Exodus 12:28-32: a reflection

28The children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 29At midnight, the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said! 32Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!”

On the night of the Passover, before the great deliverance, the children of Israel did something simple but essential: The children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. They obeyed God's instructions, the marking of the doorposts, the eating of the lamb, before they saw the deliverance those instructions would bring. They did not fully understand all that would happen; but they obeyed, doing as the LORD had commanded, and that night the deliverance came. Their obedience preceded their understanding; they did as God said, and then saw his salvation.

Notice that Israel obeyed before they saw the outcome. God had given them instructions to follow that night, instructions whose full meaning and effect they could not yet see; and they obeyed, doing as the LORD had commanded. Their obedience came before the deliverance, before they understood all it would accomplish. They did not wait until they understood everything to obey; they did as God said, trusting his command, and then the deliverance came. The salvation followed the obedience; they obeyed first, and understood the fullness of it after. Obedience to God's instruction, even before full understanding, was the way through to the deliverance.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are often called to obey God's instructions before we fully understand them. God gives us commands and directions whose full meaning and outcome we cannot always see; and we can be tempted to wait until we understand everything before we obey. But Israel obeyed God's instructions on the Passover night before they saw the deliverance, and the deliverance came through their obedience. Sometimes we must obey first and understand after. Do not wait until you fully understand God's instruction before you obey it; do as he commands, trusting him, as Israel obeyed before they saw the deliverance. Obey God's instructions even before you fully understand them, trusting his command, as Israel did as the LORD commanded on the Passover night and then saw the deliverance; for obedience to God does not always wait on full understanding, and the way through is often to do as he says first, trusting him, and to understand the fullness of it after.

Lord, on the night of the Passover, before the great deliverance, the children of Israel did something simple but essential: the children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. They obeyed your instructions before they saw the deliverance those instructions would bring. They did not fully understand all that would happen; but they obeyed, doing as you had commanded, and that night the deliverance came. Their obedience preceded their understanding. Show me that Israel obeyed before they saw the outcome. You had given them instructions to follow that night, whose full meaning and effect they could not yet see; and they obeyed. Their obedience came before the deliverance, before they understood all it would accomplish. They did not wait until they understood everything to obey; they did as you said, trusting your command, and then the deliverance came. The salvation followed the obedience. Take that to my heart, for I too am often called to obey your instructions before I fully understand them. You give me commands and directions whose full meaning and outcome I cannot always see; and I can be tempted to wait until I understand everything before I obey. But Israel obeyed before they saw the deliverance, and it came through their obedience. Sometimes I must obey first and understand after. Keep me from waiting until I fully understand your instruction before I obey it; help me do as you command, Lord, trusting you, as Israel obeyed before they saw the deliverance.