Exodus 12:35
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
On the night the firstborn were struck, while Israel stood ready and the Egyptians pressed them to leave in haste, they asked at Moses' word for silver and gold ornaments and clothing, and the Lord gave them favor so the Egyptians lent whatever was required and they left enriched with their spoils. What they carried out was just recompense for unpaid labor, and it was rightfully theirs, including the flocks and herds brought in by Jacob and his sons which had greatly increased as the people grew exceedingly numerous. In this coming out with great substance was fulfilled what God had revealed to Abraham four hundred years before, that his seed would serve as strangers in a foreign land and be afflicted, that He would judge that nation, and that afterward they would come out with abundant possessions. With them went Egyptians who by the signs had learned that the God of the Hebrews alone was true, and who on that night entreated shelter in Israelite homes, pledged themselves to Him, and chose to leave Egypt to worship Him. God's bringing them out was to separate a people from the ways of the world to reveal His goodness, mercy, justice and love to the world, a deliverance to be remembered with gratitude, firm faith and courage on the way to the heavenly Canaan instead of distrust and murmuring.
Departure From Egypt
The borrowing of silver jewels and gold jewels and clothing took place on Passover night after the firstborn were struck down at midnight. At that hour Israel stood ready for the journey while the Egyptians pressed them to leave the land in haste, fearing that they were all dead men. In obedience to the word of Moses the children of Israel asked the Egyptians for what they required.
During the plagues the people had gathered in Goshen and had been organized into companies before setting out. Their going out ended their dwelling in the country round about Goshen, where they had lived since Joseph settled them there. God brought His people out of Egypt at that time with power and mighty signs and wonders.
In pity for their slavery God broke the yoke of their bondage and placed Moses at their head to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. The departure also included Egyptians who had come to believe. By the manifestations of signs and wonders shown in Egypt quite a number of Egyptians had been led to acknowledge that the God of the Hebrews was the only true God, and they were convinced that the gods they had worshiped were without knowledge and had no power to save or to destroy.
On the fearful night when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, those believing Egyptians entreated to be permitted to come with their families into the houses of the Israelites. They pledged themselves henceforth to choose the God of Israel as their God and decided to leave Egypt and go with the children of Israel to worship Him. The Israelites welcomed the believing Egyptians to their houses.
Enriched With Egyptian Spoils
At the word of Moses the children of Israel asked the Egyptians for jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent whatever was required, and in this way Israel spoiled the Egyptians. This asking and lending took place on the Passover night after the firstborn were smitten at midnight, while Israel stood ready for the journey and the Egyptians urged them to leave the land in haste for fear that they were all dead men. What they took in silver and gold and clothing by Moses' direction was recompense for their unpaid labor. The Egyptians were eager to be rid of them and did not refuse, so Israel left laden with the wealth of their oppressors.
What Israel carried out did not belong to Pharaoh, for they had never sold it to him. It included the flocks and herds, the flocks and cattle, that Jacob and his sons had brought with them into Egypt. Those herds had greatly increased as the children of Israel had become exceedingly numerous. God judged the Egyptians by sending the plagues upon them, and by that judgment made them hasten His people out of Egypt with all that they possessed.
This coming out with great substance fulfilled what God had revealed to Abraham about four hundred years before. His seed would be strangers in a land not theirs and would serve and be afflicted four hundred years, God would judge the nation they served, and afterward they would come out with great substance, with abundant possessions after the appointed period of bondage.
Purpose and Remembrance Today
God's bringing of Israel out of Egypt was the carrying out of His purpose to manifest the principles of His kingdom through His people. He separated them from the customs and habits and practices of the world and brought them nearer to Himself that He might make known to them His will. In life and character they were to reveal goodness and mercy and justice and love and thus give the world a representation of His character. When the law of God was exemplified in their life even the world would recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people, and that purpose remains the same for His people today.
That deliverance from Egyptian bondage, together with opening the Red Sea before them and destroying their pursuing foes, is one of God's mighty works proving His power and care. Forgetting it leads to feeling abused and to mourning and lamenting, to distrust of God and to discouragement and desperation when discouraged by false reports. Remembering it must be done with gratitude and must produce firm faith and courage and hopeful speech on the way to the heavenly Canaan. It calls for refusal to repeat the sin of murmuring, rebellious Israel under the false report of the unfaithful spies.
The same pity that broke the yoke of Israel's bondage and placed Moses at their head to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land lives toward the colored people in America. Though in one sense freed from slavery, they remain in the slavery of ignorance, living in sin and degradation in the shadow of Christian doors. God is not indifferent to their suffering but calls those who name His name to lift them by earnest medical missionary work. That work follows Christ's example of going about doing good, feeding the hungry and healing the sick.