AS THE children of Israel went out of Egypt a “mixed multitude” accompanied them. Some were Egyptians who had forsaken the gods of the Nile and cast their lot with Israel. Some may have been from other lands. Now before the long journey commenced God wisely gave instructions concerning these people: “And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof... and when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof... " 10:43-49.
Long before, in the days of Abraham, God had instituted the ordinance of circumcision, which was to be the “mark in the flesh” that would distinguish Israel from all other nations. It was a token of the covenant God had made with Abraham and his seed, as also it signified the separation of a people to God. What circumcision was to the Israelite spoke of that which the cross of Christ is to the Christian. It typifies the putting off of the body of the flesh by one who has accepted the cross of Christ as the end of all flesh, because it was there Christ Himself was cut off by death (see Col. 2:1111In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11)). Thus the Christian is now associated with a rejected and crucified Christ, proclaims death to the old nature that formerly governed his thoughts and actions, and is separated unto Christ from the world. Walking in separation and practical holiness it was no more suited for an uncircumcised stranger to eat of the passover supper than for an unsaved person today to partake of the Lord’s supper, or intrude into the holy things of Christ. God provided, in His grace, that the alien who would take his place with Israel and eat of the passover, could do so by accepting the mark of circumcision. Grace now provides for those who desire to be associated with Christ and His people and who wish to escape the pollutions of this evil world. By turning to Christ for salvation and by taking their place with Him as a crucified and risen Saviour, their happy privilege is now to partake of the Lord’s supper in loving remembrance of His death.
The passover was always to be eaten entirely within the house; none of it was to be carried outside. It was only for those who were under the shelter of the blood. “Neither shall ye break a bone thereof,” because it was a type of Christ.
The “mixed multitude” that went up with the children of Israel out of Egypt became a source of weakness and failure to the Israelites, even as they have been to God’s people in every age. The professing church is largely a mixture of beliers and unbelievers; many are even open apostates. May we heed the faithful word of the Apostle to Timothy: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ [Lord] depart from iniquity.... If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19).
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