PASSOVER 3 SYMBOL OF OUR SAVIOUR exodus 12

" It came to pass at midnight " ( v29). " The Lord struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive in the dungeon, and all the first-born of live-stock. All Egypt knew that God kept His word, while all Israel rested comfortably in His certain, preserving grace. The Word shows more clearly the contrast of life and death, safety and destruction, joy and grief.

Pharaoh was aroused from his sleep, with all his servants and all the Egyptians for there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. National grief and heathen wailing filled the night air. After seeing God’s signs and wonders in the first nine plagues, you would expect some of the Egyptians to turn from their heathen way. Sadly, ‘ not one house was spared.’ When Christ taught us ‘to preach the gospel to every creature, ‘ He showed His longing that ‘ none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’

This monster, Pharoah, released the children of Israel, calling Moses and Aaron by night,

‘ Rise and go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said.’ ( v 31 ) The 430 years of slavery and slogging was over. The harsh despot Pharaoh

now demanded that they leave Egypt. An awesome God brought the hardened leaders to agree with His perfect plan. He added, ‘ Also, take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone: and ( strangely from a brutal dictator ) bless me also’. ( v 32 ) God was sovereign !

The children of Israel hurriedly deserted Egypt, under pressure from their former taskmasters. They requested articles of silver, gold, and clothing." ( v35 ), The Lord gave them favour, despite their slave status of calloused bleeding hands, tanned skin from daily outdoor brick making, and thread-bare clothes. Truly, ‘ they plundered the Egyptians.’

Please notice the exact timing of the Lord, for twice the Scripture told that 430 years of slavery had now ceased. God kept His memorable days and honoured His children. Verse 41 emphasised that ‘ it was on that very same day’, God presided over their release. We should never doubt that our times were in His hands, or that the way of the Lord was perfect, and past finding out. Two and a half million refugees knew that their God could be trusted.

A curious regulation was given, for ‘ In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones’. ( v 46 ) Each home was an entity, so that

the lamb , chosen for that home must be eaten entirely in the family circle. Every home needs Christ as the Lamb of God; and He must be received in all His fulness; His wisdom for our foolishness, His

redemption for our lost estate, His grace for our hopelessness. No roasted lamb flesh could be preserved nor taken out of the home, where scavenging dogs or birds of the air could fall on it. This command was obeyed within each home, and so it must be eaten, received, metabolised, and not allowed to decay on the march. The Lord Jesus later said, ‘ He that eats My flesh ‘ referred directly to Himself , our Passover Lamb, Who takes away the sin of the world.

But why did God command that you shall not break one of the bones of each lamb.? The bones tell of the enduring, unchanging nature of the person, whether Joseph the Prime Minister, whose bones were carried from Egypt, or of the Lamb of God Himself. The evidence of fossils is preserved in the calcified bones. David was inspired to write ‘ He guards all His bones, not one of them shall be broken ‘ ( Psalm 34 :20 ) Recall how Pilate commanded the soldiers to break the bones of the three who had been crucified. The soldiers’ lives depended on their absolute obedience to the Roman Governor, yet they defied him in not breaking the bones of Christ’s body. Rather they plunged a spear into His side, allowing blood and water to flow. The precise detail of Bible prophecy was realised.in this important detail.

God’s Bible is one harmonious book. . It is consistent, and thoroughly agreeable. Even on this drama-packed night of the Passover, God taught His enduring nature and the fulfilment of every prophecy when His beloved Son bore our sins in His own body on the tree - and was made sin for us.

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