can climb over the mountain.
2. You can go around the mountain.
3. You could try to tunnel through the mountain.

If you are to get to your destination, you have to deal with the mountain in your path.  The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt by a mighty ruler called Pharaoh.  He was the mountain in their path to freedom.  The Israelites had nothing with which to fight Pharaoh.

God had planned all along to deliver them from Pharaoh.  For this "mountain" in God's path, He decided on a 4th option - God decided to level the mountain so the Israelites could walk right through it.  But just as it is hard to level a mountain, it was hard for God to deal with Pharaoh.  He acted righteously and patiently but, in the end, Pharaoh brought destruction on Himself and the entire land of Egypt.

Outline:

1. Nine Horrible Plagues (Exodus 7-10)
2. One Final Knockout Blow (Exodus 11)
3. One Amazing Salvation (Exodus 12:1-30)

1. Nine Horrible Plagues

Were these horrible plagues really necessary for the Egyptians to release the Israelites?  Consider that their economy and prosperity were based on slave labor.  Taking that labor away meant that the entire Egyptian culture would be radically changed.  One does not threaten a way of life without radical opposition.  The United States civil war in the 1860's is a modern day proof of that maxim. 

Consider also the leader of the Egyptians - Pharaoh.  He ruled as a "god" to his people with absolute and unmerciful power.  God let us know from the start that Pharaoh had a hard heart toward God and God's people:

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.  (Exodus 3:19-20, NIV)

Q: What does it take for God to convince you of His will?

Q: Consider your own heart toward God - is there something God wants that you are predisposed to say "No!" to Him?

Pharaoh had a hard heart toward His Creator as he led the people of Egypt in worshiping created things instead.  So God instituted the plagues to tear down the mountain that Pharaoh represented to the Israelites.  There were nine plagues that set the stage for the last one.

Q: Why were there so many plagues and of such an unusual nature?

• The Egyptians worshiped many false gods.
• These "gods" took their form from nature and animals.
• The plagues dealt with specific false "gods" to show how powerless they were.

Interestingly, Pharaoh's magicians were able to replicate some of the wonders and plagues that God brought on the Egyptians:

• Moses' staff became a snake and then a staff again (Exodus 4:2-5; 7:10-12).  The magicians in Pharaoh's court "did the same things by their secret arts" (Exodus 7:11, NIV).
• The waters of Egypt were turned into blood (Exodus 7:20-21).  The magicians "did the same things by their secret arts" (Exodus 7:22, NIV).
• Frogs were brought out of the rivers and filled the land (Exodus 8:5-6).  Again, the magicians "did the same things by their secret arts" (Exodus 8:7, NIV).

For these initial signs from God, the magicians performed some sort of trickery that was enough to further convince Pharaoh that he did not need to concern himself about the God of the Israelites.  His heart was already hard - the fact that his magicians could do the same things was just further confirmation for Pharaoh.

Q: Why would God allow such trickery?

• The fact that there are counterfeits of anything proclaims that there is one true thing.
• God allows us certain freedoms for a time - the freedom to seek Him or to reject Him.
• God allows the devil certain powers in this world:

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV)

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24, NIV)

9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, NIV)

Do you love the truth that God proclaims and seek Him?  Or do you turn away from what you know to be true?  The warnings of these false signs could not be clearer.  If you will not accept the truth of God's reality and deity, then you will fall under the influence of the devil.  Do not bring such chaos upon yourself and your loved ones.  Seek the one true God who created all things (Genesis 1:1) and revealed Himself in the person and work of Jesus (John 1:1,14).

Understand also that the LORD does not allow complete freedom to the devil - there are limits to how far he can go (Job 1:12; 2:6).  In the case of the plagues, the magicians could mimic the first two but could not mimic the third - the dust of Egypt was turned into gnats.

Q: Why did the magicians fail to turn dust into gnats?

• Because God had turned "All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats" (Exodus 8:17, NIV).
• There was no dust left for the magicians to use.

It was at this point that the magicians knew that Moses and Aaron were no mere magicians - they told Pharaoh: "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19, NIV).

2. One Final Knockout Blow

The nine plagues were not enough to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites.  Even though the land was devastated and his own court officials were begging him to let the people go (Exodus 10:7), Pharaoh would not bend.  So the tenth plague was unleashed - the firstborn of every son of every mother in Egypt would be killed, along with the firstborn cattle:

¹Now the LORD said to Moses, "One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely ... ⁴Moses said, "Thus says the LORD, 'About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, ⁵and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well. ⁶'Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. (Exodus 11:1,4-6, NIV)

Moses carried the LORD's message to Pharaoh concerning the last plague.  The LORD knew that this would finally drive Pharaoh to free the Israelites.

Q: Does this plague from God bother you - it seems most severe?

