Exodus 12:31-36

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Exodus 12:35. Borrowed … lent.] Render: “Asked,” and “let them have what they asked;” and cf. “Critical Note” on Exodus 11:2.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 12:31

THE ISRAELITES GOING OUT OF EGYPTIAN BONDAGE; OR, THE FREEDOM OF THE CHURCH

I. That the Israelites were given their freedom by those who had long oppressed them; and so the Church shall be freed by those who have long enslaved it. The king and his people urged the Israelites to depart from their country, and to be gone at once. The Egyptians were alarmed at the recent judgment, and were afraid lest they should all become dead men. The retributions of Heaven strike the wicked with terror. And so shall it be in reference to the ultimate liberty of the Church; its oppressors shall be made by the severe providence of God to give it its destined freedom. This freedom is promised. Many agencies are working for it. The good earnestly anticipate it. It will then more fully realise its mission. The Church has long enough been in bondage to cruel tyrants and wicked men; they have oppressed it, they have persecuted it, they have reproached it, they have maligned it, and they have plundered it; but the time comes when Heaven shall interfere on its behalf, and by signal judgments bring it out from the hands of the evil oppressor. And thus we see the tyrant contradicting his own fancied interests, his own prior conduct, and giving freedom to the slave he had determined should remain in lifelong bondage.

II. That the Israelites, in availing themselves of their freedom, had to make many temporary shifts; and so the Church, in stepping into liberty, will have to encounter many perplexities. The Israelites, in the moment of freedom, did not immediately enter upon the enjoyment and rest of the promised land, but they had quickly to leave their home of bondage without due preparation, and then were years in the wilderness as weary pilgrims. They had to take with them dough before it was leavened, and to bind their kneading-troughs up in their clothes, and carry them on their shoulders. The first experiences of freedom are always perplexing, even though they may be mingled with joy at the thought of liberty and exemption from a cruel servitude. A wise Church will rather carry its food than leave it, and it is a more welcome burden than the making of bricks without straw. And so when the Church enters upon its destined freedom, it will have to experience many straits and perplexities; it will require wisdom to act in them, fortitude to meet them, and perseverance to make them contribute to its ultimate well-being and glory.

III. That the Israelites, going into freedom, took with them all the wealth they could get from the Egyptians; and so the Church, in entering upon its liberty, should avail itself of all the valuables it can obtain from the world. The Israelites obtained from the Egyptians jewels of silver and gold, and all the raiment they could obtain from them. Nor was this an injustice, as it had all been duly earned by the slaves who were now free. These valuables were not borrowed with the idea of returning them. The word rendered “borrowed” may be rendered asked—they asked of the Egyptians these jewels as payment for their work. And these jewels were in after-days used in making vessels for the sanctuary of the Lord. Ornaments of gold and silver were worn by the Egyptian women, and even by the men, in great profusion. There, as in Eastern countries now, where the tenure of property is insecure, it was customary to invest all spare money in jewellery, which could be easily concealed. And so the world has many valuables which would enrich the Church, to which the Church is justly entitled, and which it should seek to attain. The world has ornaments and raiment which should be sought by the Christian Church in the hour of its freedom. The Church should ask for the gold and silver of the world; it has helped to make and earn it, and has a claim upon it. It should seek the moral and intellectual ornaments of the world—men who are of high moral principle, who are of cultured thought, and of splendid business tact and ability. The Church of Christ should seek to win these ornaments in the hour of its freedom, as they will enhance its true worth and utility in the future. All these can in future days become the vessels of the sanctuary. Like the jewels of the Egyptians, they can be turned from their old and inferior use to a new and glorious purpose in the Tabernacle of the Lord. This service will appropriate and consecrate them. The Church has yet to learn more fully that the jewels of Egypt may become the vessels of the Lord.

SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES

Exodus 12:31. Vengeance from God can make His rejected servants to be called by His enemies.

Persecuting powers may command liberty to those whom they have oppressed.
God’s prediction of the liberty of His Church is exactly performed in due time.
God can and will make worldly powers give liberty of conscience to His Church for worshipping of Him.
God at His pleasure giveth not only persons, but estates and substances, for His Church.

Exodus 12:34. The Church is very ready to go out of bondage when urged by the world to do so.

God’s people, to have their liberty, will be glad to go out with raw dough.
Gold, and silver, and precious things God allows His people to look after by His word.
It is God’s prerogative to turn the hearts of enemies to favour His Church.
The wicked sometimes minister, by the providence of God, to the wealth of the Church.

ILLUSTRATIONS

BY
REV. WM. ADAMSON

Kneading Troughs! Exodus 12:34. The Egyptians, so we are told, used large troughs for their dough—kneading it with the feet; and it is probable that the Israelites had been accustomed to the same. But in anticipation of their journey, they had no doubt prepared small wooden bowls, such as are used by the Arabs in their wanderings now, and which serve also to contain the cakes when baked. Harmer says that the Arabs use these very troughs—which in travelling they carry in the loose folds of their burnous—to prepare cakes for strangers in the very desert through which Israel journeyed. And thus did Israel teach a lesson of prudence and foresight of providing for the future—

“Each morn the bees fly forth to fill the growing comb,
And levy golden tribute of the uncomplaining flowers;
To-morrow is their care; they work for food to-morrow;
But man deferreth duty’s task, and loveth ease to-day.”

—Tupper.

Jewels! Exodus 12:35. The gift of these treasures was a tribute from the conquered to the conquered. They were employed by Israel in making beautiful the place of holiness. Sometimes, writes Spurgeon, after great battles, monuments are raised to the memory of the fight; and of what are they composed! They are composed of weapons of death and instruments of war surrendered by the defeated foe. The Egyptians yielded up their bravery to Israel’s triumphant host, who turned them into silver trumpets and pillars—golden bowls and tables. And the day is coming when the fury, and wrath, and hatred shall all be woven into a song—when the weapons of our enemies shall serve to make monuments to the praise of God—

“The piercing thorns have changed to flowers;
The spears have grown to sceptres bright”.

—Upham.