Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 12:29-51
There are many references in the Bible to the fear of God. Many Christians reject the idea that fear means we should be afraid of God. Instead, they believe the fear of God means we should respect God or have a high opinion of Him. The reaction of the Egyptians to the tenth plague illustrates the correct concept of the fear of God.
Yahweh told the Israelites He was going to kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. In preparation, He instructed the Israelites to slaughter a lamb in each home and put some of the blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. Yahweh also gave specific instructions about how they were to be dressed as they ate the lamb. He promised the blood would protect them from the destroyer. The sons of Israel did just as Yahweh commanded them.
Ex. 12:29 ¶ Now it happened at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Ex. 12:30 Then Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.
Ponder the scale of death indicated by the last phrase. There was a dead person in every home. Imagine if in one night, someone in every house in your neighborhood died.
Ex. 12:31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have spoken.
Look at the words “get out”. Previously, Pharaoh had refused to allow Israel to leave. Now, he was forcing them out.
Ex. 12:32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have spoken, and go, and bless me also.”
Ex. 12:33 ¶ And the Egyptians strongly pressed the people to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.”
Notice the words “strongly pressed”. All the Egyptians were anxious for the Israelites to leave. The last five words of the verse explain why. The Egyptians were afraid they would all die.
The Bible tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Many Christians think the fear of the Lord is respect or awe. They reject the notion that the fear of God means we should be afraid of Yahweh.
This passage illustrates the correct concept of the fear of God. Yahweh has the power to kill anyone at any time. After He demonstrated that power over the Egyptians, the Egyptians grasped that they might all end up dead, so they were afraid. They wanted Israel to leave immediately.
Pharaoh and the Egyptians refused to submit to Yahweh, meaning they were not afraid of disobeying Yahweh, so Yahweh killed all the firstborn. He forced them to be afraid of Him. We should be afraid to disobey Yahweh because He has the power to do anything to us and make us be afraid of Him.
Ex. 12:34 So the people took up their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.
Ex. 12:35 ¶ Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses—they had asked from the Egyptians for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;
Ex. 12:36 and Yahweh had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
The Israelites had obeyed God’s command to ask for articles of wealth and reaped the benefits of their obedience. They left Egypt with great wealth, even though they had been slaves.
Ex. 12:37 ¶ And the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from the little ones.
Ex. 12:38 A foreign multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.
Take note of the reference to the foreign multitude which went with Israel. Clearly, some non-Israelites fled Egypt, but the Bible is not clear what happened to the foreign multitude. Did they assimilate into Israel? Did they separate from Israel after they were out of Egypt? We don’t really know.
Ex. 12:39 And they baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
Ex. 12:40 ¶ Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.
Ex. 12:41 And it happened at the end of 430 years, to the very day, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.
Notice the number “430”. The United States is only 250 years old, so Israel was in Egypt longer than the United States has been a country.
Ex. 12:42 It is a night to be kept for Yahweh for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for Yahweh, to be kept by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.
Ex. 12:43 ¶ And Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it;
Ex. 12:44 but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.
Ex. 12:45 A foreign resident or a hired person shall not eat of it.
Ex. 12:46 It shall be eaten in a single house; you shall not bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, and you shall not break any bone of it.
Ex. 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall celebrate this.
Ex. 12:48 But if a sojourner sojourns with you and celebrates the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Ex. 12:49 The same law shall apply to the native as to the sojourner who sojourns among you.”
Ex. 12:50 ¶ So all the sons of Israel did; as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, thus they did.
Ex. 12:51 And on that same day Yahweh brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
The Bible tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Many Christians think the fear of the Lord is respect or awe. They reject the notion that the fear of God means we should be afraid of Yahweh.
This passage illustrates the correct concept of the fear of God. Yahweh has the power to kill anyone at any time. After He demonstrated that power over the Egyptians, the Egyptians grasped that they might all end up dead, so they were afraid. They wanted Israel to leave immediately.
Pharaoh and the Egyptians refused to submit to Yahweh, meaning they were not afraid of disobeying Yahweh, so Yahweh killed all the firstborn. He forced them to be afraid of Him. We should be afraid to disobey Yahweh because He has the power to do anything to us and make us be afraid of Him.
Does your church teach the correct concept of the fear of God?
If all Christians go to heaven, what are the consequences of disobeying God?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”