patriarchs and prophets-第68章
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your God； and against you。 Now therefore； forgive； I pray thee； my sin only
this once； and entreat the Lord your God； that He may take away from me this
death only。〃 They did so； and a strong west wind carried away the locusts
toward the Red Sea。 Still the king persisted in his stubborn resolution。
The people of Egypt were ready to despair。 The scourges that had already
fallen upon them seemed almost beyond endurance； and they were filled with
fear for the future。 The nation had worshiped Pharaoh as a representative of
their god； but many
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were now convinced that he was opposing himself to One who made all the
powers of nature the ministers of His will。 The Hebrew slaves； so
miraculously favored； were becoming confident of deliverance。 Their
taskmasters dared not oppress them as heretofore。 Throughout Egypt there was
a secret fear that the enslaved race would rise and avenge their wrongs。
Everywhere men were asking with bated breath； What will come next？
Suddenly a darkness settled upon the land； so thick and black that it seemed
a 〃darkness which may be felt。〃 Not only were the people deprived of light；
but the atmosphere was very oppressive； so that breathing was difficult。
〃They saw not one another； neither rose any from his place for three days：
but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings。〃 The sun and
moon were objects of worship to the Egyptians； in this mysterious darkness
the people and their gods alike were smitten by the power that had
undertaken the cause of the bondmen。＇* SEE APPENDIX； NOTE 2。＇ Yet fearful as
it was； this judgment is an evidence of God's compassion and His
unwillingness to destroy。 He would give the people time for reflection and
repentance before bringing upon them the last and most terrible of the
plagues。
Fear at last wrung from Pharaoh a further concession。 At the end of the
third day of darkness he summoned Moses； and consented to the departure of
the people； provided the flocks and herds were permitted to remain。 〃There
shall not an hoof be left behind；〃 replied the resolute Hebrew。 〃We know not
with what we must serve the Lord； until we come thither。〃 The king's anger
burst forth beyond control。 〃Get thee from me；〃 he cried； 〃take heed to
thyself； see my face no more； for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt
die。〃
The answer was； 〃Thou hast spoken well； I will see thy face again no more。〃
〃The man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt； in the sight of
Pharaoh's servants； and in the sight of the people。〃 Moses was regarded with
awe by the Egyptians。 The king dared not harm him； for the people looked
upon him as alone possessing power to remove the plagues。 They desired that
the Israelites might be permitted to leave Egypt。 It was the king and the
priests that opposed to the last the demands of Moses。
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Chapter 24
The Passover
When the demand for Israel's release had been first presented to the king of
Egypt； the warning of the most terrible of the plagues had been given。 Moses
was directed to say to Pharaoh； 〃Thus saith the Lord； Israel is My son； even
My first…born： and I say unto thee； Let My son go； that he may serve Me： and
if thou refuse to let him go； behold； I will slay thy son； even thy
first…born。〃 Exodus 4：22； 23。 Though despised by the Egyptians； the
Israelites had been honored by God； in that they were singled out to be the
depositaries of His law。 In the special blessings and privileges accorded
them； they had pre…eminence among the nations； as the first…born son had
among brothers。
The judgment of which Egypt had first been warned； was to be the last
visited。 God is long…suffering and plenteous in mercy。 He has a tender care
for the beings formed in His image。 If the loss of their harvests and their
flocks and herds had brought Egypt to repentance； the children would not
have been smitten； but the nation had stubbornly resisted the divine
command； and now the final blow was about to fall。
Moses had been forbidden； on pain of death； to appear again in Pharaoh's
presence； but a last message from God was to be delivered to the rebellious
monarch； and again Moses came before him； with the terrible announcement：
〃Thus saith the Lord； About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt：
and all the first…born in the land of Egypt shall die； from the first…born
of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne； even unto the first…born of the
maidservant that is behind the mill； and all the first…born of beasts。 And
there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt； such as there
was none like it； nor shall be like it any more。 But against any of the
children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue； against man or beast：
that ye may know how
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that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel。 And
all these thy servants shall come down unto me； and bow down themselves unto
me； saying； Get thee out； and all the people that follow thee： and after
that I will go out。〃
Before the execution of this sentence the Lord through Moses gave direction
to the children of Israel concerning their departure from Egypt； and
especially for their preservation from the coming judgment。 Each family；
alone or in connection with others； was to slay a lamb or a kid 〃without
blemish；〃 and with a bunch of hyssop sprinkle its blood on 〃the two side
posts and on the upper doorpost〃 of the house； that the destroying angel；
coming at midnight； might not enter that dwelling。 They were to eat the
flesh roasted； with unleavened bread and bitter herbs； at night； as Moses
said； 〃with your loins girded； your shoes on your feet； and your staff in
your hand； and ye shall eat it in haste： it is the Lord's Passover。〃
The Lord declared： 〃I will pass through the land of Egypt this night； and
will smite all the first…born in the land of Egypt； both man and beast； and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment。 。 。 。 And the blood
shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are： and when I see the
blood； I will pass over you； and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy
you； when I smite the land of Egypt。〃
In commemoration of this great deliverance a feast was to be observed yearly
by the people of Israel in all future generations。 〃This day shall be unto
you for a memorial； and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your
generations： ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever。〃 As they
should keep the feast in future years； they were to repeat to their children
the story of this great deliverance； as Moses bade them： 〃Ye shall say； It
is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover； who passed over the houses of the
children of Israel in Egypt； when He smote the Egyptians； and delivered our
houses。〃
Furthermore； the first…born of both man and beast were to be the Lord's； to
be bought back only by a ransom； in acknowledgment that when the first…born
in Egypt perished； that of Israel； though graciously preserved； had been
justly exposed to the same doom but for the atoning sacrifice。 〃All the
first…born are Mine；〃 the Lord declared； 〃for on the day that I smote all
the first…born
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in the land of Egypt； I hallowed unto Me all the first…born in Israel； both
man and beast： Mine they shall be；〃 Numbers 3：13。 After the institution of
the tabernacle service the Lord chose unto Himself the tribe of Levi for the
work of the sanctuary； instead of the first…born of the people。 〃They are
wholly given unto Me from among the children of Israel；〃 He said。 〃Instead
of the first…born of all the children of Israel； have I taken them unto Me。〃
Numbers 8：16。 All the people were； however； still required； in
acknowledgment of God's mercy； to pay a redemption price for the first…born
son。 Numbers 18：15； 16。
The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical； not only pointing
back to the deliverance from Egypt； but forward to the greater deliverance
which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people f
