Exodus Chapter 12 Verses 40-42 

:40 “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.” 

“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.”  From the time of Jacob and his children came into Egypt during the days of Joseph until the time the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.  This was the LORD’s timetable.  This was according to the promise that God had made to Abraham and fulfilled beginning with Jacob and his family coming into Egypt.  Moreover, it also fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham that he would deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt and make them a great nation. 

“And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.”  In some things, God has a very fixed and definite time table.  For instance, God had promised Abraham and Sarah that at his set time the next year that Sarah would bear Abraham and son and his name would be called Isaac.  Predicting a child’s birthday before the child is yet conceived is impossible for men to accurately predict.  However, the God who created the universe can and does work off his own time table and can assure that what he desires to be accomplished will be accomplished just like he said it would. 

“It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.”  If we in our mind could place ourselves in the situation of the children of Israel at that point in time, we would see the great importance of keeping an observation of the night in which the LORD wrought deliverance for us out of Egyptian bondage.           


Verses 43-49 

:43 “And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” 

The above passage sets forth some provisions as to who may eat the Passover and who may not eat the Passover as well as some other provisions of the Passover feast:

                   1.  No stranger, foreigner, or hired servant was to eat of the Passover, unless they sojourned among the children of Israel and desired to eat of the Passover, then all the males of his house were to first be circumcised. 

                   2.  No uncircumcised person was to eat of the Passover. 

                   3.  The Passover was to be eaten in one house.

                   4.  None of the flesh of the Passover was to be taken abroad out of the house.

                   5.  They were not to break a bone of the Passover lamb.  This points us to Jesus who had not a bone broken on the cross as was also prophesied.  

                   6.  All the congregation of Israel was to keep the Passover. 

                   7.  One law of the Passover was to the home born as well as to the stranger who sojourned among them.   


Verses 50, 51 

:50 “Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” 

“Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.”  Many times in the scriptures, the children of Israel were disobedient to the commandments and instructions of the LORD and they suffered the consequences of their disobedience.  However, in this instance, the children of Israel did exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.  There is a practical lesson to us as parents.  Criticism and chastisement of our children for disobedience is proper, but it must be tempered with praise for the things they do right.  The LORD has set this example for us. 

“And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.”  This is the first time that we read of the children of Israel having armies, yet as a nation, armies are a necessity for protection of the people.  Likewise, the disciples of the Lord are soldiers of the Lord’s army and are to fight the good fight of faith.