Numbers 33:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

The Israelites set out from Rameses … [and] marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them.

For Meditation

The Israelites were now emboldened. At midnight, the Lord had struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, including the firstborn of Pharaoh – humans and livestock (Ex. 12:29-30). Pharaoh’s defiance had been broken and his final call for Moses and Aaron was to order them to get out of Egypt with all the Israelites and their flock (31-32). He even asked Moses to bless him. But it was too late!

 It was on the fifteenth day of the first month on the Jewish calendar and a very interesting scene played out.  As “the Israelites marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,” the Egyptians “were burying all their firstborn” (Nu. 33:3-4). There were dead bodies and wailing in every Egyptian home. Humiliation and dread had settled on Egypt, and the people hurried to bury their dead. But, in Goshen, the blood of the lamb had covered God’s people, and not a single death was recorded in any Israelite home. While death and burial occupied one side of Egypt, resurrection and life boldly marched out of it on the other – a perfect picture of redemption.

When we come to Christ, His blood washes away our sins, and we move from death to life. God rescues “us from the dominion of darkness and [brings] us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). The penalty for our sins – death – is fully paid for in Christ, and we’re reconciled to God (22). As sin buries its victims, Christ triumphantly leads His people out of the throes of death to freedom in Him, and beautifully adorns them with eternal life (Rm. 6:23). What a picture of contrasts!

The same picture is painted of the Christian life against that of the world. While the world struggles through deprivation and death, the believer has the hope of glory, the assurance of eternity with Christ (Col. 1:27). In the midst of the troubles and confusion in this world, God protects His children (Ps. 91:1-16) and gives them peace (Phil. 4:6-7) and joy (Gal. 5:22) in Christ Jesus.

1. Where do you belong in these two contrasting pictures?
2. Are you in the picture of death or that of life?
3. Have you surrendered your life to Christ (Acts 16:29-33; Rm. 10:9-10, 13)?
4. Do you have the peace and joy that only Christ gives, as you sail through the storms of this life?
5. Are you sharing the overflow of God’s grace in Christ with those who don’t know Him (Matt. 28:19-20)?

I pray you will encounter the overwhelming presence of Christ as you surrender every situation to Him.

So: As the world writhes in sorrow and defeat, may you defiantly march out of it in Christ; and may Christ give you His victory, peace, and joy in every encounter of life, in a manner that provokes others to come to Him.

Viewing the contrasting pictures of sin and death, and righteousness and life reveals Christ in His fullness.

Shalom