Key Text: Exodus 12:13 (KJV)
"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."
In the book of Exodus, we find a powerful story of God's love, protection, and deliverance for His people. The Passover, as described in Exodus 12:1-13, is not just a historical event, but a profound symbol of God's care for us today. Let's dive into this passage and uncover the deep truths that can impact our lives right now.
Imagine being an Israelite in ancient Egypt. For generations, your people have been slaves, working under harsh conditions, with no hope of freedom. But then, something extraordinary begins to happen. God sends Moses to lead His people out of bondage, and a series of miraculous events unfold.
In Exodus 12, we find ourselves at a crucial moment. God is about to deliver the final blow to Pharaoh's stubbornness, but He's also preparing a way to protect His own people. This is where the Passover comes into play.
God speaks to Moses and Aaron, giving them specific instructions for a meal that will become a pivotal moment in Israel's history. He tells them that on the tenth day of the month, each household should take a lamb. But this isn't just any lamb - it needs to be perfect, without any flaws.
Why is this important? Well, it points to something much bigger. In the future, Jesus would be called the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Just as the Passover lamb needed to be perfect, Jesus was perfect and without sin.
The Israelites were to keep this lamb until the fourteenth day of the month. During this time, they would have gotten to know the lamb, perhaps even grown fond of it. This makes what comes next even more significant.
On the evening of the fourteenth day, they were to kill the lamb. Now, this might sound harsh to our modern ears, but remember, in those times, animal sacrifices were a common way of connecting with God. The death of this lamb was going to save lives.
God instructed the people to take the blood of the lamb and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their houses. This wasn't just a random act - it was a sign of faith and obedience. By doing this, the Israelites were showing that they trusted in God's plan for protection.
Inside their homes, the Israelites were to roast the lamb and eat it with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. The bitter herbs represented the bitterness of their slavery, while the bread without yeast (or unleavened bread) symbolized the haste with which they would leave Egypt - there wouldn't be time for bread to rise!
God told them to eat this meal fully dressed, with their sandals on their feet and their staff in hand, ready to leave at a moment's notice. This teaches us an important lesson about being prepared for God's deliverance. Sometimes, God's timing might surprise us, and we need to be ready to move when He says "go."
Now, here's where our key text comes in. God says in Exodus 12:13, "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."
This verse is packed with meaning. The blood on the doorposts was a sign - a token - of the Israelites' faith in God's protection. When the final plague came upon Egypt, the death of the firstborn, God promised to "pass over" the houses marked with blood. The Israelites would be safe inside.
But what does this mean for us today? We're not in ancient Egypt, and we're not marking our doors with lamb's blood. How does this apply to our lives?
The Passover points us to Jesus Christ. Just as the lamb's blood protected the Israelites from death, Jesus' blood protects us from spiritual death. When we put our faith in Jesus, accepting His sacrifice on the cross, we are "passed over" by the judgment of sin.
