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In the book of Deuteronomy, the law given a "second time", Israel is called to
remember that they were bondmen (Deut. 5: 15; 16: 12; 24: 18, 22).
This
"remembrance" was to influence their attitude to any of their brethren who, because of
adverse circumstances, had become bond-servants for a period, and similar attitudes of
mercy are based upon the fact that Israel had known what bondage meant in Egypt. The
reason why Israel should keep the law, do right and good, and observe to do all the
commandments is stated:
". . . . . Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and
the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand . . . . ." (Deut. 6: 20-25).
This is repeated in Deut. 7: 8 with the addition of the words "redeemed out of the
house of bondage". This deliverance from bondage is expressed in several ways:
"To let go" (Exod. 5: 1); "to bring out" (Exod. 6: 6); "to deliver" (Exod. 3: 8).
The Exodus.
The twelfth chapter of the book of Exodus is devoted to the deliverance of Israel from
Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb, and to this great type of liberation we now turn.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month
shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you"
(Exod. 12: 1, 2).
Towards the close of this chapter another reminder of time is introduced:
"Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred
and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even
the self same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of
Egypt. IT IS A NIGHT TO BE MUCH OBSERVED unto the Lord" (Exod. 12: 40-42).
The Passover chapter begins (Exod. 12: 1, 2) and ends on this note of time (12: 51).
We shall evidently gain something for our good if we become more acquainted with what
lies behind this section. In Gen. 15: 13-16 the Lord revealed to Abraham that Israel
would be a stranger in a land that was not theirs, and they would be afflicted four hundred
years, but that in the fourth generation they should return. The reader will observe that in
Gen. 15: 13, 400 years are mentioned, whereas in Exod. 12: 40, 430 years are recorded.