We are in chapter twelve of Exodus with our word for today. נָצַל pull out, strip, plunder, deliver, save, be saved, snatch away. It is used 213 times in the Old Testament. We have already looked at this word in its usual sense of deliver or save. Today in our chapter we find it used in the sense of plunder to steal goods and take as spoils, often as part of warfare. Here is a good example. 2 Chronicles 20:25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their וַיְנַצְּל֥וּ plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. We might think that translating our word plunder would be too strong since it is not a war just the Egyptians handing over their possessions. But in the context it is definitely a war not one that the slaves were fighting but one that God definitely was for them. God has been clear he is judging the gods of Egypt. He is waging war against them for failing to bless his people and enslaving them for 430 years. So let’s look at how our word is used in this sense in our chapter. Exodus 12:36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they וַֽיְנַצְּל֖וּ plundered the Egyptians. We also see our word used earlier when God was predicting this very event. Exodus 3:22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will וְנִצַּלְתֶּ֖ם plunder the Egyptians.”
This reminds me of Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. God does this by orchestrating events toward making even the enemies of his people open to acting in ways that benefit them even when they had never done so before nor do they necessarily desire to out of pure motives. This is clearly seen by how the Egyptians said “We shall all be dead” (Exodus 12:33). God can make alternatives worse so that his enemies act in ways that benefit his people. We see this later in God setting up the nation of Israel. God’s promise of success if they obeyed God and followed his instructions. How God was going to do it was to put fear into their enemies. Deuteronomy 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you. Today God makes a similar promise to his church in that he does everything for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. I’ll close with this great reminder. Romans 8:31-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
