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Patriarchs and Prophets
manifested the light of truth, the way of life, He has given facilities,
ordinances, and privileges; and now man must co-operate with these
saving agencies; he must appreciate and use the helps that God has
provided—believe and obey all the divine requirements.
As Moses rehearsed to Israel the provisions of God for their deliv-
erance, “the people bowed the head and worshiped.” The glad hope of
freedom, the awful knowledge of the impending judgment upon their
oppressors, the cares and labors incident to their speedy departure—all
were for the time swallowed up in gratitude to their gracious Deliverer.
Many of the Egyptians had been led to acknowledge the God of the
Hebrews as the only true God, and these now begged to be permitted
to find shelter in the homes of Israel when the destroying angel should
pass through the land. They were gladly welcomed, and they pledged
themselves henceforth to serve the God of Jacob and to go forth from
Egypt with His people.
The Israelites obeyed the directions that God had given. Swiftly
and secretly they made their preparations for departure. Their families
were gathered, the paschal lamb slain, the flesh roasted with fire, the
unleavened bread and bitter herbs prepared. The father and priest of
the household sprinkled the blood upon the doorpost, and joined his
family within the dwelling. In haste and silence the paschal lamb was
eaten. In awe the people prayed and watched, the heart of the eldest
born, from the strong man down to the little child, throbbing with
indefinable dread. Fathers and mothers clasped in their arms their
loved first-born as they thought of the fearful stroke that was to fall
that night. But no dwelling of Israel was visited by the death-dealing
angel. The sign of blood—the sign of a Saviour’s protection—was on
their doors, and the destroyer entered not.
At midnight “there was a great cry in Egypt: for there was not a
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house where there was not one dead.” All the first-born in the land,
“from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn
of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle”
had been smitten by the destroyer. Throughout the vast realm of Egypt
the pride of every household had been laid low. The shrieks and
wails of the mourners filled the air. King and courtiers, with blanched
faces and trembling limbs, stood aghast at the overmastering horror.
Pharaoh remembered how he had once exclaimed, “Who is Jehovah,
that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah,