March 16, 2023

The power of the blood of the Lamb

Exodus 12

Krysta Nelson
Thursday's Devo

March 16, 2023

Thursday's Devo

March 16, 2023

Big Idea

God reveals the way and His will through His Word.

Key Verse | Exodus 12:27

"[Y]ou shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Exodus 12

The Passover

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 1 12:6 Hebrew between the two evenings

Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 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 someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

The Exodus

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

Institution of the Passover

43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave 2 12:44 Or servant; the Hebrew term ebed designates a range of social and economic roles (see Preface) that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Footnotes

[1] 12:6 Hebrew between the two evenings
[2] 12:44 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles (see Preface)

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Dive Deeper | Exodus 12

I love putting together puzzles! I find simple pleasure in finding one piece that fits perfectly with another until, ultimately, a complete picture is formed. When I read Exodus 12, I feel like I'm on a streak of finding puzzle piece after puzzle piece that connects the Passover and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross in order to create one beautiful picture of redemption. Let's take this piece by piece.

Piece #1: God instructs the Israelites to kill a lamb without blemish and place the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes. (Exodus 12:5-7) This lamb without blemish foreshadows the only sinless person to live, Jesus, who is greeted in John 1:29 with "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Piece #2: God instructs the Israelites to eat the lamb (Exodus 12:8) and tells them that the blood will keep the plague from falling upon their houses (Exodus 12:13). These directions mirror the words Jesus speaks about His coming sacrifice as He institutes the Lord's Supper while partaking of the Passover meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:26-29). During this meal, Jesus gives bread to His disciples and says, "Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26) This reminds us of Christ's body being broken on the cross and the lamb being killed at Passover. Jesus also takes a cup of wine and says, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28) This reminds us of the blood Christ shed on the cross and the blood of the lamb on the doors at Passover.

Piece #3: The final plague allowed for the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt and out of slavery. (Exodus 12:33-42) This represents our freedom from sin and our freedom in Christ. (Romans 6:22-23)

This final piece is what makes the picture of redemption so magnificent. We aren't slaves to sin, because the perfect lamb shed blood on our behalf. May we forever bow our heads and worship for that reason! (Exodus 12:27)

This month's memory verse

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

– John 14:27

Discussion Questions

1. God instituted the Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as ways of remembering Him and His mighty works of deliverance. How can you best take time today to rest and meditate on the power of Christ's sacrifice for you?

2. What sins do you feel like you're a slave to in this season of your life? Do you have a community of people you can confess those sins with? If so, I challenge you to do so today. If not, will you begin to seek out community within a local church body?

3. Do you have Bible verses that preach the truth of freedom in Christ that you can recall when you feel defeated by sin? If so, what are they? Will you share those with someone today as an encouragement? If not, will you commit to finding a few such verses?  

Respond to Today's Passage

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HS

Hugh Stephenson

GM Krysta. LOVE your puzzle pieces that connect the Passover to Jesus. Below, I pulled some from the notes. Q1. I have linked to this Dan Stevers video several times. It was shown on Good Friday several years ago. Somehow, I had missed the depth of the message. Its 4:32 that led me to a much more accurate understanding of the price paid for me. https://youtu.be/Dbd4Dt0OhZM The Bridge Diagram was the 2nd big illustration that helped complete the picture for me, http://www.discipleshiplibrary.com/Bridgehome.htm I go back to both all the time in my own prayers of gratitude and in talking to others. Constable’s list- “The Passover anticipated the death of Christ in at least seven particulars:” -Lamb without blemish -Male -Young -Examined -Slain in public -Died in public -Bones unbroken Q2. Comparison. Passivity. People pleasing. Entitlement. Small Aggravations. Q3. Proverbs 3:5-6, John 15:10-11, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 11:28-30. Isaiah 41:30.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Thinking a lot about hard heartedness. It seems to lead to so many tragic events. Cain in Genesis 4:7 “Sin is crouching at the door…”. Noah in Genesis 7:13-16 “The Lord shut him in.” Pharaoh in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” There will be many more as we read on this year. How many times have I been in the same “place” and made the wrong choice, ignored good counsel, went against what I knew, or was just plain self-centered and stubborn. I’m thankful for men in my life that make it tough to stay hard hearted. Maybe that’s Pharaoh’s problem. He doesn’t have a “Nathan”, (2 Samuel 12:7).
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Hugh Stephenson

