God’s Passover
Instruction 1-20
Participation 21-28
Redemption through 29-36
Freedom because of 37-51
DBF Sunday Sermon, 10/6/02
I thank God for the safety he provided to my family last week down in South Louisiana.
Hurricane Lili was bearing down on the Gulf coast with winds in excess of 145 miles per hour. I remember speaking to Pastor Dillon Stanley in Nevada, who asked me to pray for a relative of his in Louisiana also.
I remember the specific prayer I prayed that night. “Dear Lord, I pray that YOU will again do as YOU did that night on the Sea of Galilee, when YOU spoke the words “Peace, be still” and YOUR Apostles marveled and said “What manner of man is this who speaks and the wind and rain obeys.”
That is my Lord and Savior, HE who is able to do all things, HE who I can confidently place my hope and trust in, HE alone who is able to deliver me from all of my afflictions.
I pray that you have such confidence and faith in Jesus Christ and God today.
I was also blessed by the confusion caused to the meteorologists who stated they could not understand why the storm had weakened.
You see, we of faith call these things “miracles”, a word the scientists detest. But it is plain that something happened that know one of them would have dared predict.
When God chooses to calm a storm, HE does so, HE does not ask the permission of scientists, chemists, or anyone that HE has created, HE alone…God…does it.
I thank God HE did choose to calm the winds because my Mom and Dad stayed home in Pierre Part, Louisiana. I have some concern over the ability of their home to withstand winds of the magnitude predicted. You see, I would not trust in my earthly Father to leave home because he to often refuses to do so. Yet, I will not be denied if I go to my Heavenly Father. HE is able to bring things about to HIS glory and honor.
We will watch this week as God begins to instruct the nation of Israel on their requirements for the Passover.
Instruction 1-20
Exodus 12:1-19 (KJV)
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, [2] This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
[3] Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: [4] And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. [5] Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: [6] And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. [7] And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. [8] And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. [9] Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. [10] And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
[11] And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. [12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. [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. [14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. [15] Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. [16] And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. [17] And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
[18] In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. [19] Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. [20] Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
God starts by making this a new beginning for the nation of Israel. This will be the “beginning of months” or Abib corresponding to our March-April time frame.
In this time the beginning of life was observed at the beginning of the “New Year” and God indeed would be giving instructions that would give Israel a “New Beginning”.
God also gives each and every one of us a chance today to come to this “New Beginning”, through the precious blood of atonement shed by Jesus Christ for all who call upon HIS name.
As we accept Jesus as our sacrificial lamb, the Israelites are told that each household must select a lamb and if they have too small a household to share with a neighbor.
You and I are also asked to share our Lamb with our neighbors. Are you sharing Jesus Christ with your neighbors?
They were required to eat the Passover feast prepared and ready.
God calls us to be prepared and ready. We are to be prepared at every season for what comes our ways. We are to seek HIM daily, to meditate upon HIS word daily, and to come to the foot of HIS cross daily. Are you prepared as God calls you to be?
God notifies Israel that HE will stretch forth HIS hand and the most consecrated part of the nation of Egypt shall be required. They will die. The firstborn male of man and beast.
You see just as God chose to calm the storm that came upon Louisiana, HE alone is able to choose and bring about what is right in each nations paths. It is a delight to belong to a nation that chose as its motto “In God we Trust”.
Those beautiful words are so out of context for most of our nation today, but I feel it still goes a long ways in the beneficial acts that God brings to us, just as this beneficial act HE is about to bring about around the nation Israel.
You will eat unleaven bread for seven days…We are commanded to beware the yeast (sin), it spreads so easily about…we must keep ourselves separate and pure unto our God. God calls for HIS perfect number of completion to prove HIS people. Remember these are the same people who will be complaining about eating manna from heaven in short order.
How many of HIS people would refuse to eat unleaven bread for seven days…How many would die beside the Egyptians?
It is not much different from our requirement to be in the world but to have no part in the world, other than to proclaim the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.
