Exodus Series: 11:1-13:16 Overview

Introduction
The third week in Explore the Bible is title “Amazing Deliverance (Exodus 11:1-13:16).” God has just completed His ninth plague. Pharaoh’s heart is hard and he has routinely rejected Moses’ requests, lied, and gone back on his word. All of the plagues have been in preparation for this one, the first one the LORD God announced (Exodus 4:22-23), “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let My son go that he may serve Me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” As we see this one battle of the war draw to a close, the seed of the woman defeats the seed of the serpent and crushes his head, Egypt’s first born (Genesis 3:15).

Outline

1. The last plague announced (11:1-10)
   1. God tells Moses about the last plague and how to plunder Egypt (11:1-3)
   2. Moses tells Pharaoh about the last plague and how God will treat Israel separately (11:4-8)
   3. God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not listen so that God can multiply His wonders (11:9)
   4. God reveals why Pharaoh will not listen (11:10)
2. God tells Moses and Aaron about the Passover, how Israel will be distinguished (12:1-28, v. 1)
   1. The Lamb – preparation, timing, who will eat, lamb without blemish (12:2-6)
   2. The sign of blood – blood on the doorposts and lintel (12:7)
   3. How to eat the Passover – prepared to leave (12:8-11)
   4. God explains why – He is executing “final” judgment and the people must have faith that being in the household of faith which is marked by the blood of the lamb will deliver them from judgment(12:12-13)
   5. God tells Moses about the continual remembrance the Passover should be (12:14-20)
   6. Moses tells the elders of Israel how to prepare for the Passover, the people worship as a result, and then the people go and obey (12:21-28)
3. The deaths of the first born of Egypt (12:29)
4. Pharaoh and Egypt expel the Israelites (12:30-42)
   1. Pharaoh and Egypt mourn their first born and compel the Israelites to leave (12:30-32)
   2. The Israelites leave in haste and plunder the Egyptians, as God told them they (12:33-36)
   3. A large number of Israelites left Exodus, along with others, and all their animals in a hurry (12:37-39)
   4. The Israelites leave after exactly 430 years, a night of watching for God which He prescribes as a night of watching for the people from then on (12:40-42)
5. God reaffirms some specifics of the Passover commemoration and tells Moses to consecrate the first-born to God (12:43-13:2)
6. Moses preaches to Israel the continual remembrance of the Exodus through annual Passover observances (13:3-16)
   1. The people are to hold the Passover yearly to remember God’s mighty salvation (13:3-10)
   2. The people are to consecrate their firstborn to the LORD (13:11-16)

Brief Comments
Although this is a slightly shorter passage than normally undertaken in the Explore the Bible series, there is a lot going on. I noticed two important topics as I read through and outlined this section. One is the faith required for obedience. Two is that the lamb of the Passover points directly to Jesus Christ.

First, faith has under girded Israel throughout the book of Exodus and will continue to do so through the Bible just as it did with Abraham. Whether it was Moses’ mother placing her child in an ark because of her faith that God would care for him or if it is Israel’s faith that God is powerful to destroy all the first born children but won’t if blood is on their door posts and lintel. The importance of faith, as Israel is learning, is that it must always be the reason for actions. Likewise today we must be obedient to God because of our faith in Him. Faith in the facts that He exists and rewards those who seek Him for that is the only way to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Second, the Passover lamb is a picture of Christ. The lamb had to be without blemish or broken bones. The lamb had to be perfect, just as Christ lived the perfect sinless life. The lamb was killed and its blood made a sign that the judgment of God should not fall on those who placed their faith in God’s word. Jesus Christ also died so that the judgment of God did not fall on those who placed their faith in God’s Word, Jesus Christ, God’s full revelation of Himself. Today we need to do as the Israelites did. We need to place our faith in God’s promise, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world who came to save sinner and we are sinners. Let us repent and believe in the Savior God sent to take the punishment for sinners that we might be reconciled to God and worship Him and obey Him forever!