A NEW BEGINNING
Exodus 12:1-17
For our mediation this morning, I want to look at the thought of ‘A NEW BEGINNING’. You will see the connection with the time of year, as we approach what can be thought of as a new beginning. There is a line of reasoning that time continues on from one day to the next, but within that continuum, there are times when we face the opportunity for ‘A NEW BEGINNING’. In my own experience I have faced a number of doors to ‘begin again’. I am not speaking of becoming a Christian again, for I was born again many years ago, but there are periods in our lives when we are faced with new challenges, as the Lord opens another door of opportunity, or confronts us regarding the level of our commitment to Him.
To help us focus our thoughts we will look at Exodus 12:1-17, where we have the account of the preparation for the major event in the life of the nation of Israel, an event that is still commemorated annually. We can view this as simply an historical event, or we can seek to learn from the experience of God’s people, and apply what we learn to our lives today, and so help ourselves as we go forward in life. While we will not deal with this passage in great depth, I trust that we shall see some guiding principles for ourselves.
Please see that we start with an important matter, for we have
1. A PARTICULAR INSTRUCTION
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month
It was the Lord who spoke to Moses and Aaron, and very clearly stated that what He was about to say was relevant for that time – ‘this month’. Here was an instruction that required an action, right then! This could not be put off. It reminds me of the words of Joshua to the nation many years later
Joshua 24:15 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." [NIV]
Joshua called the nation to a decision, and he asked for it ‘this day’! My observation of Christians in general, is that most will recognise a challenge when it faces them, but not too many will give an immediate response to the challenge. The problem then arises that as time passes, so does the urgency of the challenge, and we can be guilty simply of neglecting to respond. Not rejecting, simply neglecting!
This is something we cannot pass-on to others, but we need to do this for ourselves. It has
2. A PERSONAL IMPLICATION
2 “This month is to be for you the first month,
I am sure that you will agree that it is easy to know what other people should do! But this was to be personal, and present. ‘For you’.
To have a personal relationship with the Lord is beyond valuation. To be aware that the Lord has us in mind constantly is incredible. The reason that there was to be a new beginning was that the Lord had something special lined up for the nation – they were about to be set free from bondage, and commence the journey to the promised land! What amazes me is that the Lord cares for the individual! See what David says;
Psalm 40:17 As for me I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. [Amp]
Let me stress the need for a personal response to the challenge of the Lord. Remember what Joshua said to the people,
Joshua 24:15 as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD
Has the Lord something special in store for you? Is it possible that ‘This month is to be for you the first month’? You will remember that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Moses had listened. Have we heard the Lord speaking to us? This is where it starts.
The event that was about to take place was so important that it had to be marked in a special way, there was to be
3. A PRECISE INAUGURATION
It was to be
the first month of your year. (the beginning of months [Holman] )
The actual word used here shows that it was used in a special way.
BEGINNING: be-gin’-ing (re’-shith; arche):
The natural meaning of the word is with reference to time. . . . It is used also to express the inauguration of a particular event (#Ex 12:2).
Their calendar was changed as a result of this happening! They were about to be set free from slavery – the promise made to their fore-father Abraham was to see fulfilment at last. This was to be an event that was to be marked by something that they would remember in the coming generations. Can you imagine the consequences if they had chosen to stay as they were? Still in slavery at best; or even being killed by the Egyptian soldiers as a pay-back for the Divine judgement of the plagues.
There are times in every Christian’s life when they have to face this sort of decision. Do I stay as I am? Or do I listen to what the Lord is saying, and move on? These times can be land-mark times in our lives. Perhaps a mention here that a beginning is just that – it is a beginning, there is more to follow!
There was one important matter that would really establish the occasion for them, they were to take a lamb, a spotless lamb, and that lamb would die for them. There was to be
4. A PURPOSEFUL INSTITUTION
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. . . . 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
If they wanted to experience the deliverance promised by the Lord, there was only one way, and it was the way of the lamb! Any attempt at another way would lead to disaster, even though they belonged to the people of God. Now there is a great lesson for us in this. If we want to know the blessing of the Lord in our lives, it must be by the way of the Lamb! – The Lamb of God. Even though we have come to Him for salvation, we can still neglect Him in our daily lives, going our own way. There needs to be a sense of determination within us – we will go His way, and not the way that may seem right, or desirable to us.
Now comes the part of the event that brings displeasure to many people, it was a happening that would have a clear message,
5. A PROFOUND IMPLICATION
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door-frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
Their deliverance came by way of the blood of the lamb! You will see that there was to be a statement made for all to see, as the blood was placed on the door posts and lintel. They had worked hard for years, but were still in bondage.
Again we have a wonderful example for us to learn from. It is not what we do, but what the Lamb has done that matters. If we are going to experience a new beginning in our lives it must come by way of the Lamb, and the blood that He shed for us!
One reason we have a weekly breaking of bread service is to keep our focus on the value and importance of the Blood of the Lamb.
I said a moment ago that ‘It is not what we do, but what the Lamb has done that matters’. Let me emphasise that we must always place things in the right order. When we are truly resting in what the Lamb has done for us, then there is an individual preparation that we need to make.
6. A PREPARED INDIVIDUAL
11 And you shall eat it thus:
11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
Please take particular note that the main preparation that they were to do, was to get ready for the journey! They needed to believe that the deliverance was coming, and that it was coming quickly! They had to live in accordance with their stated belief. Actions confirming words.
I feel sure that you will already see a similarity here with our profession to believe in the nearness of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ! If we do believe this, we should be ‘as fully prepared for a journey’. How real is the expectation within us? Are we packed and ready to go at a moments notice?
But to return to the thought of a new beginning. If we believe the Lord for a new beginning in our lives, then let us be willing to ‘get packed’ ready! The Lord brought about their deliverance, but they had to prepare themselves for the journey.
Is there ‘sorting’ to be done in our lives? Are we really ready for the Lord to bring about a new beginning?
When we meet with the Lord in this remarkable way, there will always be a landmark in our lives that we can look back at, and remember where we met the Lord in a special way. Throughout the journeying of the Children of Israel there were special places for them to return to. I cannot imagine Jacob ever passing Bethel without remembering his encounter with God, and the resulting change in his life. Perhaps the question should be faced – ‘Are we ready and willing for change’? A new beginning will certainly mean change!
If we are willing for the Lord to change us, as He chooses, it will mean that we have a very special experience.
Note here in our account that they were to commemorate this day, for generations to come! There was to be a celebration because of the release they were about to experience. It was to be
7. A POWERFUL INSPIRATION
14 “This is a day you are to Commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD - a lasting ordinance. . . .17 “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
It is good to have something in our lives that will inspire us to go on with the Lord, and to keep His ways. The Nation of Israel still celebrate this feast, even though many centuries have passed. This was a landmark experience.
On a personal level, I look back to that day in December 1941 when I gave my heart and life to the Lord, asking Him to forgive me for my sin, and He did! That is a real landmark. Since that wonderful day, there have been many times when the Lord has spoken, sometimes through a humble preacher, or through a reading of God’s Word, or may by as the Holy Spirit seems to drop something into my heart, but God has spoken, and my place is to respond. He will do the same for all who are willing to hear His voice, and who readily respond. Like the Children of Israel, when we really meet with the Lord and allow Him to bring about change in our lives we will also have something to celebrate; times to look back to as special occasions in our lives; times of A NEW BEGINNING.
