Bitter Herbs
Exodus 12:5-13
It is impossible to drive in the wrong direction and arrive at the right destination.
God had hoped that the memory of slavery would be adequate to purge Israel's desire to move in the wrong direction in the future, and eating those bitter herbs each Passover celebration would help reinforce this.
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God wanted them to eat bitter herbs every year to remind themselves of the bitter slavery they once knew as slaves ... they were not to forget that painful slavery lest they be tempted to return to it.
Too often Christians fail to remember the painful life of sin and then begin to compromise their Christian life and slowly slide back into sin.
Two traditions in the Jewish Passover:
Dipping of the Parsley:
What does the parsley and salt water represent?
The green of the parsley reminds us of the hyssop that was used to put the blood on the door post.
The salt water is symbolical of the tears shed by the Jewish people in the land of Egypt because of their affliction. Also, it speaks of the Red Sea that Israel had to cross as they were being delivered by The Almighty GOD
Eating the Bitter Herbs:
A blessing is said over the bitter herb (romaine lettuce or horse radish).
This is to bring tears to our eyes, in remembrance of the suffering, and affliction of our people, as they were captives in Egypt.
When they first manufactured golf balls, they made the covers smooth. Then it was discovered that after a bail had been roughed up one could get more distance out of it. So they started manufacturing them with dimpled covers.
So it is with life; it takes some rough spots in your life to make you go your farthest.
We need to remember that trials and suffering can benefit us if we allow them to!
Lessons From Trials:
1-We go through trials that we might know the strength or perhaps the weakness of our faith.
2 Chronicles 32:31 - However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. It is not saying that God didn’t know what was in Hezekiah’s heart, but that Hezekiah needed to see what his in his own heart.
2-We go through trials helps us remain humble and rely on the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
3-We suffer through trials to wean our dependence upon worldly things.
The more we accumulate material possessions and worldly knowledge, experience, and recognition, the more we are tempted to rely on them instead of the Lord.
These things can include education, work success, important people we know, honors we may have been given, and many other types of worldly benefits that often are not wrong in themselves but can easily become the focus of our concern and the basis of our trust.
Hebrews 11:24-26- By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
4-We endure trials that we might help others endure theirs.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7-Blessed be the God and Father of ow Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all ow tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so ow consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for yow consolation and salvation.
And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. (source of comfort: a source of comfort to somebody who is upset or disappointed)
