EVEN while the great cry was echoing through the land of Egypt on the awful night of the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and bade them and all Israel depart, taking with them their flocks and herds, and such were his fears, that he added “And bless me also.” The Egyptians also besought the Israelites to be gone quickly; they urged on their departure, fearing that if Israel delayed, the wrath of Jehovah would be poured out in a still more terrible form, and that all of them would be slain.
At that time the word of the Lord, which He spake at the first to Moses, was made good, for the Lord had said, “When ye go, ye shall not go empty, but every woman shall borrow of her neighbor; and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.” The Lord was not unmindful of the long, long years that His people had spent as slaves, and without reward or payment, in Egypt, and He ordained in righteousness that they should receive their due. You will observe how careful the Lord God is to measure out righteousness to men— “the righteous Lord loveth righteousness.”
Now that their last day in Egypt had come, they demanded (not borrowed) their hire, silver, gold, and raiment; and Jehovah gave them favor in the eyes of their masters, who yielded to their demands. Thus they spoiled the Egyptians.
To a day the word of the Lord was fulfilled. “At the end of the 430 years, the selfsame day, it came to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt:” for God works all things to fulfill His will. Nations may rise and fall, but His word cannot by any possibility fail.
When Israel left Egypt, neither a child nor a hoof of theirs was left behind. The grand word, “Thou and thy house,” was that night realized in a wonderful manner it is according to God’s mind that not only the parents, but also their children, should be saved. The households of Israel were sheltered by the blood of the lamb, and every member, old and young, departed from Egypt together. And, at the day and hour appointed by the Father, all who are washed in the blood of Jesus will leave this world for the heavenly home. Not one will be left behind—not one will be missing. Ah! should this very day be the appointed time for the joyful exodus, would you be among the happy people?
Together with the Israelites a mixed multitude went up. There were people from all parts of the earth adjoining Egypt, who were slaves in that country—men, women, and children who had been carried captive in war. On the monuments we have their portraits and national dresses. The picture on this page may be given as an example of mixed peoples, for in it you can easily trace black men and white men of different nations.
There were, we may be sure, Egyptians also amongst this mixed multitude, the numbers of which helped to swell the vast host that departed from the land of idolatry. And, alas! this mixed multitude had many idolators in it; for though the land of Egypt was left, much of Egypt was carried away in the hearts of those who left it. Just as in our own day we see children and others following the steps of their parents and friends, who have not any deep work of God within their souls, and consequently are not ready to serve God out of love to Him alone.
There can be little question but that during the last plagues, the children of Israel had assembled together in their old quarters of the land of Goshen. Here they formerly had “possessions” (Gen. 42:2727And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. (Genesis 42:27)), the value of which would be very considerable. This part of Egypt is the triangular piece of land between the two great branches of the Nile which run into the Mediterranean Sea. They left Ramases—no doubt the treasure city of which we read in chapter 1.—and came to Succoth, then rested, and encamped in Etham, a city on the edge of the wilderness. This last city was the termination of the inhabited country; outside of it the pathless desert began.
We are not told how many days the people of Israel were going from Ramases to Succoth, and thence to Etham, nor how long they encamped at the latter place. Neither does it seem very clear where all of these cities were situated; but we can distinctly see that the people went out in an ordered march, probably all the tribes collecting where the nation camped. They went up harnessed or in rank, with cattle and carriages, and not one child or beast was left behind, nor were the embalmed remains of Joseph forgotten, A very marked intervention of God occurred when Egypt was actually left and the desert began. At that moment Jehovah Himself led them and gave them the glorious sign of His presence—the pillar of cloud, bright with fiery splendor during the night, and rising up as a dark column of smoke by day. For forty years His cloud was with them: “He took not away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” There was no path in the wilderness, and Jehovah was their guide and protector, ever shading or shining upon them.
This sign of God’s presence was as much for the little boys and girls who left Egypt as for the strong men; all were blessed by it—all needed it. And we may truly say that when the youngest Christian fairly takes his start as a pilgrim, God’s presence will guide him. There was no pillar of cloud for Israel in Egypt. There were high roads there, and guides to be obtained, but when the pathless desert began all was different.
And the way to Heaven is across a pathless waste. We know not where we may be called to go tomorrow, nay, nor an hour hence. We have no wisdom of our own, but thank God, Christ is our way, Himself. He is our guide. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Do you think that the most timid in Israel would fear lest he or she might lose the way? It was only necessary to lift up the eye, and lo, the cloud was in front. Let, then, the dear young pilgrim ever keep looking up unto Jesus, and blessed with His presence he will never fail.
H. F. W