Thursday Night Bible Study

Exodus 12

"Passover" • 11.11.10 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- As we continue through the Old Testament, there are going to be chapters that rise high into the proverbial skyline. They make sense. They testify immediately to what we grasp in the N.T.

- Genesis 3, Genesis 15, Genesis 22, Genesis 24 and much of the life of Joseph, prefigure, or picture Jesus.

- The chapter before us is arguably greater in that respect than even these great chapters.

- Almost every sentence speaks profoundly to us about our Passover Lamb, Jesus. Without further adieu...

Text

• Exodus 12:1,2 : "Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ^'This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you." : What God was about to do would begin an entire system of independance from the world.

- The events that He is about to announce, will mark the first activities of their first year as an independant, theocratic nation.

- This will be the beginning of their religious calendar, though there is also a secular New Year called "Rosh Hoshanah" that begins in September, this last year on the 9th.

- It's interesting to consider that this first activity will coincide with this act of deliverance. In many ways, that is the beginning of our real life as well.

- When Jesus came into your life, a new life began. Old things passed and all things have been made new. This was especially true in time for the nation of Israel.

• Exodus 12:3-5 : "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats." : Israel was to take a lamb per household, on the 10th day of NIsan, which corresponds to the end of March or early April.

- Smaller households, those who could not consume an entire lamb, could share the lamb together with a neighboring house. "I call shanks!"

- The lamb was sufficient for a household. Nobody would need more lamb than that. Jesus also is sufficient for all in a household.

- The lamb that was to be chosen could not be blemished. That is, he could not be marked in any way. This would apply mostly to injury or physical mark.

- He could have neither birth defect, nor could he have been marked by injury. It's a beautiful statement of Christ having been born without sin, and also never having experienced it.

- He is the lamb without any blemish or stain.

• Exodus 12:6,7 : "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 where they eat it." : The lamb was to remain among the family for 4 days. It was to live in their house, designated as the animal of sacrifice.

- The word translated "keep" is found elsewhere as to guard, to set a watch or to observe. It was to be separated from the other animals and made a part of the family.

- Some have said that it was to be kept so as to observe it's lack of blemish. All would see that it was clean. All observation would attest to that fact.

- For these 4 days, the entire household would see the attributes of this animal, up close. When those four days were over, they knew that this lamb met the criteria.

- It's interesting that when Jesus came before Pilate, he was so impressed that he said, "I find no fault with this man!" The leaders of Israel at that time could not come to consensus either!

- For three years, Jesus revealed a perfection that won't be repeated on Earth!

- On that 14th day, each lamb was to be killed at the same time, in all the land of the Israelis. This would take place just as the land was becoming dark. Note that God says that they shall kill "it!"

- It was one lamb in the mind of God, killed at twilight, which would be sometime between 4 and 6PM, just as it was getting dark.

- When did Jesus die? Right at the same time that the priests would be killing the Passover lambs in the temple! Profound! How can we tell that this is typical of Christ?

- Notice the dispersion of blood: The blood from the animal would be smeared upon the doorposts, the sides of the entrance, and the top of the entryway, forming a cross.

- We'll complete that picture in a moment.

• Exodus 12:8-11 : "Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 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." : After the lamb was killed, it was time to consume it. It was to be barbecued, served with unleavened flat bread and a bitter herb garnish.

- It was to be entirely cooked by fire, no other way. All of it was to be consumed and then the leftovers burned. Nothing was to remain.

- It was to be taken in. Ingested. Jesus makes an interesting statement in John 6:53. He says, "Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. "

- They had to partake personally. When things were done, anything left would be burned. Why? Because anything left would become corrupted. Jesus did not see corruption when He died!

- He wasn't in the grave long enough! God's Holy One did not see corruption!

- Normally, a family would eat in clothes that were comfortable, perhaps even their sleeping attire. They would be comfortable. This meal was to be different.

- They were to wear clothes that would betray the haste of the meal. They were to be dressed, with all that you would need for long travel, ready to flee.

- This is the Lord's Passover. The word means "sparing" or "immunity." This event symbolized God giving His people immunity.

• Exodus 12:12,13 : "‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike 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. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." : God had given warning after warning. Mercy had been extended with every plague, either in warning or in lacking ultimate severity.

- Finally, with ths final plague, the Lord would strike every firstborn creature from the land of Egypt, to show his final authority over the gods of Egypt.

- He had not begun this war, but He is going to finish it. That could be said for our times as well. God has done everything that He can do, but people still refuse His mercy.

- They still fight and stiffen their necks. God will one day again execute judgement.

