A Feast to Remember (Feast of Unleavened Bread)

A Feast to Remember (Feast of Unleavened Bread)

Exodus 13: ³ And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. ⁴ On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. ⁵ And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. ⁶ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. ⁷ Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. ⁸ And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ ⁹ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. ¹⁰ You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

 

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After speaking to GOD, Moses spoke to the people. “Remember this day” was his statement as they were preparing to exit Egypt. Moses reiterated GOD’s promise and provided instructions to stay away from leaven for a week annually. On the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

 

My Observations:

• Humans forget GOD easily.
• GOD’s deliverance requires remembrance.
• GOD keeps HIS promises, no matter how different our expectations of HIM really are.

 

Imagine listening to Moses speak as everyone was packed up and chased out of Egypt. This speech would fill up even the most discouraged person. Moses had no idea how long it would take to get in the promised land. He was simply being obedient.

 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was supposed to happen annually. I am sure the first year was exciting. But what about the second? How about the nineteenth? What about the thirty ninth celebration without being in the promised land? GOD kept HIS promise while dealing with mindsets.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what Moses said to the people about the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
• Has GOD promised you something that has not come to fruition?
• Does your expectation of GOD need to be reset because HIS promise for you has not happened yet?

Commitment

Commitment

Exodus 12: ⁴³ And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. ⁴⁴ But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. ⁴⁵ A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. ⁴⁶ In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. ⁴⁷ All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. ⁴⁸ And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to 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 a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. ⁴⁹ One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”

 

⁵⁰ Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. ⁵¹ And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.

 

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GOD prophesied that JESUS would become the sacrificial lamb during the Passover. Now HE gives the commitment level for HIS people to follow.

 

My Observations:

• GOD first told Abraham to become circumcised.
• Circumcision was important to GOD, so HE made sure it was clear that HE wanted this for HIS people.
• GOD was separating HIS people from everyone else.

 

If anyone challenged GOD’s statement with “But what if” statements, GOD provided an answer that was clear. “But what if a stranger comes?” or “Should I force my employee to eat the Passover?” Many other questions could arise about the Passover feast, BUT GOD gave clear instruction about who should eat the meal.

 

Just like telling Moses to remove his sandals as he stood on Holy ground, GOD again, mentions circumcision as a sacred act HE desired for HIS people. Before the children of Israel could leave, GOD needed a commitment, namely circumcision of all males who were HIS followers They obeyed.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the need for circumcision to eat the Passover meal?
• Have you ever asked GOD for stuff but never considered what commitment HE wants from you?
• What are you doing to show GOD that you are committed to HIS cause?

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 4 (Blood on Doorposts)

 

Tenth Plague: Death of Firstborn – Warning Part 4 (Blood on Doorposts)

Exodus 12:²¹ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. ²³ For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. ²⁴ And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. ²⁵ It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. ²⁶ And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. ²⁸ Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

 

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GOD provided very specific instructions to Moses about what was about to happen. Moses collected the elders of Israel and told them what to do. They had to place the blood of an unblemished lamb specifically on the top and two sides of the door posts. They obeyed.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was announcing the need for JESUS to die on the cross.
• GOD made a distinction between the Egyptians and the children of Israel during the plagues, but this time HE needed an outward showing of blood in three spots.
• JESUS would proceed through the streets and look at the mark of belief and HE would not allow the angel of death to enter that household.

 

Anyone who believed would place the blood on the door and the LORD would declare that household saved from the plague of death. “Belief” is the everlasting ordinance. Our belief in JESUS as LORD and Savior gives us a Passover from eternal death.

 

The markings include the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT and the arrangement on the doorposts represent the outstretched hands of JESUS on the cross. This symbolic gesture would save an entire family from tremendous grief.

 

Moses could not tell everyone himself. He had to enlist people to spread the word. GOD does the same with you and me. HE wants you too tell people that JESUS not only saves, but guides people who believe in wisdom and knowledge and understanding.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the placement of the blood on the doorposts?
• Is there a symbolic gesture you can do that publicly declares you belong to GOD?
• What public declaration can you make to show the world you believe you need JESUS daily?