From Exodus 10-12
The Passover is the last of the ten plagues the LORD sent on Egypt. Israel was to sacrifice a lamb, wipe its blood on top of their doors and eat it so it was all consumed. The LORD saved Israel his firstborn from slavery by passing over them and killing all the firstborn of Egypt that dark night. In the gospel Jesus institutes another Passover. He uses it to remind us of his own death on the cross. Has the LORD passed over you?
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
In today’s passage we hear about the last and most terrible plague.
12 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. (Ex 12:1–2)
The event about to happen is so significant, Israel is to begin their calendar year by it. It marks the first month of the year. It’s similar in some respects to new years day or a person’s birthday.
How do you celebrate your birthday? Why do you celebrate it?
3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. (Ex 12:3–7)
On the tenth day of the month they are to select a year old, male lamb. They are probably familiar enough with sacrificing animals to know they will have to slaughter the lamb at some point.
They keep the lamb for another four days. Looking after it, making sure it is clean. Then the whole assembly shall kill each of their lambs at twilight. When the sun goes down.
Then they share a meal together with their families in their homes.
8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover. (Ex 12:8–11)
They are commanded to eat the roasted lamb and make sure none is left. If they can’t eat it all they have to burn it till it’s all gone. They eat it with other special ingredients. Unleavened bread and bitter herbs. These foods are all symbolic.
- The lamb is a sacrifice of atonement and forgiveness.
- The unleavened bread is a symbol of purity (1 Cor 6-8).
- The bitter herbs is a reminder of their slavery.
They shall eat the meal in haste because they will have to leave in a hurry.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and
on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Ex 12:12–13)
The LORD will pass through Egypt and kill all the firstborn men and animals.
The LORD is executing judgment on all the god’s of Egypt.
The text suggests others god’s exist and the LORD is going to judge them. Sometimes the scriptures seem to affirm the existence of other god’s. At other times the scriptures state there are no other gods. They are all false.
The reason why they had to sacrifice the lamb and put its blood on their doors is because it is a sign. When the LORD passes by and sees the blood he will pass over them.
Story of Israel
The Passover feast specifically commemorates the exodus from Egypt as an act of God’s deliverance. In Israel’s calendar of feasts it was always celebrated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Hebrew term “Passover” derives from a verb meaning “to pass over” with the sense of “to spare”.
During the period of the law, observance of the Passover were times of spiritual revival.
Story of Jesus
In the gospel Jesus remodelled the Passover around his upcoming crucifixion.
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Lk 22:14–20)
Jesus frees people from the kind of slavery that dominates lives. Slavery to sin. Jesus words predict his death on the cross. He is our Passover lamb. Just as Egypt was freed from slavery that night, those who believe in Jesus are forgiven and freed from slavery to sin.
So observe the Passover, remembering all Jesus has done for you and rejoice.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
