Daily Devotions
Exodus
"God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne." Psalm 47:8
Text: Exodus 12 : 5-11
ELABORATE INSTRUCTIONS
The children of Israel would usher in their New Year in a most dramatic way. The Feast of the Passover was to be carefully understood because it had such deep symbolic significance. Everything revolved around the Sacrificial Lamb.
“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year…
Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.
Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it
at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on
the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses…
Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire,
with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it…
And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals
on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it
in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.”
EXODUS 12:5-11
1. “Your lamb shall be without blemish”
The sacrificial lamb had a symbolic significance that went way beyond the immediate moment. It symbolically represented the “Lamb of God” who would come and give His life for the redemption of the world!
a) Application of the shed blood of the lamb
The shed blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorposts and the lintel with faith in the heart! All occupants in the house would be kept safe from the final plague that would bring Pharaoh to his knees!
b) Partaking of the flesh of the lamb
The partaking of the flesh of the lamb represented a strong participative faith in God’s provision!
2. “Unleavened Bread and with bitter herbs”
The unleavened bread represented purity of life! The bitter herbs would represent the many long years spent in bondage in Egypt!
3. “Belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand”
The children of Israel were to partake of this meal with a strong sense of hope and faith! They would depart from Egypt soon! They must be ready to move at a moment’s notice!
AN END TO A LONG-DRAWN WAR
At long last, the battle with Pharaoh was nearing its climax! Surely Pharaoh would now have to concede defeat! The suffering of his subjects had not moved him at all. What if he suffered great personal loss – the death of his firstborn son?