A few take-a-ways for me- Verse 28 shows that the Israelites finally understood. The nearly total focus on the 80+ gods of their polytheism was crushed by humiliation of all the Egyptian gods; tragically so in the 10th plague. In asking for Moses to bless him, (v32), Pharoah shows he is finally humbled. I like the saying, “It’s better to be humble than to be humbled.” Constable edifies further- “God owns all life. He just leases it to His creatures. We have a lease on life. God paid the price of Israel's redemption to Himself. He purchased the nation to be a special treasure for Himself, and for a special purpose (19:5). This redemption resulted in Israel's liberation and adoption.” Praying, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to continue to live out my redemption, liberation, and adoption.
MS

Michael Sisson

Re: Ex 11:2 G-d institutes a new religious calendar in Israel. Re: Ex 12:3 Ex 12:3 (NASB1995) “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, >>>‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves,<<< according to their fathers’households, a lamb for each household. Where is Jesus in this verse? As lambs were being set aside for Passover on the 10th of Nissan (i.e. Palm Sunday), Yeshua (the Lamb of G-d; Jn 1:29,36) made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem mounted on the foal of an ass. (See Zech 9:9, Mt 21:1-9; Jn 12:12-16) >>>See also the Talmud which says: "R. Alexandri said: “R. Y’hoshua’a ben Levi explained: ‘If they will be righteous, [the Messiah will come] on the clouds of heaven (Daniel 7:13); if they will not be righteous, [he will come] as a poor man riding upon an ass (Zech 9:9)" —Sanhedrin 98a, Quoted by Raphael Patai in his book, THE MESSIAH TEXTS, p 83.<<< “Between Exodus 12 and 23, we are given a step by step description of the process of the founding of the Israelite polity. At the beginning of chapter 12, God commands Moses and Aaron to initiate a new calendar for the Israelites, beginning with the spring month of Nissan (Ex 12:1-2). He then names the new polity Adat Bnai Yisrael (“the congregation of Israel”; Ex 12:3) and sets down procedures for establishing citizenship in it through the sacrifice of the pascal lamb and the observance of Passover (12:3-28 and 43-51).” — Daniel Elazar, Covenant & Polity in Biblical Israel: Biblical Foundations & Jewish Expressions, p. 178 If the Passover lamb of the Old Covenant made someone a citizen of Israel then, how much more does the Passover Lamb of the New Covenant make someone a citizen of Israel? (See Eph 2:12) Re: Ex 12:4 See Mt 15:24, Isa 49:6. Notice this verse only provides for a situation in which the Passover offering is more food than one household can eat in a single evening. The Torah offers no solution for a situation where a single Passover offering doesn’t provide ample food for a very large household (i.e. an additional offering is not prescribed). The implication of this silence hints at the sufficiency of Christ, our Passover, Whose lone sacrifice is sufficient for ALL mankind. Re: Ex 12:5 Ex 12:5 (NASB) ‘Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; >>>you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.”<<< It has been said by a variety of people in a variety of ways that “G-d is in the details.” The adage could not be more true of this seemingly innocuous little verse. In my opinion, hidden within it is one of Scripture’s most profound hints at the rejection of the Messiah according to “the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of G-d.“ (Acts 2:23) Granted, hindsight is 20/20. According to 1Cor 5:7, Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ) is our Pesach (Passover). If there is an economy of words in scripture (which says ALL must be fulfilled), then according to 1Cor 5:7, Messiah MUST be BOTH the Lamb (Jn 1:29,36) AND the Goat.