Exodus 12:21–51 & Numbers 28:16–25
In honor of Passover, which begins Friday night at sundown, this week's reading is the amazing story of Israel's miraculous redemption from the hands of the Egyptians. There is so much I could write about this incredible story, but I would like to focus on two main points. In Exodus 12:21-28 we read:
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood, which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. And it will come about when you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, that you shall observe this rite. And it will come about when your children will say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ that you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped. Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
Exodus 12:21-28
The Passover of the Lamb
God’s instruction to Israel was very specific in that that they were to take a lamb as a means of sacrifice before the Lord. They were to slay it, and use its blood as a means of marking their doorpost so that the Destroyer would "pass over" their home and not kill the firstborn. This was the final wonder that God would perform in Egypt.
This is such a clear foreshadowing of the work that our Messiah would do when He offered Himself as our Passover Lamb. His blood is the covering over anyone who chooses to accept His atonement. We are now marked by the blood of the Lamb, so that when the Destroyer will come again, we can have full assurance that he will "pass over" us, just as he did with Israel in Egypt.
Present Times
Verses 24 and 25 are remarkable verses because they also point to our present times: “And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. And it will come about when you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, that you shall observe this rite.” Since I became a follower of the Messiah, I marvel at the honor that I have to continue to follow this instruction here in Israel, the Land of Promise. What a great privilege!
Not only do I get to celebrate the Lord's Passover in the Land of Israel, but also as verses 26 and 27 say, I can tell my children the amazing story of God deliverance of our people from the Egyptians: “And it will come about when your children will say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ that you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.”
In my home we also mention the significance of telling this story here in Israel, as amazing proof that the same God who delivered Israel from the Egyptians is the same God that we believe in today, and He has gathered us (Israel) back in the Land that He promised our forefathers!
“Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.”
Jeremiah 16:14-15
We can say this not as the days that "are" coming but rather as the days that have come. What an amazing testimony of the One who was, who is and will always be!
Happy Redemption Day and Shabbat Shalom,
Moran
2 Comments on “Pesach (Passover)”
Dear Moran,
Needless to say, after my recent tour in Israel, your blog for Passover and Redemption Day overflows with tremendous significance as we prepare for both these Feasts that remember what our God has done for us. I feel a depth of gratitude and quiet joy in my heart, knowing that as those who have been grafted in, we too celebrate the Passover in our heart and join our Jewish brothers and sisters in Yeshua, who continue to celebrate this Feast in the way our God commanded, and our hope is that the veil will be lifted from those eyes that have yet to recognize Who their Passover Lamb is – The Holy One of Israel, Israel’s Messiah.
With much love in Yeshua, to you, Melissa and your lovely family.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your sentiments. I ditto them. You write them so beautifully.
Heavenly Father, please protect Moran’s family and his ministry partners through current troubling times with neighboring countries. May they be comforted by knowing that your loving arms surround them. Thank you, Father, for watching over them and answering our prayers.