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We have seen the emphasis which the close association of the Unleavened Bread with
the Passover gives to the fact that redemption must always be manifested by separation
from evil; that those who are `called saints' should act as `becometh saints'; that those
who are `unleavened' should put away the `leaven of malice and wickedness'. This is the
ideal, and nothing lower than this can have the sanction of the Word. The Scriptures,
however, reveal the fact which everywhere presses upon us today, that the meaning and
truth of the unleavened bread is often not practically realized.
"And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred
thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also
with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle" (12: 37, 38).
When Moses stood before Pharaoh he demanded that not only should the men go, but
said he:
"We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters,
with our flocks and with our herds will we go" (10: 9).
When the Exodus actually took place, it is found that in between the `men and the
children', their `flocks and herds', is `a mixed multitude also', or as the margin reads "a
great mixture". The effect of this mixture is seen in Numb. 11: 4, "And the mixt
multitude that was among them fell a-lusting"; that is what we might expect. There is
however a sad echo of the `also' of Exod. 12: 38, for Numb. 11: 4 continues:
"And the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
. . . . . there is nothing at all, beside this manna before our eyes."
"This manna" is elsewhere called "angels' food", "bread from heaven", and is a type
of Him Who is the Bread of life that came down from heaven. The influence of the
mixed multitude is clearly seen. The heart is turned back to Egypt, and the things of God
are lightly esteemed. Some of this mixed multitude were allied to Israel by marriage.
This is no fancy, for we have at least one such alliance and its disastrous effect recorded
in Lev. 24: 10:
"And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among
the children of Israel."
The words `went out among' seem to imply some definite purpose. We are told in
Exod. 2: 11 that when Moses was grown:
"He went out unto his brethren . . . . . and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew."
Here, however, we find, "This son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove
together in the camp". To the fleshly lusts of Numb. 11:, therefore, must be added the
`strife' of Lev. 24: Not only so, but the dreadful sin of blasphemy must be included:
"And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed."