The Night to Be Much Observed

Hysterical cries pierce the quiet of night. Throughout the land, Egyptians awake to find the dead bodies of their firstborn, both man and beast. The grief and anger intensify when they realize their Israelite slaves are all safe—God had “passed over” their firstborn.

Wailing in the face of death was a custom in ancient Egypt, a carefully conducted ritual at the time. But this was more. God had explained in advance to Moses that there would be a “great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more” (Ex. 11:6).

Chapter 12 shows the extent of the devastation: “For there was not a house where there was not one dead” (vs. 30).

Perhaps it was this cry that woke Pharaoh himself, only to find his own son dead. You can imagine the thoughts racing through his mind: “How did it all come to this?”—“Why didn’t I let the Israelites go sooner?”—“What more will this God do if I do not release these slaves?”

There was only one thing left to do. The grief-stricken king called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone…” (vs. 31-32).

The utterly defeated Pharaoh even asked Moses to “bless me also” (vs. 32).

This was the culmination of centuries of sojourning for Israel: “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” (12:40-41).

This was such a turning point in Israel’s history that God proclaimed, “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” (vs. 42).

As spiritual Israel (Gal. 6:16), Christians are to commemorate this event every year. Once the sun sets leading into Abib 15, we traditionally share an elegant dinner in a small group with members of our local congregation. This marks the start of the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The meal often takes place in a member’s home, but can also occur within a private room in a restaurant. Every aspect of the night, from the table decor to the entree, is carefully planned and prepared, focusing on quality.

Our conversation at this event should involve God’s deliverance of ancient Israel from physical Egypt. It can also naturally shift to our deliverance from spiritual Egypt—this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4)—and how God called us into His truth. While this is fine, forgetting the dramatic backstory leading up to this night can be easy if we do not diligently strive to keep it in mind.

Only by truly examining this critical pivot point in Israel’s history can we fully appreciate why God instituted this commanded assembly—and why it is to be much observed!

A Hard Life

Imagine being an Israelite in ancient Egypt. Your benefactor, the great statesman Joseph, had long since died—his service and loyalty forgotten by the Egyptian rulership. Gone are the relatively good days when Israel received any favor.

Exodus 1 tells the story: “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land” (vs. 8-10).

From early in this brutal dictator’s reign, he was intent on keeping Israel captive.

Continue in verse 11: “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses” (vs. 11).

The plot backfired. The harder the Egyptians were on the Israelites, “the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel” (vs. 12).

The slave labor only intensified: “And the Egyptians…made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor” (vs. 13-14).

But it did not stop there. As the Israelites grew in number, Pharaoh ordered the death of every newborn male. It was from this purge that Moses was spared and reared by Pharaoh’s compassionate daughter as her own.

Around age 40, Moses was fed up with the sufferings of his people, and he tried to take matters into his own hands: “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand” (Ex. 2:11-12).

After this hasty and violent act, Moses fled the empire to escape punishment. It would be some 40 years before God sent him back. Israel remained enslaved: “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them” (vs. 23-25).

God appeared to Moses in a burning bush (3:4) and ultimately sent him and his brother Aaron back to Egypt with a clear message for the new pharaoh: “Let My people go” (5:1).

Run-up to Deliverance

Pharaoh refused Moses’ initial request. God then began a prolonged series of plagues, lasting perhaps a year. These culminated in the death of the firstborn on the Night to Be Much Observed—the Old Testament Passover.

God’s purpose for these plagues was to show His awesome power to Egyptians and Israelites alike. The first plague was water turning into blood. Imagine the stench of the Nile—the backbone of the nation’s economy—as it became a thick, viscous red liquid.

Despite this, Pharaoh was unmoved and simply “turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also” (Ex. 7:23). In other words, the king left and carelessly put the matter out of his mind.

God was not done. He next sent frogs, with the noisy and slimy amphibians blanketing the land.

There seemed to be a breakthrough: “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that He may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord” (8:8).

Once God intervened and killed the frogs, Pharaoh changed his mind: “When Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said” (vs. 15).