• Innocent children and babies were killed that night ... or were they?

Q: Are any children and babies, born of Adam, truly innocent before a holy God?

• The innocence is purely from our human perspective.
• The truth is that every single person born of Adam is born with a sinful nature.
• No one is innocent - not even a child.
• If God chooses to destroy any of us, that is His prerogative because He is our Creator.
• If God chooses to destroy any of us, He is righteous and just in so doing.

So God instituted the Passover celebration, also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  In this first Passover celebration, the people were commanded to:

• Select a lamb to sacrifice - one without blemish or defect (Exodus 12:3-5).
• Care for the lamb as for a pet (Exodus 12:6).
• Sacrifice the lamb and spread its blood over the sides and top of the door to their home (Exodus 12:7).
• Roast and eat the meat of the lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8-10)
• Eat it quickly, with your cloak tucked in, sandals on your feet, and staff in hand (Exodus 12:11).

Eating the lamb in this way symbolized their life in Egypt:

• Bitter herbs representing the sorrow of their cruel enslavement.
• Unleavened bread representing the haste with which they had to leave Egypt that night.
• Eating quickly representing the swift deliverance to come from the LORD.

Q: How did the Passover lamb foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ?

• He was like a perfect lamb without defect or blemish.
• He shed His blood (gave His life) as a covering for our sin - not just to cover but to take it away completely.
• John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) and proclaimed: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, NIV).

This first Passover was turned into a memorial by God to commemorate His mighty deliverance of His people.  And just as God predicted, anyone in Egypt who did not observe the Passover had their firstborn child struck down:

²⁹Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. ³⁰Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.

The tenth plague was the final knockout blow for Pharaoh.  His nation was ruined in every way - economically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Their false gods did nothing to prevent the Israelites from leaving.  They were powerless against the one true God of the Israelites.

Q: Do bitter and difficult circumstances cause you to question God's concern for your life?  What about His power to do anything about the difficulties?

• The Israelites surely wondered about God for many, many years.
• Yet in God's plan and timing, He acted in miraculous ways to break the chains of Pharaoh.

God hears your cry for help and He cares for you more than you can ever know.  The One who spoke the universe into existence is the same One who can and will work in your life.  But His work is always according to His specific plans and purpose.  Keep trusting Him no matter how dark the night or how bitter the day.  As Spurgeon once said,

Let us learn to leave providence in the hand of the Counsellor, let us rest assured that he is too wise to err in his predestination, and too good to be unkind, and that in the council of eternity, the best was ordained that could have been ordained—that if you and I had been there, we could not have ordained half so well, but that we should have made ourselves eternal fools by meddling therewith. Rest certain, that in the end we shall see that all was well, and must be well for ever. He is "Wonderful, the Counsellor," for he counselled in matters of providence.  ³

3. One Amazing Salvation

³¹Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said. ³²"Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also." (Exodus 12:29-32, NIV)

The Egyptians nearly pushed the Israelites out of their land.  They could not get rid of them quick enough.  The Israelites left in a hurry - but not before they "asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing ... so they plundered the Egyptians" (Exodus 12:35-36, NIV). 

Is God good or what!  God not only delivered the Israelites their freedom, He gave them the wealth of Egypt as well.

God's salvation is so much greater than we could ever imagine.  The whole historic episode in the life of Israel is itself a symbol of the salvation that God has provided for every single person:

• Egypt represents our life of sin that brings sorrow and bitterness as its inevitable outcome.
• The Passover represents the death of the LORD Jesus - the Lamb of God - who died for our sins to bring us forgiveness and eternal life.
• The deliverance from Egypt represents the salvation that God provides when you believe the good news of the LORD Jesus.  He delivers you from the life of sin and grants you the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Q: Have you ever personally confessed your sin to the LORD Jesus and put your trust in Him - believing He died for your sins and rose from the grave to prove He is LORD of all? 

• If not, there is no better time than right now.  Spend a few minutes prayerfully reading through the good news of God's GRACE.
• If you have already committed your life to the LORD Jesus, then thank Him for His amazing salvation.

Conclusion

The Israelites went from slavery to abundance because of God's plan and purpose.  Though they lived in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40) - and much of that time in slavery - they were never forgotten nor forsaken by the LORD.

That is His promise to all who believe in the LORD Jesus - our own Passover Lamb:

⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ⁶So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

End Notes

1. Walvoord, John F. and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books: USA, copyright 1985, p. 120.

2. Kendall, David A (PhD). Insects and Other Arthropods. Retrieved 3/20/2010 from http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/sacredinsect.htm#fly.

3. Spurgeon, Charles. The Spurgeon Archive: His Name - The Counsellor.  Retrieved 3/20/2010 from http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0215.htm.

Copyright 2010, Randy Lariscy.