Appendix
Note 1, page 177: One of the important reasons why the Lord
delivered Israel from slavery to Egypt was that they might keep His
holy Sabbath. The Egyptians did not give them religious liberty, so
the Lord “brought forth His people . . . that they might observe His
statutes, and keep His laws.”
Psalm 105:43-45
. Evidently Moses and
Aaron renewed the teaching about the holiness of the Sabbath, because
Pharaoh complained to them, “Ye make [the people] rest from their
burdens.”
Exodus 5:5
. This would indicate that Moses and Aaron
began a Sabbath reform in Egypt.
The Lord told the Israelites that in keeping His Sabbath day, they
should “remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your
God brought you out with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and
for that reason the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath
day.”
Deuteronomy 5:15
, NEB.
The observance of the Sabbath was not to be a commemoration
of their slavery in Egypt, however. Its observance in remembrance
of creation was to include a joyful remembrance of deliverance from
religious oppression in Egypt that made Sabbath observance difficult.
In the same way, their deliverance from slavery was forever to kindle
in their hearts a tender regard for the poor and oppressed, the fatherless
and widows: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. . . ; that is
why I command you to do this.”
Deuteronomy 24:17, 18
.
Note 2, page 187: The plagues the Lord sent on Egypt humiliated
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their gods and cast contempt on their idol-worship. The Nile River
was regarded with religious reverence, and sacrifices were offered to it
as a god. The first plague was directed against it.
Exodus 7:19
.
The second plague brought frogs.
Exodus 8:6
. One of the Egyptian
deities Heqa was a frog-headed goddess, and frogs were considered
sacred. The Apis bull was dedicated to Ptah, the cow was sacred
to Hathor, and the ram represented Khemu and Amen. The disease
brought upon their cattle and animals was directed against their sacred
animals.
Exodus 9:3
.
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