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 – Numbers 33:3-4

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). The mighty arm of God broke Pharaoh’s defiance, 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! 

 On the fifteenth day of the first month on the Jewish calendar, a significant 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 took place 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 our sins away, 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 sin—death—is fully paid for in Christ, and Christ reconciled us 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 represents 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). Amid 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. 

Where do you belong in these two contrasting pictures? Have you surrendered your life to Christ?

My prayer for you is that as the world writhes in sorrow and defeat, you may defiantly march out of it in Christ by giving your life to Him (Acts 16:29-33; Rm. 10:9-10, 13). And may you rejoice in the Lord Jesus, your Savior. Amen!

Contrasting sin and death with righteousness and life in one picture reveals Christ in His fullness.

Shalom.