The plagues continued: Lice infected the Egyptian population, massive flies swarmed the nation, Egypt’s livestock became diseased, boils struck people and animals alike—then hail and lightning, then devouring locusts, then three days of darkness so thick it could be "felt" (10:21).

As this year’s Night to Be Much Observed approaches, take time to read Exodus 8-10 to learn more about these events. Paint a picture in your mind of what it would have been like for Egyptians and Israelites.

Through all the plagues, the Israelites had to look to God for deliverance. Some may have wondered, Will we ever actually depart? But God was teaching Israel to trust and wait on Him—lessons Christians today must also apply.

Nine plagues had passed at this point in the story, and there was one more to go. Israelites with ears to hear knew the end was in sight. Moses had told them: “Thus said the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts” (11:4-5).

Israelites were promised to come out unscathed: “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that you may know how that the Lord does put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel” (vs. 7). God promised to “pass over” all Israelites who fulfilled His precise instructions on this night (12:23), which holds great lessons also applicable to the New Testament Passover, observed the night before.

This was the “one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterward he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether” (11:1).

It was against this backdrop of suffering for Israelites in slavery and a series of severe punishments from God on the Egyptians that the Night to be Much Observed is introduced.

Read the Passover command from the perspective of an Israelite alive at that time. God had shown His power over and over. Now He commanded everyone to eat a special meal of lamb.

Exodus 12:8 states: “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”

After eating, Israel was commanded to await God’s deliverance. They were even supposed to be dressed for travel: “And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover” (vs. 11).

Again, try to visualize what this was like. Israel ate their meal just after sunset and then had to patiently await God’s intervention. Certainly, there would have been nervous excitement in every household. Now imagine how the Israelites felt when they began to hear the great cry from the Egyptians when all their firstborns were struck dead.

Finally, it was go time! The final plague sparked the rapid expulsion of the Israelites: “The Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, we be all dead men” (vs. 33).

An indispensable Night to Be Much Observed menu item is introduced: “And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders” (vs. 34).

After they “spoiled” the Egyptians (vs. 36)—righteous payback for decades of slave labor—“the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual” (vs. 37-39).

Their window of opportunity to escape had finally arrived! Leaving Egypt was to be done in haste on this all-important night.

Modern Parallels

Ancient Egypt is a type of sin. Notice how Paul characterized Moses’ example: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26).

When a person is called into God’s Church and repents—turns from the ways of this world—they too escape spiritual Egypt. But this is not easy! As we fight to overcome, the pressures of the world can, at times, feel like we are facing off against Pharaoh and his army!

Coming out of Egypt is so important to God that He ensured Christ Himself gave us an example in Matthew 2:13-15: “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My son.”

As Christians, we copy Christ. He “[left] us an example, that [we] should follow His steps” (I Pet. 2:21).

When we keep the Night to Be Much Observed, we recall Israel’s exodus from Egypt as well as our own exodus from this world and the trappings of sin.

This night is holy to God. Our meal begins after the sunset ushering in the First Day of Unleavened Bread, the start of a seven-day festival. And although we too eat unleavened bread during the celebration, first-time observers of this night should not come dressed to make a desert journey but rather in Sabbath attire, ready for a uniquely sumptuous meal!

Indeed it is a night to be much observed because it pictures our wonderful departure from the devil’s world and ways and our entering into a relationship with God to learn His wonderful ways—pictured by the abundance enjoyed in the evening. Before the meal, a prayer that is a little longer than a usual blessing should touch on some of the themes we have examined.

The words of the psalmist are fitting to consider: “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Your work, and talk of Your doings” (Psa. 77:11-12).

This is the time to ask: “Who is so great a God as our God?...the God that does wonders” (vs. 13-14). We should also reflect on how He “redeemed [His] people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph,” and “led [His] people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (vs. 15, 20).

You will not want this special night to end! However, be sure to depart at a reasonable hour. You will want to get sufficient rest before double Holy Day services begin early the next day.

Having taken the New Testament Passover symbols the night before, you will enter the Night to Be Much Observed with a clean slate and refreshed like no other time of year. Be sure to “observe” this extraordinary night to the maximum.