Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/183

 arose from  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  because  there  was  death  in every  house.

And Pharao  arose  in  the  night,  and,  struck  with  terror,  he besought  Moses  and  Aaron  to  go  with  the  Israelites,  and  take with them  their  herds  and  all  they  possessed. “Go”, he  said, “and, departing,  bless  me.”  The  Egyptians  themselves  pressed the people  to  go  forth  speedily,  saying: “We  shall  all  die.”  Then the people  of  God  rose  up  in  haste,  while  it  was  yet  night,  and began their  journey,  taking  the  unleavened  bread  with  them. Moses also  carried  the  bones  of  Joseph  with  him.

The descendants  of  Jacob  had  lived  in  Egypt  four  hundred and thirty  years. Leaving Egypt,  they  numbered  six  hundred thousand men,  besides  women  and  children. Moses commanded the people,  saying:  “Remember  this  day,  in  which,  with  a strong hand, the  Lord  brought  you  forth  out  of  this  place,  that  you eat none  but  unleavened  bread.”  He  also  told  them  to  sanctify unto the  Lord  every  first-born,  because  the  Lord  had  spared  their first-born children  on  the  night  on  which  He  slew  every  first-born of the  Egyptians.

The Paschal  Lamb  was  a figure  of  Jesus,  who  died  on  the  Cross for the  sins  of  men. As the  destroying  angel  dared  not  enter  the houses of  the  Jews  that  were  sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  the  lamb,  so the  devil  has  no  power  over  those  Christians  who  receive  worthily  the Body and  Blood  of  our  Lord  in  Holy  Communion. In Pharao  we behold  a sad  picture  of  a man  grown  old  in  sin. When oppressed  by calamity  he  seemed  to  repent,  but  as  soon  as  the  danger  was  past, he fell  back  into  his  pride  and  hardness  of  heart.