(4) Passover

SCARLET THREAD     WEEK 4

GOD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

Exodus 2:23-24  “..God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

As foretold to Abraham, Israel is in bondage in Eygpt. God hears their cry and in Exodus 3:6-11 He appears to Moses and announces Himself by His covenant name. “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob”.

Moses sets off to be the deliverer, but there is one problem; EXODUS 4:24-26 “AT A LODGING PLACE ON THE WAY, THE LORD MET MOSES AND WAS ABOUT TO KILL HIM. BUT ZIPPORAH TOOK A FLINT KNIFE, CUT OFF HER SON’S FORESKIN AND TOUCHED MOSES’ FEET WITH IT. ‘SURELY YOU ARE A BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD TO ME’, SHE SAID. SO THE LORD LET HIM ALONE.”

YOU CANNOT DO GOD’S WORK OR EXPECT HIS BLESSINGS IF YOU DO NOT TAKE HIS COVENANT SERIOUSLY! MOSES WAS CIRCUMCISED, BUT HE NEGLECTED TO OBEY GOD IN REF TO HIS GENERATIONS AS GOD HAD COMMANDED IN THE TERMS OF THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM! ZIPPORAH, A GENTILE, SAVED HIS LIFE BY REMEMBERING THE COVENANT! MOSES AS A TYPE OF CHRIST HAD TO ALSO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 3:13-17) GOD TAKES HIS COVENANTS SERIOUSLY AND OUR SALVATION DEPENDS ON OUR FAITH IN THE COVENANT HE ESTABLISHED WITH JESUS ON THE CROSS, IT IS A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER!

Moses dealt with Pharaoh as God told him and judged and brought plagues against all the gods of Egypt, including Pharaoh himself, with the death of the first born of all Egypt including the heir to the throne of Pharaoh.

God then gave the Hebrews the rescue they cried for through the first PASSOVER.

God declared Passover to be a permanent celebration for all eternity (Exodus 12:2,6,13-14). Historically, Passover celebrates God's deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, where they were slaves to the Egyptians (Exodus 2:23-24; 6:5-8; 13:3,14).

      The spiritual application that God wants us to understand is this: Egypt is a type of the world and the world's system. Its ruler, Pharaoh, was a type of satan. The bondage people are in when they live according to the ways of the world's system is sin (John 8:34).

      Historically, the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage in Egypt by putting the blood of a lamb upon the doorposts of their houses (Exodus 12:2,6,13). Spiritually, this is a picture of the Messiah Yeshua and how those who believe in Him are delivered from the bondages of sin and the rule of satan in their lives. Yeshua is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Yeshua is also our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). Those who follow Yeshua are the house of God (Hebrews 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5). The doorposts are our hearts. It is only through trusting by faith in the shed blood of Yeshua (Jesus), our Passover that we are free from the bondage of sin (Galatians 4:3-5,9; 5:1; 2 Peter 2:19). This is because the blood of Yeshua redeems us from sin (Leviticus 17:11; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5).

During Passover, the head of each household was to take a lamb of the first year (first born) on the tenth day of the first month known as Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day (Exodus 12:3-6). In the evening of the fourteenth day, at exactly 3:00 p.m., the lamb was to be killed (Exodus 12:6). The blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts of the household door. The lamb was to be roasted with fire, with bitter herbs, and with unleavened bread, and the entire household was to feast upon the body of the lamb (Exodus 12:7-8). The people were instructed by God to eat the lamb with haste and to be dressed and ready to leave Egypt at the midnight hour. This would be the fifteenth day of Nisan (12:10-11).

      At midnight on that fateful evening in Egypt, the death angel passed through the land. Every house that did not have the token of the blood on the doorposts and lintel suffered the judgment of God (Exodus 12:12-15). The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach, which means "to pass or hover over." This word speaks to us about two things. First, it shows the passing over in judgment from death and sin to life in Yeshua. Second, it tells us about allowing, by faith, the blood of Yeshua to hover over our lives and give us divine protection from the evil one.

