The First Passover Series

The First Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

- We’re continuing our study through the book of Exodus.

- As we study each passage, we’re asking the question, “What does this passage say about honoring God?”

- Last time we were together, we looked at the description of the tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn.

- We saw that there are times when God says, “Enough!”, but in the process, He takes care of His people and He warns His enemies.

- Today, we’re going to look at the First Passover, and we’re going to see the process, the purpose, and the power of Passover.

- Obviously, the Passover is extremely special and sacred to the Jews just like the Lord’s Supper and baptism are special and sacred to Christians.

- But there’s something about the first time you get to participate in one of these that makes them memorable and important.

- I’m reminded of that day many years ago when I was baptized.

- We were living in Colorado, and my father was helping a pastor of a church on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

- My brother and I talked with my father and told him we wanted to take that step to make a public profession of our faith.

- He was so excited, and let our pastor know.

- The church we were in was tiny and didn’t have its own baptismal tank, so the pastor took us to the church down the street to use theirs.

- I’ll never forget having my family there, smiling at my brother and I as Pastor Griggs baptized us both, one right after the other.

- It was a special day, and I’ll never forget it.

- I’m also reminded of the first time I had the honor of baptizing a person, and at the time, I wasn’t a pastor, I was still in High School.

- My father was pastoring here at Baring and we had our annual church picnic.

- At the time, we were having it out in Meddybemps at Sissy Johnson’s camp, and the East Machias Baptist Church was our sister church, so they joined us.

- As we were eating, my father asked me if I’d like to help him with a baptism, because he knew I was called to be a pastor someday.

- I was elated, smiling from ear to ear, and was honored that my father would ask me to take part in such a significant moment.

- That was a special day for me, when my father and I baptized a woman who was a recent convert.

- I’ll never forget that.

- Anyways, here in Exodus, we read about the First Passover being celebrated almost 3000 years ago, but time has not erased its memory…

- The First Passover is still remembered and celebrated to this day.

- So, let’s look now at three things we can observe about the First Passover.

I.) The process for Passover- Vs 1-11

- Everything for Israel was about to change.

- God was going to deliver them from Egypt, and they were going to begin their journey to the Promised Land.

- Basically, they were starting over, so this new calendar was symbolic of their new start…

- It would also help them always remember exactly when the First Passover occurred…in the first month of this new calendar.

- It’s interesting because God was delivering His people from Egypt on the seventh month of the civil calendar, which was the month of September…

- Remember, the number seven is God’s number of perfection, so that shows the significance of this month.

- The seventh month of the civil calendar was now the first month of Israel’s religious or sacred calendar, called ‘Abib’, and later, during the Babylonian captivity, the name of this month was changed to ‘Nisan’ which means “early” or “start.”

- So, this was the beginning of a new and great start for Israel.

- Then, in vs 3, God uses a new word for Israel…

- He says, “Speak to all the congregation of Israel…”

- This new word means “community as a religious entity.”

- It suggests a new beginning, and I truly believe God is encouraging Moses and Israel by once again referring to newness.

- Next, God describes to Moses the process for the Passover, and it begins with the choosing of a lamb.

- The lamb would have to be big enough to feed a household, and according to Jewish Rabbi’s, each lamb had to be big enough to feed a household of at least 10 people, but not more than 20.

- You say, “Well what if I have less than 10 people in my house?”

- Well, one of the things that I love about God is that He never overlooks even the smallest amount of people…numbers aren’t everything to Him…