Exodus 12: The Passover

In Exodus 12, the Lord God gives the Israelites instructions on how to be saved and brought out of Egypt. They were given instructions to follow which would mark a new moment in the Jewish history, one of salvation and redemption. This story of the Passover also parallels the New Testament story of Calvary (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7). (Note: Scripture passages within this blog may be in the English NIV version, while the online links are NASB). 

In the Old Testament, God required a sacrifice of an innocent animal to atone, or pay for, the sins of the people. The act of shedding blood to find resolution for guilt has been seen in all cultures and traditions in history, as gruesome and barbarious as it is. God eventually put an end to this need for sacrifice through the shedding of His own son's blood on the Cross of Calvary.

Returing to Exodus 12, the Lord told Moses before the final plague that this moment in time would be for them the first month of their new calendar year, and from now on, they were to do this ceremony annually as a reminder of how the Israelites were saved and brought out of Egypt.

They were supposed to take a lamb without defect, a one-year old male lamb, and take care of it until the 14^th day of the month. Then they were told to slaughter it at twilight, put some of the blood over their doorposts, the frame and sides. That same night, they were to roast the lamb over fire and eat it with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast (Exodus 12:11).

On that same night, the Lord would pass through Egypt and strike down every first born male, both men and animals, and by doing so would bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, “I am the Lord” (Exodus 12:12).

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13-14)

Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and explained to them what the Lord had instructed. Small households that didn’t require a whole lamb could share with their neighbors. They could take branches of hyssop to use to apply the blood to the doorframes. They were told to not go outside their doors until morning. All of these instructions had to be obeyed so they would be protected, and this would become a lasting ordinance between the Israelites and the Lord as a reminder of their salvation at the Exodus.

“When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the tops and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (Exodus 12:23).

At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn males of Egypt, whether royal official, prisoner, or livestock, it didn’t matter. There was loud wailing and not one house without someone dead. The Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said:

“Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” (Exodus 12:31-32).

Pharaoh, who had been previously feared and thought a king with divine authority and sovereignty over Egypt now seemed to be in astonishment and contrition. He even asked Moses and Aaron to bless him, maybe in an attempt to find favor with this God of the Hebrews who had shown such judgment and authority over Egypt.
 

Communion in the Christian church is a time for remembering
what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for all creation.