God's Commandments for Passover 

1. Passover was the beginning of months (Exodus 12:2).

      Spiritual Application. Nisan is the first month of the religious calendar. Receiving Yeshua into our lives is the beginning of a New Covenant relationship with God (Jeremiah] 31:31-33; John 3:5-7; Romans 6:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

 Passover is the first of the feasts. Likewise, repenting of our sins and believing in the shed blood of Yeshua is our first step in our walk with God.

2. The lamb was hidden for four days (Exodus 12:3,6).

       Messianic Fulfillment. God commanded Israel to take a lamb on the tenth day of Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day. These four days were fulfilled by Yeshua during the week. Remember, Yeshua is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He entered Jerusalem and went to the temple), which was the house of God, and went on public display there for four days from Nisan 10 to Nisan 14 (Matthew 21:1,9-12,17-18,23; 24:1,3; 26:1-5).

      The lamb was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua was the Lamb of G-d (John 1:29) without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:18-20). During the crucifixion week, Yeshua was examined by many in fulfilling this Scripture, including:

      (a) The chief priests and elders (21:23)

      (b) Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2,11-14,17-26)

      (c) Herod (Luke 23:6-12)

      (d) Annas the high priest (Luke 3:2; John 18:13,24)

      (e) Caiaphas the high priest (John 11:49-53; 18:13-14,19-24,28)

      (f) Judas (Matthew 27:3-10)

      (g) The centurion (Matthew 27:54)

      (h) The repentant thief (Luke 23:39-43).

When we examine Yeshua, we must conclude also that He was without blot or blemish.

3. The lamb was of the first year (Exodus 11:4-7; 12:5).

      Spiritual Application. God always distinguishes between the believers and the world (Exodus 12:29-30). This can be seen in the examples that follow. The firstborn of both man and beast was to be set aside and given to G-d (Exodus 13:2,11-13). The theme of the firstborn runs throughout the Bible. Cain was set aside for Abel (Genesis 4:1-8); Ishmael for Isaac (16:1,11-12,15; 17:17-19); Esau for Jacob (Genesis 25:19-26; Romans 9:8-13); and Egypt for Israel.

      Spiritually, God gave us these examples to teach us that the firstborn after the flesh (that which is natural) is set aside to bring forth the firstborn after the spirit (that which is spiritual). In this process, God distinguishes between the first or natural birth and the second or spiritual birth. The first birth constitutes us as sinners and the second birth makes us believers and children of God (John 1:12; 3:1-7; Romans 9:8-13; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 15:45-47).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua was the firstborn of Mary naturally, and the firstborn of God spiritually (Matthew 1:21-25; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18; Revelation 3:14).

4. It is a male (Exodus 12:5).

       Spiritual Application. It was through one man's sin that sin came into the world (Romans 5:12; 1 Timothy 2:12-14). Because Adam, the first male, sinned, so a male, Yeshua, must die to atone for that sin (Romans 5:17-19).

5. It is a lamb for a house (Exodus 12:3-4).

      Spiritual Application). God's intention was that all (households) experience salvation. The lamb was a lamb for the house. By believing in the Messiah Yeshua, we become members of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19). Salvation for a household is available to all who believe in the Messiah, Yeshua, the Lamb of G-d (Genesis 7:1; 18:16-19; Joshua] 24:15; John 4:46-54; Luke 19:5-10; Acts 16:15,31; 18:3,8).

       Messianic Fulfillment. There is a progressive revelation of the Lamb in the Bible. First, there is a lamb for a house (Exodus 12:3-4; second, a lamb for a nation (John 11:49-52); and finally, a lamb for the world (1:29).

      Genesis 22 is known in Hebrew as the Akeidah, or the binding of the sacrifice. In Genesis 22:7, Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb?" The lamb that Isaac asked about is Yeshua (Isaiah 53:7).

2. A Passover lamb was to be killed between the evenings (Exodus 12:6).

      The biblical day goes from evening to evening, from sundown to sundown, which is roughly 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31). The day (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) is divided into two 12-hour periods. The evening runs from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The morning runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each 12-hour period is divided into two smaller portions. From 6:00 a.m. to noon is the morning part of the day. From noon to 6:00 p.m. is the evening part of the day. The phrase, "between the evening" (from Exodus 12:6) refers to the period of the day that goes from noon to 6:00 p.m., which is exactly 3:00 p.m. This would be the ninth hour of the day, counting from 6:00 a.m.                           