(Lev 16:9; Heb 9:12) Someone will ask “How could a goat be a type of Christ?” and cite Mt 25:33,41. Here’s how: Christ (the Word made flesh) is like a mirror (1Cor 13:12). The believer looks at Him and sees the Lamb of G-d (Jn 1:29,36). Consequently, Scripture refers those believers as sheep (Mt 25:33). Whereas, unbelievers look at Yeshua (Jesus) and they see a blasphemer (Mt 9:3; Mt 26:65)…a goat. Consequently, Scripture speaks of these unbelievers as goats (Mt 25:33,41; Zech 10:3). Thus, a lamb is a type of our Passover (Christ) welcomed, recognized, and worshipped as the Son of G-d, whereas a kid (goat) is type of our Passover (Christ) unrecognized, rejected, and despised…the Despised Messiah. (Jn 1:31; Lk 19:44; Isa 49:7; Isa 53:2-3) See also my Gen 12:3 comment on “The Mirror Effect.” https://www.jointhejourney.com/4903-honesty-can-evidence-our-trust-in-god) It should be noted “Passover” sometimes refers to the feast, and other times it refers to the offering itself. Moreover, when using “Passover” to refer to the offering itself, all too often English translations insert the word “lamb” as well for clarification. However, doing so leaves most readers unaware a kid may be used for the Passover. Furthermore, in his book, THE TEMPLE, Alfred Edersheim reports that after the Babylonian captivity, rabbinic Judaism prescribed only lambs were to be used for Passover, though the reason for this is unclear. Re: Ex 12:6 Ex 12:6 (NASB) ‘*You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then >>>the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.<<< This foreshadows Messiah Yeshua’s crucifixion. Notice “…kill IT…” Israel collectively kills THE Passover (singular). Again, this hints at the sufficiency of Christ, our Passover (1Cor 5:7; Acts 4:27-28). Regarding "twilight," see John 9:4 "...night is coming...." Re: Ex 12:8 See Jn 6:53-56 Re: Ex 12:11 Ex 12:11 (NASB) ‘Now you shall eat it in this manner: >>>with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste<<<—it is the LORD'S Passover. Contrast this with Mk 14:18. Whereas, the first Passover was eaten with girded loins, in haste, as slaves ready to depart Egypt, the Passover Seder known as the Last Supper was eaten reclining and leisurely as free men. Re: Ex 12:14-20 Ex 12:14 (NASB) ‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a >>>permanent ordinance.<<< Ex 12:17 (NASB) ‘You shall also observe the >>>Feast of Unleavened Bread,<<< for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a >>>permanent ordinance.<<< Contrary to those who assert Christ abrogated the Torah (Law; contrast various translations of Mt 5:17-19 with Eph 2:15), the Hebrew word in these verses translated as “permanent” actually means “PERMANENT.” In our modern parlance, we jointly refer to both Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread (eight days all together) as “Passover,” though they are separate events. G-d’s purpose for the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to call us to live sanctified lives…set apart holy unto Him (see 1Cor 5:7-8). Why leaven? The Word of G-d, and the Word of G-d made flesh (Messiah; Jn 1:14), is a mirror of our spiritual condition (Jas 1:23; 1Cor 13:12; 2Cor 3:18). Sin is ultimately the rejection of G-d and His sovereignty in our lives. The Depised Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), is the very embodiment of mankind’s rejected Sovereign. Thus, if leaven is a type of sin (i.e. the evil inclination, pride, the exultation of one’s self above G-d…as is widely taught in Judaism), how much more so is leaven also a type of the Despised Messiah, “Who…became sin on our behalf….”(2Cor 5:21) Moreover, this typological relationship further explains how believing Jews and gentiles, reconciled to G-d as a leavened, First Fruits, wave offering (Lev 23:17) and sanctified through our Passover Lamb, are called to become “unleavened,” in 1Cor 5:7-8. Re: Ex 12:24 Ex 12:24 (NASB) “And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children >>>forever.”<<< Re: Ex 12:38 Ex 12:38 (NASB) A >>>mixed multitude also went up with them,<<< along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. Re: Ex 12:40 Ex 12:40 (NASB) Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was >>>four hundred and thirty years.<<< Compare with Gen 15:13. Re: Ex 12:42 Ex 12:42 (NASB) It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, >>>to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.<<< Re: Ex 12:43 Ex 12:43 (NASB) The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: >>>no *[Lit son of a stranger] *foreigner is to eat of it;<<< The Passover (Christ; see 1Cor 5:7) is only for those in “the commonwealth of Israel.” See Eph 2:11-13,19. Re: Ex 12:46 Ex 12:46 (NASB) “It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, >>>nor are you to break any bone of it.<<< See Jn 19:33. Re: Ex 12:48 Ex 12:48 (CJB) If a foreigner staying with you wants to observe ADONAI's Pesach, >>>all his males must be circumcised.<<< Then he may take part and observe it; >>>he will be like a citizen of the land. But no uncircumcised person is to eat it.<<< See pp Num 9:14. See Rom 2:29; Eph 2:12,19.
MS

