Exiting Egypt

Sermon 28 in Series

Exodus 12:33-42
[33] The Egyptians were urgent with the people to 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, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. [35] The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. [36] And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

[37] And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. [38] A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. [39] And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

[40] The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. [41] At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. [42] It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   In what ways do the events surrounding the Exodus bring glory to God? How does the Exodus itself prefigure salvation through Christ?
2.   What was the attitude of the Egyptians towards Israel as they were leaving? How did this affect their food and preparations?
3.   As we reflect on God’s gifts to his people through the Egyptians, how do we avoid using our gifts to build the calf rather than glorify the Creator?
4.   What support is there for translating and interpreting the text to reflect the larger number of over two million people leaving Egypt?
5.   How can the “mixed multitude” be traced back to Genesis 12:3? How does this contribute to the storyline of the Bible?
6.   In what ways is the Exodus event a fulfillment of God’s promises? How do the timing and extent of it teach us to trust and wait on God?

References: Exodus 9:16; 7:5; Psalm 83:18; 1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:13; Exodus 3:21-22; 11:1-3; 9:20; Genesis 12:3; Exodus 38:25-26; Numbers 1:46; Genesis 15:13-14, 1-6; Galatians 3:17.