Exodus 12, Numbers 33:50 – The city of Rameses
Introduction:
Exodus ((exodos from ex = out + hodos = way) is literally "the road out" or "the way out"! A way out of Egypt, out of bondage, out of death, and out of human iniquity. Exodus chapters 12 and 13 constitute a single literary unit as both describe Jehovah's Passover. The first month is called “Abib” in Exodus 13:4, a Hebrew noun used for the first ripe grain which was barley. In the Jewish calendar that originated during their captivity in Babylon, the name was changed to “Nisan". This day was in effect the nation of Israel's birthday. " When Israel entered Egypt, it was as a family. When they made their exit from Egypt, it was as a nation.” (Vernon McGee). God breaks the bondage of the people.
There was a change of calendar at the command of God. This change was introduced in the hour when these people were passing into the national constitution as a Theocracy, a people under the direct and immediate government of God, having no king except Him. It was directly connected with the institution of the Passover Feast. God is ever the God of new beginnings in the history of failure. The ultimate statement is found in the Apocalypse in the words: "Behold, I make all things new." Exodus 12:50 “Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.” Complete obedience, something that would be rare for Israel in their subsequent history going to the land of promise and even after entering the land of promise.
Ramses a place of persecution
The name Ra?amses, or Ra?meses occurs in the Hebrew Bible, not as the name of a king but rather the name of one of the two cities was built for the Pharaoh of the oppression by the forced labor of the Israelites (Exodus, 1:11), the other such city being Pithom.
Ramses was a place of persecution, there was a violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly one aimed at Jews. "Israel was assessed both as a threat to national security (Ex 1:10) and as an economic asset—slavery would, therefore, control the danger and maximize their usefulness."(John MacArthur). The tragic irony is that about 700 years later a prophecy would be given in Isaiah 53 that spoke of another Jew Who would be afflicted, and His affliction would make a way of deliverance for the Jews. It was like being in an iron furnace, Moses writing later in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 4:20).
God led their lives (Numbers 33:50)
Numbers 33:5 has a summary of their exodus out of Egypt. After introductory comments (Numbers 33:1-2), Moses gave a list of 12 important places where Israel stopped from Egypt to Mt. Sinai (Numbers 33:3-15). The goal of their journey was the Promised Land. They set out from these places on their trek to the land. Moses described the journey from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh and from Kadesh back to Kadesh (Numbers 33:16-36). This includes the period of 38 years in which Israel wandered while the older generations died out. They went forth with their armies (Numbers 33:1), rank and file, as an army with banners, Under the leadership of Moses and Aaron, their guides, overseers, and rulers, under God. They went forth while the Egyptians were burying their firstborn (Numbers 33:4). God gave the final laws governing Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land (Numbers 33:50)
Discussion: Narrate a few experiences of your exodus journey with God’s providence and personal care.
