Exodus 12:29-51 NKJV
29 And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord 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 livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”
33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 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.
37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.
40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 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. 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.
43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. 44 But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. 45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. 49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”
50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.
At Moses’ first encounter with Pharoah, he said, “I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go” (5:2). Now that the LORD has struck the firstborn of Egypt—even the firstborn of Pharoah—he knows the LORD’s power, as well as His mercy toward Israel, His firstborn (4:22-23). Pharoah now knows the LORD, lets His people go, and even asks Moses to bless him.
The people of Egyptian also want Israel to leave. The plague struck every house “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 livestock” (29). Fearing for their lives, the LORD moves them to give the Israelites articles of silver, gold, and clothing, fulling God’s promise to Moses in Exodus 3:21-22. The LORD had even promised this to Abraham centuries earlier in Genesis 15:14, “And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
The LORD fulfills His promises. He frees Israel from slavery and enriches them. Like the Passover and Unleavened Bread, the exodus is a type of the salvation which the God works for all people through His Son. Christ Jesus destroys the power of our Pharoah—the devil—by making satisfaction for all sins by His death on the cross. He leads all who believe in Him out of the devil’s kingdom of sin and death. Our exodus from the power of the devil means that God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins “(Col 1:13-14).
As Israel left with the riches of Egypt, so believers exit the kingdom of the devil and enjoy the riches of full forgiveness of their sins by which the devil kept them captive. They enjoy the riches of a good conscience, the Holy Spirit, and the promise of the eternal inheritance in the Promised Land of everlasting life. By this mighty deliverance we know the LORD’s power, as well as His mercy toward His Israel—all who put their trust in Him.
Let us pray: We give You thanks, O LORD, for our exodus from the kingdom of our Pharaoh and His power. Amen.