The Passover - Exodus Part 13 Series

INTRODUCTION

• As we approach Easter its worth looking at Passover.

• This is the greatest event in the Old Testament. It is how God relates to the church.

• The last two weeks we have talked about getting free and staying free, changing your thinking and believing in the blood of the Lamb.

John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

• Verse 35 says it again! Behold! Or look the Lamb of God. Kind of funny. He didn’t call Him the camel of God or the donkey of God, or the goat of God.

• But the Lamb of God! He did this for us!

Hebrews 9:12, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the most holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”

• Passover was a time to remember and rejoice.

• They did this every year. Jesus, Himself celebrated it. It was what He was doing the last night of His life, when they received communion.

• It was about remembering and rejoicing. These are part of the principles that get us free and keep us free.

• When we start to lose our way, we all need to remember and rejoice!

• We touched the issue of justice. How could God do that to the first born? There is judgment for us all.

• Pharaoh’s character = Exodus Chapters 7-14 mentions Pharaoh’s hardened heart 10 to 20 times.

• Chapter 3:19 God says, “I know Pharaoh’s heart, it is hard.”

• He has held two million people in bondage.

• Then he asks, “Who is the Lord?”

• Pharaoh had over nine chances to turn back and wouldn’t.

• Firstborn isn’t necessarily babies. Older people who were the eldest were there.

• Now it is important to note that up to this time God had done all the work!

• He had done the miracles, but now he tells the people they have to participate. That is how life works.

God will do His part; often miraculously, but then He will ask you to move, to engage, to participate.

Exodus 12:7-10, “They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. 8That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 9Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal…must be roasted over a fire.”

I. IT IS A NEW DAY AND A NEW WAY

• Eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Bitter herbs are a reminder; this place stinks and don’t forget it! Unleavened bread; yeast like sin does its work out of sight, subtly and deadly.

• So beware that all I am doing isn’t lost.

Exodus 12:2, “This month will be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you."

• Passover represents a fresh start and we all need one of those!

• New hope, new life.

• Isn’t that what Easter speaks to so many?

II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

• This is a beginning time, a new era; new relationship with people.

• New thinking and new freedom.

• This is the time of the law. Values that would change thinking and would keep people free.

• Love people, honor people (treat them with value), love God and honor Him, take a day off, honor other people’s stuff.

• It is a picture of us in the New Testament. This is New Year’s day.

• God is telling them the Egyptian calendar is no longer how they tell time.

• Egyptians calendar ran off the time of floods of the Nile, off of solstice.

• But God is saying now I am not under the time pattern of the world, but off a calendar marked by the blood of the Lamb.

• God is saying you are leaving a system that kills and I am taking you to one that gives life.

• God is saying His timing works, trust Him!

II. LIVING IN A FAITH RELATIONSHIP

• A new way of living; believing God will provide. It is not about “be good,” but be-lieve.

• This is about provision in your home.

• Read verses 3-8 - each household. The people had to participate.

• You didn’t have to be smart to do this just obey – participate.

• But there was a cost. The first born was the cost. The unblemished, the best they had.