Slavery in Egypt

“Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs”

We recall these remarkable prophetic words that God spoke to Abraham (Genesis 15:13–16). God had foretold that Abraham’s seed would go into Egypt but in the fourth generation would return to Canaan. As we read through the life of Jacob and Joseph we see how these words were so accurately fulfilled.

Joseph—the saviour of Israel (Genesis 37–50)

The narrative of the life of Joseph, and the remarkable way in which God used him to bring about the salvation of his family (Genesis 45:4–11) is a very moving story which you will enjoy reading. Added to this we are impressed with the faith and godly life of Joseph when faced with trial and temptation.

Joseph’s faith, perfected through the trials of his life, is clearly seen when he was about to die in Egypt. He made the children of Israel swear that when God visited His people to deliver them as He had promised, they would take his bones with them and bury him in the Land of Promise (Genesis 50:24–26; cp Hebrews 11:22). He believed what God had told Abraham that his seed would be strangers in a land that was not theirs (Egypt), but that after many years of slavery God would deliver them and bring them back to the land He had promised them (Genesis 15:13–16).

Do we have this same faith in the promises that God made to Abraham? Do we believe that the promises made to Abraham will be fulfilled with the return of Jesus Christ? If we do, we need to show our faith by baptism (Galatians 3:26–29), and then endeavour to live a Godly life in this present evil age.

Moses

Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 1–14)

The account of the hard bondage that Israel endured in Egypt is set out in Exodus chapters 1 and 2. Yet blended into this account is the example of the faith of the parents of Moses. God blessed their faith and Moses was saved from death that he might be the deliverer of Israel from Egypt (Hebrews 11:23–28; Acts 7:17–36). His parents’ instruction concerning God and His purpose in his early years became the basis of Moses’ faith. He, like Joseph, believed that God would deliver Israel from Egypt according to His word to Abraham (Genesis 15:13–16).

In Exodus 2 we read of the birth of Moses and of the incidents that caused him to flee for his life from Pharaoh in Egypt into the wilderness of Midian near to Mount Sinai and Mount Horeb.

The Ten Plagues

Yahweh delivers Israel from Egypt (Exodus 4 to 13)

Yahweh sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message: “Thus saith the LORD [Hebrew Yahweh], Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (Exodus 4:22–23).

Pharaoh refused to be moved by Moses’ demands and defied Yahweh. Therefore, by the hand of Moses, God brought ten dreadful plagues upon Egypt. These ten plagues were:

1. Water turned to blood

2. Frogs

3. Lice

4. Flies

5. Murrain of beasts

6. Boils

7. Hail

8. Locusts

9. Darkness

10. Death of the Firstborn (or the Passover)

The Passover

The Passover (Exodus 12)

The last and most memorable plague is termed “the LORD’S Passover” (v11). This final and dramatic exhibition of destruction upon Egypt brought the deliverance of Israel from the bondage in which they were held, in fulfilment of God’s words to Abraham regarding his seed (Genesis 15:13–16).

The details of the Passover are recorded in Exodus 12. Each family or group of families was to select a lamb without blemish, and at the appointed time kill it (v5–6). They were then to sprinkle its blood upon the doorposts and lintel of their house (v7). During the evening they were to remain within the house and eat the roasted lamb (v8–10). Everything was to be ready for immediate departure (v11).

While Israel was doing this the angel of Yahweh passed through the land of Egypt. The blood on the door was a “token” or sign that the family within had slain their lamb (v12–13). The angel who was sent to destroy the firstborn, on seeing the blood would therefore pass by that house. The houses of Egypt that had no blood upon their doors suffered the dreadful punishment of the slaying of their firstborn.

Thus Israel were delivered through the blood of the lamb. It was to be a memorial to them from that time forward (v14).

Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7–8)

The lessons of the Passover point forward to the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). It is through his shed blood that we are redeemed (1 Peter 1:18–19).

The apostle Paul speaks of “Christ our Passover sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:6–8), for by his shed blood we are delivered from the bondage of sin and death as Israel were delivered from the bondage of Egypt (Hebrew 2:15).

As Israel remembered, by keeping the Passover Feast each year, that dreadful night that brought their deliverance from Egypt, so Jesus has asked all who have been delivered from slavery to sin through his blood to remember him. In the last supper with his disciples he gave them bread and wine and asked them to share bread and wine regularly in memory of his sacrifice (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

Parting of the Red Sea

Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14–15)

The dramatic tragedy of the slaying of Egypt’s firstborn gave Israel the opportunity to depart from Egypt. A great company, thought to total around two million in all, left Egypt (Exodus 12:37–38). However it was not long before Pharaoh determined to pursue Israel and capture them again (Exodus 14). Israel’s only way of escape was provided by God in the remarkable miracle of the opening of the Red Sea so that they could cross to safety. Moses’ dramatic words on that occasion were, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (v13). God opened the sea and Israel crossed to safety, but when the Egyptians tried to follow them the waters closed upon them and destroyed them all (v30–31).

Symbol of baptism

The apostle Paul saw, in the deliverance of Israel as they walked between the walls of water of the Red Sea to safety on the other side, the symbol of baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1–2). How fitting this figure is. When we are baptised we leave behind our old way of life (“Egypt”) and rise again to a new life (on the way to “the Promised Land”), following the example of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3–7).

Journey Through the Wilderness

Trials in the wilderness—the journey to Mount Sinai (Exodus 16–19)

God had dramatically delivered Israel from Egypt. Now He was to test their faith to see whether they would believe His promise that He would bring them back to the land of their fathers (Genesis 15:13–16).

They lacked food and murmured against Moses. God provided a daily supply of “manna” to sustain them (Exodus 16). That manna was typical of the Lord Jesus Christ, “the bread of life” (John 6:27–63). They lacked water and once again murmured. Again God responded by supplying ample water out of a rock (Exodus 17). That rock symbolised Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3–4) whose words are life-giving (John 4:10–14; 6:63). God was putting them to the test, so that they might learn to trust in Him. For the most part Israel failed to exhibit that faith which pleases God (Deuteronomy 8:1–6; Hebrews 11:6).

There are many lessons and warnings for us in Israel’s wilderness wanderings (1 Corinthians 10:1–13). Do we trust in God and believe that He will provide us all with that is necessary to sustain us in our pilgrimage to His Kingdom? (Matthew 6:25–34.

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans