Exodus 10:1-13:16
Jeremiah 46:13-28
Luke 2:22-24
John 19:31-37
Revelation 8:6-9:12; 16:1-21
Bo (Go)
At first, it appeared to Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh was truly repentant. The plague of locusts had destroyed what little life was left in Egypt. Moses was so taken in by the seemingly repentant words of Pharaoh that he even went out and interceded to Elohim for Pharaoh and his people. It surprised Moses when his next instruction to give to Pharaoh was another of judgment instead of redemption. Moses obeyed the word of Elohim, having learned through experience that he could only see the outside of a man, but Yah could look upon their heart.
The next plague was darkness so thick in the land of Egypt that it could be felt with every sense. You could practically smell the darkness as if it was a decay of the very air. No one dared move from the place they were when the darkness fell. Families were separated; children who were out playing could not find their way home. The only thing more prevalent in Egypt than the darkness was the absolute quiet. The youngest to the oldest were so gripped with fear that, for the three days of darkness, all that could be heard throughout the land were grievous moans. There may not have been repentance in the palace of the Pharaoh, but throughout the land many hearts were changing. The darkness was bringing forth the purposes of Yah.
There was only one light that could be seen from Egypt. It was the light in Goshen. From Egypt, it was seen as a very faint glimmer. It was not bright enough to affect the darkness in Egypt, but just enough to be made out. It was as if something was radiating from far away. Many of the Egyptians found themselves simply sitting and staring toward Goshen for three days. They were too fearful to try to venture towards the light, but there was something about it that penetrated inside of them and made them think of what was there.
When the darkness lifted, Moses once again found himself in front of Pharaoh. This, however, would be their last meeting in his palace. Pharaoh's words were, at first, those of negotiation, but soon turned to bitterness.
Moses returned to Goshen with instructions for the Hebrews. There would be one last plague. Every family who did not slaughter a lamb in the manner that Moses prescribed and smear the blood of the doorposts would have their first-born son taken from them.
As Moses approached Goshen with the instructions, he was taken back at the sight that was before him. Why are so many Egyptians here in Goshen? Has there been an order from Pharaoh that I do not know about? As he was asking the questions to himself, the young man, Joshua, came running to him.
"Moses, Moses," Joshua began, "you will not believe what is happening all over Goshen. Many Egyptians have come to ask us about the light they saw upon us while Egypt was in darkness. They are saying they no longer believe that Pharaoh is a god and are asking if they can somehow join us and serve our God."
Moses could not believe what he was hearing. He was so overtaken by the emotions running through him that he didn't focus on the path and nearly tripped over an Egyptian's bag lying in the street. Joshua's quick reflexes were the only thing that kept Moses from hitting the ground. Joshua caught him and helped him sit on a nearby rock. For the longest time, Moses just stared at the Egyptians and his people in disbelief. As Moses scanned their faces, he noticed something that made his jaw drop. The Egyptians were all talking to the young people who Moses had been seeing in his meetings. The young people were telling the Egyptians the stories Moses had told to them! There had never been so much excitement in Goshen.
Moses tried to collect his thoughts. Is Elohim bringing this about? Could these people join us and become as Hebrews? Could they be adopted into His family the way I was once adopted into the family of Pharaoh? Just then, he saw a man approaching him. Moses knew him as the harshest taskmaster in all of Egypt. He was responsible for more Hebrews being abused and even killed than any other man in Egypt. The man stopped in front of Moses and fell to his hands and knees. With tears watering the barren sand below him, he managed to choke out, "Is there a way of forgiveness for a man like me?"
Moses' heart was beating out of his chest. He understood that the purpose of this man kneeling before him was not only for the man, but also to test his own heart. Moses lifted the man to his feet and raised the man's eyes to his own. "If there is forgiveness for a person like me, then I am sure there is for you, my brother." With that, he took the Egyptian man into his arms. The tears between the Hebrew and Egyptian drew quite a crowd. Moses took this as his opportunity to instruct the people in what would, from that time on, be known as the Passover Lamb.
It was a bittersweet time in the homes of the Hebrews that infamous night. In many homes, Hebrews and Egyptians shared a meal around a common table. This was a practice not even done during the time of Joseph. There was talk of hope and excitement of a new life in this Promised Land, even though most of the Hebrews did not even remember which way it was from Egypt. That part was the sweetness.
Bitterness came when the winds started to pick up. Then the first wail came from Egypt. The sorrow and fear of that first mother and father caused every conversation to stop completely. The people sat, staring at one another as the wails grew into a chorus of agony and emotional pain. Entire tables of people, Egyptian and Hebrew, fell to their knees praying. For hours, it continued. There were even some cries coming from Goshen. Moses recognized some of the voices. They were the cries of some of the older couples who had ignored Moses so many times before. He could only imagine them seeing their own sons dropping dead before their own eyes.
The rising sun marked a year since the plagues had begun. The land which was once known as the greatest and most powerful country on the entire earth was now a total ruin. Pharaoh sat upon his throne and, once again, stared. This time was not out a window, but at the lifeless body of his first-born son. What was happening in Egypt was of no concern to him on this dark morning.
In the end, the number of Egyptians which had joined themselves to the Hebrews was rather significant. As for the rest of the Egyptians, they had come to see the Hebrews no longer as slaves, but as a menace that needed to leave right away. Egyptians came to Goshen with possessions to give the Hebrews as bribery for them to leave. The Hebrews took whatever they wanted, even the wagons and the oxen that would take them far from Egypt.
Moses, with Aaron and Joshua at his side, headed the caravan of a mixed multitude of "Hebrews" leaving Egypt. Moses, for now, was not looking forward, but rather to the wagons and people now forming up as far as the eye could see behind him on the trail. They may be leaving Egypt, but I wonder how much of Egypt is leaving them? This thought was interrupted when another hit him. Pharaoh has been forced to let the people go, but, as long as he lives, he still has legal ownership of them. I do not think I have seen the last of him!
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