Passover Tidbit No. 19

Not All Will Go

Yesterday we looked at the “locals” that joined up with Moshe and the Children of Yisrah-el’ to leave Egypt. I mentioned that not all of Yisrah-el’ left Egypt either, that statement shocks some people. Some object by quoting Shemoth (Exodus) 12:50 or similar verses, Thus did all the children of Yisrah-el’ …. But by looking closely at the verse it is referring to keeping the Pesach, not leaving Egypt. In any case the word “all” often means “some of each” like when we are told “all men will be saved “ 1 Timothy 2:4. Clearly not all men will be saved but certainly some of each Yisrah-el’ Goy, old young, fat thin, black white, etc.

But the Scripture tells us that the new pharaoh who did not know Yo-saf’, (Shemoth 1:8), said the Children of Yisrah’el multiplied and filled Egypt and were more and mightier than we 1:7-10.

And let’s face the facts, “all of Yisrah-el’” means only those who were willing to follow and obey. If they were not obedient to the Word of YHVH they are not Yisrah-el’. Today to be called a Christian you can believe almost anything, and many do. Believing you are a Christian is a far different thing than following YHVH. When the Scripture say, “all of Yisrah-el’ they can only be referring to “all who believe and obey”, so that provide no assistance to determine how many stayed in Egypt.

Historical and Rabbinical literature tell us that Yisrah-el’ had outgrown Goshen and many had intermarried with Egyptians, many had assimilated with the people, in fact there is a phrase the Rabbis quote that records many of Yisrah-el’ saying “in all things we are like Egypt”. Certainly, that is the experience recorded in Scripture and in history whenever the House of Yisrah-el’ was taken captive, they assimilated with the captors after a few generations and YHVH would have to take extreme measures to make them separate again.

But practically speaking Yisrah-el’ had been in Egypt 430 years and multiplied greatly. In the early 1600’s William Bradford recorded that the Plymouth colony was down to 49 souls, but now less than 400 years later we are about 335 million people, does it seem logical that the original 70 of Ya’akov in 430 years would only number 600,000 men plus women and children? I might suggest the number is much higher and the difference are those who stayed in Egypt. All of a sudden, the 20% figure who left, cited by many historians, seems a lot more possible.

We know that of the large number taken to Babylon after 70 years only a few came back to Yerushalaiym when given the opportunity, do we think after 400 years all Hebrews would leave for a place unknown to them if they would not even go back “home” after only 70 years? When the 10 tribes were taken captive in 754 BC how many returned over the next 1000 years? Very few. Human nature is to resist change, to be comfortable wherever you and in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Very few will take the risk associated with making a change like Moshe was asking them to make, and we know from Scripture that most were not happy with Moshe for even making and argument they should go.

Most historians believe that only 20% of the children left with Moshe, I don’t know I was not there, but it seem clear that most were content working for the Egyptian government as herders, water bearers, being married to Egyptians, generally keeping a low profile and did not want to risk it all to leave the only thing they had ever known for a wild eyed promise made by a God they did not know personally.

Yesterday I said it does not matter how many Egyptians left Egypt with Moshe because they became Yisrah-el’ when they joined them and left. In the same way it does not matter how many Hebrews stayed because they became Egyptian when they stayed. To this day there is a remnant of people who have lived in Egypt for millennia who still identify as Yehudiym but refuse to leave the persecution and walk across the border to join the nation of Yisrah-el’.

And so it is with many, probably most, who call themselves Christian. They are too comfortable where they are and have no desire to follow the instructions and promises of YHVH. I can only guess the excuses Hebrews in Egypt or Babylon made to themselves as to why they did not need to follow YHVH and instead stayed in captivity for life. I would imagine they were similar to the excuses the “church” gives today for not following His Words and keeping His appointments. They have assimilated in this thing called the church, and are happy being called Christians, they do not want to celebrate or know anything about the Feast and the promises of YHVH associated with them. They do not believe that YHVH does want to meet with them on His terms and miss incredible opportunities to join Him at His Feasts.