A Perfect Deliverance Series

A Perfect Deliverance

Exodus 12:31-51

- We’re continuing our study through the book of Exodus.

- As we study each passage, we’re asking the question, “What can I learn about honoring God from this passage?”

- Last week, we looked at the First Passover, which the Children of Israel observed just before God sent the final plague, the death of the firstborn.

- We looked at the process of Passover, the purpose for Passover, and the power of Passover.

- This week, we’re going to look at the perfect deliverance, as God frees His people from their bondage to the Egyptians.

- I’m reminded of a game we used to play when I was a kid.

- It was called Capture the Flag.

- A bunch of kids would split into 2 teams, and both sides would hide their flag on their side of the playing ground.

- Once the game begins, the goal is to get the flag from the opposite team and run it back to your side of the field without getting tagged.

- If you are tagged while on the other team’s side of the field, you go to a space set aside for jail.

- The game wasn’t over for you yet, though.

- If someone from your team runs over and touches you, then you’re freed from jail and can go back to playing.

- I was never very fast, so usually when I played, I’d end up in jail.

- One of the worst parts of the game is sitting in jail for the entire time.

- So, when someone from my team came running toward the jail to set me free, it was always such a relief, and motivated me even more to play harder and not get tagged again.

- Obviously, that was just a game, so getting freed from jail wasn’t really that big of a deal.

- For the Israelites, however, their freedom was part of a real, life-changing deliverance.

- They were going from being lowly slaves, working hard for the Egyptians, to becoming free men and women, finally headed to the Promised Land with God on their side.

- So, let’s look this morning at God’s perfect deliverance of Israel.

I.) They didn’t leave empty handed- Vs 31-36

- At this point, Pharaoh and all of Egypt are at a low point.

- They’ve been devastated by all 10 plagues, but especially the final plague that took the lives of Egypt’s firstborn.

- It was too much for them to handle, but it was all part of God’s judgment on them for their stubbornness, their wickedness, and their refusal to let the Israelites leave.

- So, in vs 31, we see Pharaoh finally tell Moses and Aaron, “Get out of here!”

- It’s interesting the way he says it though.

- He says, “Rise, go out from among my people…and go serve the Lord!”

- Instead of humbly admitting defeat and repenting of his wickedness, Pharaoh once again attempts to be the one in control by commanding them to go.

- Obviously, he says this in desperation after he saw the Mighty Hand of God take all of Egypt’s firstborn, but still, it shows you how arrogant he was to think that he had any authority over God’s people…

- But remember, the Lord predicted this…

- He told Moses in Chapter 11 vs 1 that “When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether…”

- No matter how much Satan or wicked men and women think they’re in control, they never truly are.

- God knows what they’re going to do before they do…that’s because He’s omniscient, which means He’s all-knowing…

- Absolutely nothing surprises Him…

- So even though Pharaoh thought he was the one with the power to let them go, it really was God who was in control, and it was God who delivered His people.

- In vs 32, after all he’s put Moses and the Israelites through, Pharaoh has the nerve to ask for a blessing.

- It’s interesting because at first glance, it appears that Pharaoh is admitting defeat and acknowledging that God is the One with the True Power.

- However, when we look at vs 33, we’re told that the Egyptians urged the people to leave quickly because they were afraid that the next judgment would bring death on all of them.

- So, Pharaoh is being pressured by his people to let them go, and of course Pharaoh doesn’t want another plague to come on Egypt.

- So, it’s like he was backed into a corner, and didn’t have a choice, but as we’ll see later, he wasn’t truly ready to let them all go.

- In vs 34, we see the Israelites leaving in a hurry, with unleavened bread dough and kneading bowls.