It was a night of vigil in honor of the Lord, because he would bring them out of the land of Egypt. This same night is in honor of the Lord, a night vigil for all the Israelites throughout their generations. Exodus 12:42
We’re familiar with the events that precipitated this “night of vigil.” You will remember that the Lord had enacted 9 plagues in an attempt to get the Egyptians’ attention and to reveal Himself to the Israelites as well. This tenth plague, the horrifying death by the “destroyer” of all firstborns not under the “distinguishing mark” of the blood of the Lamb, had prompted a previously immovable Pharaoh to practically push the Israelites out of Egypt, at least for a minute.
As the “destroyer” moved among the land, as instructed, the Israelites sheltered under the blood of the lamb, they held vigil, kept watch. The Hebrew word here for vigil, encompasses the Lord’s watchfulness as the “destroyer” to protect His people, and the people’s obligation to watchfulness as the “destroyer” moved throughout the land.
“It was a night of vigil…”
But the beauty of this phrase is actually demonstrated in Exodus 12:52:
On that same day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their military divisions.
The beauty is not in the movement, or the going out, although that is beautiful. When I read it, I see the beauty in “On that same day…” On that same day, the day following the night of vigil, the Lord kept His promises to the Israelites:
I will bring you out…I will rescue you…I will redeem you…I will take you as my people, and I will be your God…I will bring you to the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…Exodus 5:6-9
The Lord enacted a plan, set in motion before time began. The Lord enacted His plan on a date certain, “on that same day.” The day reserved by the Lord to carry out the redemption of His people. God’s people, unbeknownst to them had a reservation to come out into the wilderness. They had a divine appointment, a prearranged time to leave captivity and go to meet their Lord and it happened to be the very last day of year 430 of captivity. Wow!
You know that it is no different for us, right? Before time began God knew us, had a plan for us, and recorded a divine appointment for us. Before time began, God had a reservation for rescue for all His people. Only this time instead of spreading the blood of the lamb over the lentils, the Blood of the Lamb was poured over our hearts. The blood of the lamb over the lentils ensured the “destroyer” did not enter. The Blood of the Lamb poured over our hearts ensures that we are not destroyed in our sin.
Jesus’s birth was a divine appointment:
But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of Woman, born under the law…Galatians 4:4
Jesus’s death was a divine appointment:
Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
Acts 2:23
We each have a divine appointment. We each have a rescue reservation, a time for salvation, however, just like the Israelites, we have to keep the appointment. The Israelites came to their rescue appointment a weak and humble people. We must do the same.
How do we know that we each have a divine appointment? He told us so.
Your eyes saw me when I was formless; All my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. Psalm 139:16
Keep your divine appointment, it was made before your first breath was taken. It is a time set aside just for you by God to fulfill every promise He’s ever made. If you miss this appointment the consequences are eternal.
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
The Lord is waiting for all to show up for the appointment. Have you kept your appointment? Remember, this rescue reservation has been made just for you. A date certain, a time prescribed before the beginning of time. The Lord is ready and willing; in fact He is eager for you to show up at the divine appointment set just for you for your salvation.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart, you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10