- But the blood would be the Israelites immunity. The Lord would see the blood and those houses wouldn't be visited. They would be passed over.

- Today, it's the same. When God sees the blood of Christ over the door of the heart of any individual, the wrath of God passes over Him, but it must be the blood of Christ!

• Exodus 12:14-20 : "‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.'" : The Passover was an event followed by the "Feast Of Unleavened Bread."

- It would be for a memorial. God wanted His people to remember perpetually what He had done for them. They need something tactile that would remind them.

- In Israel's present, the feast began with removing all leaven from their home. This means removing all bread that had been baked. For that week, it was prohibited.

- The principle of leaven is permeation. It was a remnant from their old life that wasn't to carried over into their new life. Even here, God has justification and sanctification in mind.

- In the cross, we are saved from the penalty of sin. In life, we are saved from the power of sin!

- That first day included a housecleaning, and a worship service. The seventh day would also include a worship service.

- For those seven days nobody would eat leavened bread. How severe was this? Anyone who did was cut off from the congregation of Israel.

• Exodus 12:21-28 : "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. 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. 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. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 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. And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 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. Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did." : Moses and the people did as ordered. The blood was spilled and covered the doors and lintel.

- Notice a few details here: How were they to spread the blood? With a bushy plant called "hyssop." Hyssop was to be dipped in the basin where the blood was.

- Egyptian households and those of the Israelis, had a little pool of water at the entry way of their homes. Sandals would be left behind, feet would take a dip and you'd be in.

- The blood from the lamb collected in this basin at the lowest point of the entry way. The blood would be on the lintel, at the top, on the sides and in the basin, the completed picture of the cross!

- Phenomenol. These Israeli's had no idea what they were doing, but they put up a perfect picture of the ultimate redemption of mankind!

- This dramatic event was meant to be a living witness to the children, who would inevitably ask what this all meant. They would see the lamb, watch it killed, see the dinner consumed.

- God had given the parents a wonderful drama to express their faith to the next generation of God's people.

• Exodus 12:29,30 : "And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, 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." : In a sudden moment, God struck all of the firstborn of the people of Egypt. From the Palace to the Prison, to the fields: Everywhere, someone was dead!

- Everyone in Egypt was affected by this.

• Exodus 12:31-36 : "Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.' And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, 'We shall all be dead.' So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." : Pharaoh has discovered his very own firstborn dead. The pain and suffering was immense.

- Pharaoh as predicted, has finally given in. "Every one of you, go! Take it all." Gone are the threats and the attempts at compromise. He is utterly defeated and at least temorarily humbled.

- He adds, "Before you go, bless me also." Come to God on my behalf before you leave.

- The people were just as urgent. They felt that they would be next! The children of Israel had asked for their wages and the Egyptians gladly paid them.

- This is how they ruined the Egyptians. The word "plundered" refers to being stripped clean, with nothing left.

• Exodus 12:37-42 : "Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations." : There are two details that are worth noting here. The number of people number 600 thousand men.

- There were easily well over two million Israelis. That is a tremendous group of people. But then, there was a mixed multitude that went up with them. We'll just call them "Mixicans!"

- These are people from other nations who lived in Egypt as well. These people are unnumbered, but they will have a significant impact in the coming chapters.

• Exodus 12:43-47 : "And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 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. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it." : The people have left their bondage, their slavery and are about to being a life lived out before the Lord.

- This Passover was exclusively for those of the house of Israel. It was not for those outside the house of Israel.

- However, if one wanted to join, they had to come into the covenant the same way that the people of Israel had. They had to be circumcised. They had to join the community of faith.

- Moses lets them know that the meal shall be eaten entirely in the home and that not one of the bones of the lamb should be broken. Jesus was also unbroken in any way.

• Exodus 12:48-51 : "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. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.' Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 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." : People who came out with Israel, the mixed multitude, wanted to worship the Lord. They wanted to be included.

- Once they submitted to circumcision, they were to be treated as natives. They were to have privilege of God's law. God brought them out. He delivered them, just as He had said.

- The beauty of this is that God even then made provision for anyone who wanted to worship Him to come in and do so! One law shall govern them!

- One law of love and the purity of Christ's righteous makes one nation, a Kingdom of priests!

- Some are Jews, some are Gentiles, but all are members of His body!

Conclusion

- We take communion tonight, recognizing that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. He is the One who has led us out of slavery and into freedom.

- It was His perfect life that was lived before the Lord and His perfect death that makes a way for you and I to be immune or passed over!

- This was the story of the Hebrews in time, but it's our story forever!