Familiarity with this story likely prevents us from
appreciating how miraculous the Exodus was. Egypt
was the superpower of their known world in that day; Israel was not even a nation, but
more of an ethnic group. Their position was very weak despite their numbers
because they had no leader, no homeland, no independent economy, nor military
strength. That they escaped Egypt
at all was a miracle; that Egypt
was totally destroyed in the process is amazing. It is incredible, except to
people who believe that God is who He says He is. Today’s reading is an
occasion to remember and to praise God for His miraculous and mighty works on
behalf of His people.
People who critique the Bible from a strictly academic
perspective doubt the accuracy of the Exodus account because it was not
recorded in Egypt’s history, to their knowledge; however, that shouldn’t be
cause for us to doubt the truth of God’s word, for there is a reasonable
explanation for why this major event was not recorded by Egyptian historians. Egypt was not a
literate society. Their hieroglyphic writing was very difficult to learn, and
so few people learned to read and write. Pharaoh himself didn’t learn! But he
did employ a number of the few literate people, and he told them what to
record. Predictably, pharaohs never were interested in historical accuracy, but
in recording their greatness for the world to remember. Much of the writings
that still exist today were carved on stone monuments and painted on tomb
walls; the goal of such writing wouldn’t be to relate the failures and defeats
of the honoree, but to extol his greatness. Thus, it’s not a stumbling block
that the Exodus and God’s judgment on Egypt
was not recorded in Egypt’s
history.
God wanted to make sure His people remembered the Exodus, so
He made the annual Passover observance a law and required a remembrance on the
happy occasion of every firstborn son. Do you believe they could possibly have
forgotten such an event? We will read in II Chronicles that in fact they did
forget, at a time when the nation as a whole had only a superficial
relationship with God. There’s an interesting connection there that makes a
strong argument for our need to build remembrance into our relationships with
God.
God gives His New Testament people few commands, but one
that He does give is to observe communion in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice
for us. As great a miracle, as mighty a work as the Exodus was, our salvation
in Christ is even greater and mightier. Let us appreciate it: we are freed from sin – we don’t have to live
in sin, but can escape its grasp on us through the power Jesus gives us. We can
be healed of sin’s wounds. We’re not only freed from sin, but from sin’s
consequence, death, to be reunited with loved ones. The Exodus is an object
lesson of our salvation, and today’s reading is an opportunity to remember and
reflect on that. Let’s not neglect to do so or we’ll fail to appreciate it for
the great gift and wonder that it is, and our hearts will grow hard.
How do you make sure that you remember the wonderful things
God does for you? If you aren’t doing anything, would you ask God today to show
you how you can build that practice and start researching? If you have good
ideas about how to remember, please consider sharing them. One great way I know
of is to read God’s word thoughtfully and use those readings as occasions to
consider how they speak to your life. That’s what my posts are about.
God’s
Old Testament people offer us New Testament people a look at the human tendencies
of unredeemed people– tendencies we share with them unless God graciously
transforms us. They had before them the miraculous experience of crossing the Red Sea by foot on dry land and seeing God destroy their
enemy, and in the time of crisis they looked back longingly toward enslavement.
Do you make the same senseless choice in holding on to sin instead of living in
the freedom Messiah has bought for you? Please ask God that question today, and
choose to let Him lead you away from slavery and into the miracle of freedom
from sin and enslavement to selfish desires, if you haven’t already. If you
have, praise and thank Him for what He has done, and invite Him to continue the
work. Likely we can’t imagine the adventures into which God wants to lead us!