Will you follow God’s instructions for your life?
Participation 21-28
Exodus 12:21-28 (KJV)
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. [22] And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. [23] For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. [24] And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. [25] And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. [26] And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? [27] That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. [28] And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Then Israel is instructed to take the blood of the Lamb that was sacrificed for each family and to paint the door posts and center post and stay inside the safety area provided by God.
We often run from the safety nets that God attempts to place around us.
You see the church, fellowship, and God’s bible give us clear direction of what we should do and what we should keep from doing. Yet many choose to walk in the world…this means they choose against God.
Those who are called by HIS name understand the place that God calls them to be and find safety and contentment in this place.
This is why even today we come together at Easter and celebrate the Passover sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all who believe and the safety that it brings in this world of uncertainty.
Have you called upon the name of the Lord and accepted the safety HE is able to bring into your life?
Your participation is required, just as the participation of the nation of Israel in the first Passover.
Redemption through 29-36
Exodus 12:29-36 (KJV)
And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. [30] And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
[31] And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. [32] Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. [33] And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. [34] And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. [35] And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: [36] And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Finally, God’s redemption is shown mighty through the release of HIS nation from Egypt. You see, you and I try to determine what is the proper time for the things that occur around us…when it is God alone that knows the proper time.
God’s will shall be done…nothing you, I, or anyone else can do to stop that—Praise God.
What had not been so urgent before now became an urgent call in the middle of the night. All of a sudden, it couldn’t wait…Moses and Israel needed to go.
What if God had not prepared the people by telling them to be ready?
You see, you and I can choose to not do something because we cannot see the end from the beginning. God’s word and guidance will always be right because HE alone can see the end from any beginning so if I trust in anything it will be my God.
He alone is able to bring me from the most miserable state I was in when I first accepted HIM to the place I currently walk with HIM, to the place I will be in HIS glorious presence for eternity.
Freedom because of 37-51
Exodus 12:37-51 (KJV)
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. [38] And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. [39] And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
[40] Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. [41] And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. [42] It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
[43] And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: [44] But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. [45] A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. [46] In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. [47] All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. [48] And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. [49] One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. [50] Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. [51] And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
How precious is freedom to someone who has never truly experienced it?
I think of the stories told by people in the Soviet Union about feeling that the Malls and stores were made up to have them believe that we were a land of plenty. They didn’t believe the variety of items that were available to them here.
In much the same manner those who are around us who have never experienced the liberating freedom from sin that coming to Christ brings into the life of HIS beloved cannot believe what we enjoy on a daily basis.
Just as God freed the nation of Israel, Jesus offers us the true freedom and liberation we can enjoy by accepting HIM.
We see in these verses that God has grown HIS nation from 70 people to over 600,000 in the past 430 years in captivity. Even though they were in captivity, God’s purpose was fulfilled. He took HIS very fragile nation and brings them out of Egypt as a force to be reckoned with…a great force if they only could understand the power and might of God who brought about all things around them.
God also commands that we will all abide in HIS law. You see we all become one through the precious blood of the Lamb that was slain on the hill called Calvary.
Of course, until you have examined your life and found yourself to be lacking in need of cleansing from the sin in your life, you may not feel a need for this safety and guidance that we are studying about today.
You see, to understand and begin to accept these words as truth you must first understand that you are a sinner. God’s word tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and again “we are as filthy rags, unclean”.
Yet while we were still sinners, God made a way by taking HIM who had no sin and making HIM an offering for us who call upon the name of Jesus Christ.
Do you feel a need to be forgiven today? Jesus is waiting.
Do you feel a need to call upon Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Jesus is expecting.
Do you feel ready to commit your life to walking in Jesus’ ways? Jesus is able.
Until we ask Jesus into our lives, we truly live in captivity to sin. We are no different from the nation of Israel being in captivity. So many people around us claim to be free, yet are captives to lusts, desires, alcohol, and many other vices in this world.
Accept true freedom from captivity today, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Closing Prayer.
