Saturday 18 July 2009

Background

Hidden away in the above two verses is a curious phrase: "Amixed crowd also went up with them". It follows immediately afterthe writer gives the number of Israelite men (600,000) who tookpart in the exodus from Egypt. Note that the number refers only tomen - not women and children as well. Including the latter wouldswell the number of Israelites into millions.

Scholars have long disagreed on whether the Hebrew term forthousand (elef) means actual thousands or rather something moreakin to troop or contingent. Nevertheless, add to this large numberall the livestock and it would have made quite a throng.

Yet there in the midst of the throng and in the midst of our textis that curious group referred to as a 'mixed crowd'. They too areescaping Pharaoh and his army; they too are seeking freedom in thisexodus from Egypt. Our text makes clear that they, like thechildren and livestock, are inaddition to the Israelite men. In other words, theywere not Israelites. They were not kith and kin to those whom Mosescame to lead out. Had they not been allowed to depart with theIsraelites, there would have been no reason to mention them. Yetthey are mentioned.

Decades ago, trailers for epic films would name all the stars inthe picture, followed by the phrase "And a cast of thousands!" Allthose unnamed thousands were necessary to a successful picture. Wehave in verse 38 the early equivalent: in addition to the 'stars'of the exodus, "a mixed crowd also went up with them".

There's hope in such a phrase. How many of us will ever have a namerecognised by others? And yet God recognises and knows us each byname. In the exodus from Egypt, all those who wanted the salvationbeing offered by God through Moses were free to take it - just aswe are today: mixed crowd that we are.

To Ponder

In today's society, it's easy to feel thatanonymity equates being worthless. What can you learn from the factthat in the exodus, God's salvation was open to people of all racesand creeds?

Spend time meditating on the phrase, "a mixedcrowd also went up with them"? Where was God for them and how mightthey have recognised God's presence? Where and how might yourecognise God?