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!