Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

April 1, 1880
Israel Leaves Egypt
The children of Israel had followed the directions given them of God;
and while the angel of death was passing from house to house among the
Egyptians, they were all ready for their journey, and waiting for the
rebellious king, and his great men to bid them go. "At midnight, there was a
great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead."
All the first-born in the land, "from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his
throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the
first-born of cattle," had been smitten by the destroyer. When the Egyptians
had seen the great preparations made by the people of God for that dreadful
night, they had mocked at their hopes, and ridiculed the token of blood upon
their door-posts. But now there was wailing throughout all Egypt. Pharaoh
remembered his proud boast, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice
to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." His haughty
pride was now humbled. He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said,
"Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children
of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and
your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also." He hoped that a
blessing from God would protect him from the further effects of that dreadful
plague. The officers of the king, and the people, united in imploring the
Israelites to be gone, for, they said. "We be all dead men."
"And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs
being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 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 Lord
gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto
them such things as they required; and they spoiled the Egyptians."
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