            

      Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua died at the ninth hour of the day (Matthew 27:45-50). This would be exactly 3:00 p.m. (the ninth hour, counting from 6:00 a.m.).

1. The whole assembly shall kill it (Exodus [12:6).

      Spiritual Application Every person who has ever lived on planet Earth and sinned is guilty of killing Yeshua because He died for all sinners (Romans 3:10,23). No human being had the power to take His life (John 10:17-18). Therefore, Yeshua laid down His life for us by His own free will. There has been a misplaced accusation over the years that the Jews were the people who killed Yeshua. As a result, they have suffered horrendously over the centuries. To my beloved Jewish friends who are reading this book, I ask you with sincere repentance: Please forgive those who are ignorant of the truth. The truth is that I killed Yeshua, as did everyone who ever lived on planet Earth, because He died for my sins! (Romans 5:8,12)

       Messianic Fulfillment. A whole congregation of people was involved in the death of Yeshua. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John show how the Sanhedrin, the priests, the Romans, and the people of Israel all clamored for the crucifixion of Yeshua and for His blood to be shed (Matthew 27:17,20-22,25; Acts 4:26-28).

2. The blood must be applied to the door (Exodus 12:7,13,22).

      Spiritual Application. Those who believe in the Messiah are the house of God (Ephesians 2:19; I Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6). The only way into the house of God is through the shed blood of the Messiah Yeshua, who is the Door (John 10:7-9).

3. The body of the lamb must be eaten (Exodus 12:8-10).

      Spiritual Application. Both the body and blood of the lamb speak of the body and blood of Yeshua (Matthew 26:26-28). We spiritually eat of the body of the Lamb (Yeshua) when we eat of His body (today represented by the bread), which spiritually is the Word of God (Luke 11:3; 4:4). By following the Word of G-d and obeying the commandments) of God with sincerity of heart, we eat of His body.

a) It must be eaten the same night (Exodus 12:8). Yeshua was crucified, suffered, and died the same night.

b) It must be eaten with unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8). Leaven speaks of sin (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unleavened bread is without sin. As believers, we are instructed     to live holy (unleavened) lives before God (Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

c) It must be eaten with bitter herbs (Exodus  12:8).

      Spiritual Application. To those who have accepted the Messiah into their lives, bitter herbs speak of two things. First, they speak of the bondage and burdens we experience while living in this world (a type of Egypt) before we accepted Yeshua into our lives. This burden of sin is placed on us by satan when we yield to his lies and deception, and then sin because of our own evil desires. Second, the bitter herbs speak of the bitter things that come into our lives after we accept Yeshua and attempt to follow Him on a daily basis.

       Messianic Fulfillment. For Yeshua, dying on the tree was a bitter experience because He had to pay for man's sin with His sinless life.

d) The lamb must be roasted in fire (Exodus  12:8).

      Spiritual Application. Fire speaks of judgment, refining, and purification. Our faith is judged and tested by fire so it can be refined and purified and come forth as pure gold (Zechariah 13:9; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:18).

e) It must not be sodden with water. The gospel of Yeshua must not be watered down (Mark 7:9,13; 2 Timothy 3:5).

f) The head, legs, and other parts of the lamb must be eaten.

      Spiritual Application. Those who believe in Yeshua must feed on the mind of Yeshua (Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:21-23; Hebrews 8:10). The legs speak of our walk (Colossians 2:6). How are the believers in Yeshua to walk? (See Romans 6:4; 8:1,4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 5:2,8; Colossians 1:10, 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 John [Yochanan] 1:7; 2 John 1:6; 3 John 1:4.)

