After the final plague, when the destroyer entered the households of the Egyptians and struck down every firstborn, Pharaoh summoned Moses during the night—a man he had sworn would never stand before him again without facing death. That same night, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said,
“Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” – Exodus 12:31-32 (NIV)
Pharaoh, broken and desperate, asked Moses to pray for him. It was as though he was pleading for the torment to be reversed, asking not to be left without relief from the plagues. The Egyptians, overwhelmed by fear, urged the Israelites to leave quickly, saying, “Otherwise, we will all die!”
The Fear of the LORD
The fear of the LORD had struck their hearts. After losing their firstborn, they now feared for their own lives and urged the Israelites to go and worship their God to appease His anger. In their desperation, they were even willing to part with their possessions, offering silver, gold, and whatever they could. They provided dough for the Israelites to take on their journey, hastening their departure. This dough, without yeast yet mixed into it due to their rushed departure during the night, would be needed by the Israelites to continue their observance of the Passover festival.
The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. – Exodus 12:36 (NIV)
Why would the Provider of Israel command the Egyptians to provide for His people? Perhaps it was a way to restore justice for centuries of unpaid labour, as God ensured the Israelites received their backpay through Egypt’s wealth. God had promised to bring His people out of bondage with great possessions, and this moment fulfilled that promise. When Moses expressed his fear, God assured him that Israel would not only leave Egypt but would do so with the blessings of the natives, who would give up their gold and silver to support their exodus.
But this raises a question: why would God enable them with the very materials that could later be used to betray Him, such as the gold for the golden calf? Was this a test, a demonstration of free will, or a way to show the consequences of misplaced worship? The Israelites could have made idols from clay or stone, yet God allowed them access to gold, perhaps to remind them that while He is the Provider, their ultimate dependence must be on Him, not on material wealth.
In reversing the plundering of Egypt, God demonstrated His justice and power, bringing their oppressors to their knees. Yet this moment also serves as a warning. Jesus later taught that we cannot serve both God and mammon. It is our financial independence that draws us away from God. We fall into different temptations because of our desires for the things of the world. Every sin, small or big, be it jealousy, lies, adultery, and even murder all stems from our attachment to the things of this world. Let us not make the same mistakes as the Israelites, and understand that our material possessions should never replace the trust we must have in the Almighty.
The Long Way Home
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth, with about six hundred thousand men, along with women, children, and many others, including large herds of livestock. They baked unleavened bread using dough from Egypt, as they had been hastily driven out and had no time to prepare food. The Israelites had lived in Egypt for four hundred thirty years, and on the very day their time was complete, they departed, fulfilling God’s promise. The LORD watched over them that night, and from then on, the Israelites were to keep vigil every year to honour Him.
There seems to be an inherent human need to replicate the acts of God, perhaps as a way of acknowledging His presence and involvement in their lives. People often believe that God is “awake” and active only when they experience His direct intervention; in times of peace or distance, they assume He is resting or absent. It is only after witnessing God’s vigilant actions, such as during the Exodus, that they come to realize His constant watchfulness and care. However, our ability to imitate God’s acts is limited by our understanding and experience, as we can only replicate what we know or have witnessed.
A Purposeful Remembrance
The LORD gave Moses and Aaron the regulations for the Passover meal: no foreigner or hired worker could eat it, but a slave who had been circumcised could. The meal must be eaten inside the house, with no meat taken outside and no bones broken. The entire community of Israel was to celebrate it. Any foreigner who wished to join in must circumcise all the males in their household, and then they could participate just like a native-born Israelite. All the Israelites followed these instructions, and on that same day, the LORD brought them out of Egypt by their divisions.
A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. – Exodus 12:48 (NIV)
God’s invitation to join His people was open to anyone willing to become part of them, and He included and delivered them, regardless of their background. Circumcision was the means by which Israel was set apart, distinguishing them as God’s chosen people. This concept of inclusion and distinction still holds relevance today, as people often partake in sacraments like baptism and communion without fully understanding their significance.
Sadly, these sacred acts can sometimes become tools for exclusion rather than inclusion, driving people away rather than drawing them closer. God’s sacraments are always understood in a religious context and often turn out to be a way for us to exclude others from participation in them. Similarly, the Passover lamb was meant to be eaten in unity, without any wastage, by the entire household. Thus, God instructed that the Passover be celebrated only by families in which every member believed in Him as their redeemer. This was intended to be an act of remembrance of the great exodus of God’s people from slavery in Egypt, not a means of exclusion or exclusivity.
Discussion Questions
- What changed the hearts of Pharaoh and the Egyptians?
- Why would the Provider of Israel use the Egyptians to provide for His people?
- Why was the Passover meal restricted to only Hebrew households?
The Jordan Valley 
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