THE EXODUS OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE (2)
Exodus 12:31-42, et.al.

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V. Christ delivered Old Covenant Israel in fullness of health (Psalm 105:37): "He brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among them." They had known much physical feebleness while in Egypt. But all their feebleness was dispersed upon their exodus by Christ as Jehovah-Ropheka, "The LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). Christ delivers New Covenant Israel in fullness of health (Isaiah 53:5): "by His stripes we are healed." They knew much spiritual feebleness while in the world. But all their feebleness is dispersed upon their conversion by Christ as "The Sun of Righteousness ... with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2).

VI. Christ delivered Old Covenant Israel with a "mixed multitude" (12:38). These were non-Israelites whom Israel permitted to join them in the exodus from Egypt. Some perhaps did so because they desired to no longer reside in Egypt, which by now was destroyed by the plagues. Others perhaps did so because they were curious as to what other wonders Moses and Aaron would perform. Others may have been slaves who found this time to be opportune for obtaining liberty. Whatever their reasons, they were not true believers in Israel's God, but rather hypocrites who eventually proved to be snares to Israel (e.g. Numbers 11:4).

Christ delivers New Covenant Israel with a mixed multitude. There always will be hypocrites in Christ's church on earth - even as there was a Judas Iscariot among Christ's apostles. But these will eventually manifest themselves to be what they are: pseudo-Christians who will perish in unbelief (John 17:12).

VII. Christ delivered Old Covenant Israel in precisely the manner in which He had long before ordained (12:35f, 40f, 51): "Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses [4:21f], and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. ... Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years - on that very same day - it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt."

We will not here enter the debate of scholars as to the different readings of these last two verses in the Hebrew Masoretic and the Greek Septuagint texts, nor as to when these 430 years commenced (see also Genesis 15:13-16; Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:17; et.al.). It here suffices us to acknowledge that the exodus of Israel from Egypt was perfectly in accordance to what Christ had promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-16: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ... But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." Christ perfectly kept His promise to Abraham and his descendants. Israel departed Egypt at precisely the appointed time a! nd with the promised plunder of their oppressors. Christ delivers New Covenant Israel in precisely the manner in which He long before ordained. Everything regarding their salvation was predestined in eternity past (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13f). By an eternal decree, they are delivered from spiritual bondage at precisely the ordained moment (Ecclesiastes 3:1ff). And in Christ they shall receive the plunder of the nations (Psalm 2:8; Romans 8:15-17).

VIII. Christ delivered Old Covenant Israel in a manner worthy of commemoration (12:42): "It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations" (cp. 13:3).

Christ delivered New Covenant Israel in a manner worthy of commemoration. Believers are to do so in the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), proclaiming therein His death which resulted in their deliverance from spiritual bondage.