Michael Scaman

Never would Moses or the people of Israel imagine that the final plague, the death of the first born, would come upon the messiah. We see a suffering passion lament like this in Psalm 22 but there is something unusual that makes it fit more strongly of Jesus than David. It was twice 'you were my God since from the womb,' says once that 'you were my God from birth', says once 'you were my God from when I was a baby at my mother's breast' (before during and after born). Fits Jesus more literally. Fits David more loosely and poetically.
MS

Michael Scaman

Jesus at the passover sees himself and Judas in Psalm 41, Jesus is sitting at table with his anti-friend and although he washed Judas feet, that foot he lovingly washed will give him the boot as the heal is raised toward Jesus. Tjh Passover Psalms in Psalm 113-118 have a prelude that points to Jesus. Really the whole 107 to 112 makes a good prelude . But espcially psalm 109 110 together. The anti-friend persecutes the poor man Jesus in Psalm 109. The persecuted man image shifts in the next verse in Psalm 110 to a man called to God's right hand and then the man wipes out the wicked six ways till Sunday as God is again at the man's right hand in Psalm 110 in the later half. Psalm 111-112 are two short twin psalms, the blessed God abd the blessed man psalm fitting of Jesus and all makes a good prelude to the passover psalms.
SB

Sue Bohlin

OUTSTANDING devo, Krysta! And great timing--I am leading staff devotions at Probe Ministries today and I had decided to walk through Exodus 12 to connect the dots between the details of the first Passover and their fulfillment in Christ. Thanks to you and Michael Sisson, I have even more to work with! For years I have had this image in my head of Jesus hanging on the cross as our sins were transferred to Him, suffering the inconceivable pain of the Father's wrath against sin that He took into Himself . . . as being the physical container for all our sin and pain, and the corruption of all creation in this fallen world . . . burning up sin, pain and corruption as the ultimate Living Sacrifice. Until it was all consumed. And He would say, "It is finished. It is paid in full." Today, with that image in mind, I read the Lord's command that the Passover lamb be roasted, not eaten raw or boiled. It was to be subjected to the fire before being consumed. Maybe a confirmation of that mental image I've had all these years . . .?
AL

Amy Lowther

1. As I get up in the morning, I think of God and Jesus, where and how I can share their values, and where and how God and Jesus’ values might be shared with me. This helps me be prepared for the day. The power of Christ helps me know good things are possible for me and for others. 2. My sin of this season is Reese cups. Yes, I have already confessed my sin of Reese Cups to my friends. It has helped my friendships and my relationships with God and Jesus be stronger. 3. If I am defeated by sin, John 3:16 helps because it gives me courage to continue when usually I would give up.