Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite 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. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and 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. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. (Exo 12:5-8, 11-14, 30-31)
The Passover, the offering of a lamb without blemish and its blood over the doorpost. The deliverance of Israel from the slavery of Egypt. GOD is executing His final Judgment on the people and nation of Egypt, for their multiple generations of slavery and bondage of the people and nation of Israel. GOD is delivering His people in this last and final act, that will not only free them, but institute a religious practice for all time. One that, though its meaning is at times shadowed in mystery, or even forgotten, points to the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sIn of the world.
While many accuse GOD of being vindictive and vengeful, in truth, His justice is perfect. GOD gave the Egyptians many chances to repent, and they did not. He separated the Israelites from the Egyptians, that the plagues fall not in Goshen, and Egypt didn't heed the warnings. He sent plagues, that while showing His power over the false gods of Egypt, were temporary and when they were gone, recovery could begin. But, no more, now it has come to the death of the first born, from the son of Pharaoh to the son of the least in the nation. All were under judgment, and only the blood of a perfect lamb spread in faith could save them from the Lord and His wrath.
For all mankind, it has been the same, for all have sinned and are under judgment. We have been warned through the Scriptures. Nature itself tells us there is a Creator and we are answerable to GOD who made us, and we rebelled against. GOD provided Himself, a lamb, without spot or blemish, and went willingly to that Cross of Calvary in our place. If we by faith in His finished and perfect work, receive Him and trust Him for forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD, we can be born again and receive new life and the sprinkling of His blood upon us. Our names are written in His book, with His own blood, and cannot be unwritten or blotted out. We are secure, not because of us, but because of Him.
That is not a license to sIn, or act as we would, for we are to be completely and utterly surrendered to Him on His terms. We are to minister to the hurting and in need, just as others ministered to us. We are to disciple one another in the Word that we may grow in grace and be equipped for the ministry and work of GOD. We are commanded and commissioned to preach and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear, that they may believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided deliverance through the blood to the Jewish people, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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