Old Testament passage for Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Exodus 10:1-12:13
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Exodus 12:1-2 (NKJV)
The escape of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. Amidst 10 plagues and heated personal confrontation, God brought about a mighty deliverance. The apex of this story is the institution of the Passover. This was the beginning of a new life, a new identity, a new freedom. God told Moses and Aaron that the inactment of the Passover was to become the beginning of a new calendar. This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Scripture tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) Like Israel, we who are in Christ began a new life, a new calendar in the moment we placed our faith in Him.
Three things took place in the Passover that have direct application to us today. The children of Israel were given three simple, clear instructions. They were:
1. KILL A LAMB.
Four days before the Passover, each family was to select a lamb and begin getting ready for the sacrifice. This lamb had to be "without blemish". On the night of the Passover, they were to ceremonially kill the lamb.
2. EAT THE LAMB.
Israel was instructed to roast and eat the ENTIRE LAMB. They were to leave none of it until morning. If any part were uneaten, they were to burn it with fire.
3. SPRINKLE THE LAMB'S BLOOD ON YOUR DOORPOST.
In the process of cooking the lamb, they were to take some of the blood and sprinkle it on the door frame of their house -- their front door.
These physical acts correspond to spiritual activities for us today.
Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Thank God we do not need to ever sacrifice another lamb in addition to Jesus. It has been done ONCE AND FOR ALL! The work has been done. It is now left for us to believe and receive all that He has done for us.
When Israel was instructed to eat the lamb, this means that we are to receive IN FULL all that Jesus has done for us. In that sense, we are to consume Him. This goes beyond tasting. This goes beyond chewing and swallowing. It goes to the full measure of digestion and distribution into our whole being. Jesus becomes not just our savior, but our nourishment and strength. I think this is something of what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray for "daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).
Lastly, we are to sprinkle the Blood of Jesus on our doorposts. This involves the doors of our hearts. our minds, our homes, our world. This is the application of the power of Jesus' blood to our individual situations. I personally "plead the blood of Jesus" over my home regularly. Psalm 91 states that "no evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come hear my dwelling place." (Ps. 91:10) In other words, the Lord will protect my home from the attack of the enemy.
In summary, we are to continually celebrate this great feast of Passover (see Ex. 12:14-20). How do we do this?
1. BELIEVING IN THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS.
2. DAILY FEAST ON JESUS.
3. APPLY THE POWER OF JESUS' BLOOD TO OUR WORLD.
This is the beginning and foundation of a new creation.
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