Jehovah Rescues His People

The year is 1513 B.C.E. Jehovah has already brought time blows against the Egyptians.  After the last of those, Pharaoh summarily dismisses Moses with the words "Get out from me!  Watch yourself!  Do not try to see my face again, because on the day of your seeing my face you will die."  Moses replies:  "That is the way you have spoken. I shall not try to see your face anymore." -Exodus 10:28, 29.

Jehovah now reveals to Moses that there will be one more blow against Pharaoh and all the Egyptians, a final one.  On the 14th of Abib (Nisan), the firstborn of every Egyptian man and of every animal is going to die.  But Israelite households can be spared by carefully following God's instructions given to Moses.  They are to splash some of the blood of a male lamb upon the two doorposts and the upper part of the doorway of their houses and to stay indoors.  What happens that night? Let Moses himself tell us:  "It came about that at midnight Jehovah struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt."  Pharaoh's reaction is immediate.  Calling Moses and Aaron to him, he tells them:  "Get us, get out from the midst of my people, . . .and go, serve Jehovah, just as you have stated." And go the Israelites do, possibly more than three million of them along with an unnumbered  "vast mixed company" of non-Israelites. -Exodus 12:1-7, 29, 31, 37, 38.

The nearest route for the Israelites to take is by the Mediterranean Sea and through the land of the Philistines.  But that is the enemy territory.  Hence, likely to save his people from having to engage in warfare, Jehovah leads them by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.  Although there are millions of people on the march, this is no disorderly crowd.  The Bible record says: "It was in battle formation that the sons of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt." -Exodus 13:17, 18.

Next time: "See the Salvation of Jehovah"

The Watchtower, 2007