4. The lamb must be eaten in haste (Exodus 12:11).

      Spiritual Application. Bible believers must be quick to leave Egypt (the influences of the world) and run toward the life that is in the Messiah (Luke 19:5-6).

a) It must be eaten with our loins girded (Exodus 12:11). Our loins being girded speaks about our hearts' desire to eagerly serve and obey God. Our spiritual loins are the truth of the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14). Scriptures that speak about our loins being girded include the following: First Kings 18:46; Second Kings 4:29; 9:1; Jeremiah  1:17; Luke 12:35; Ephesians 6:14; First Peter  1:13.

b) Shoes must be on our feet (Exodus 12:11). Shoes on our feet speaks about our walk with God. Scriptures that speak about shoes being on our feet include the following: Isaiah  52:7; Nahum 1:15; Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15.

c) A staff must be in our hand (Exodus 12:11). A staff in our hand speaks about the believer's authority in the Kingdom of G-d by the name of Yeshua(Matthew 28:18-20). Scriptures that speak about a staff being in our hand include the following: Genesis 38:17-18; Exodus 14:16; Judges 6:21; First Samuel  17:39-40; Second Samuel 3:29; Second Kings 4:29; 18:21; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 10:24; 14:5; Mark 6:7-8.

5. It is the Lord's Passover (Exodus 12:11).

      Spiritual Application. If we follow Yeshua with all of our hearts, we will pass from death to life, and from judgment to divine protection (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 91).

6. It is a memorial (Exodus 12:14; Luke 22:1,7-8, 13-15,19).

      Spiritual Application. Passover is a memorial or a remembrance (Luke 22:1,7-8,13-15,19). There are two elements of remembrance:

a) God remembers us (Genesis 8:1; 9:1, 5-16; 19:29; 30:22; Exodus 2:24-25; 3:1; 6:2,5; 32:1-3,7,11,13-14; Leviticus 26:14,31-33,38-45; Numbers 10:1-2,9; Psalm 105:7-8,42-43; 112:6). In fact, God has a book of remembrance (Exodus 32:32-33; Malachi 3:16-18; Revelation 3:5; 20:11-15; 21:1,27).

b) We must remember God (Exodus 13:3; 20:8; Deuteronomy 7:17-19; 8:18; 16:3; Numbers 15:37-41).

7. It is to be observed at the going down of the sun (Deuteronomy 16:2,6). This was fulfilled by Yeshua at His crucifixion (Matthew 27:45-46).

8. It is the place where God would put His name (Deuteronomy 16:2,6).

       Messianic Fulfillment. The place where God has put His name is Jerusalem  (2 Kings 21:4). Yeshua was crucified in Jerusalem.

9. Not a bone of the lamb was to be broken (Exodus 12:43-46).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Not a bone of Yeshua was broken on the tree (John 19:33).

10.        There was to be an explanation of the service (Exodus 12:25-28).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua explained each part of the Passover as He did the service (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

11.        The Egyptians were spoiled at the Exodus (Exodus 12:31-36).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Satan was spoiled when Yeshua entered hell and rose again (Colossians 2:15).

12.        You must be circumcised to eat the Passover (Exodus 12:48; Joshua 5:2-10).

      Spiritual Application. The physical act of circumcision was only a picture of the inward or spiritual circumcision that God wanted us to have (Romans 2:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:46; 2 Corinthians 4:18). God has always desired for His people to be circumcised in the heart (Deuteronomy 10:12-16; 1 Corinthians 7:18-19; Galatians 2:3; 5:2-3; 6:12-15; Ephesians 2:11-13).

13.        The Passover feast was to be a holy convocation, and no work was to be done (Exodus 12:16).

      Spiritual Application. A believer finds true rest in ceasing from his own works and resting in the finished work of Yeshua, God's Passover Lamb (Genesis 2:1-2; Matthew 11:28-30; John 17:1-4; 19:30; Hebrews 3:14-19; 4:1-10).

14.        The Passover must be killed outside the gates of the city (Deuteronomy 16:5).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua was crucified outside of the city walls of Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha (John  19:16-19; Hebrews 13:10-13).

15.        There is healing power in the lamb (Exodus  15:26).

       Messianic Fulfillment. Yeshua is the Healer sent from God (Psalm 105:36-38; Isaiah  53:1-5; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 11:26-30).

16.        The Exodus was on eagle's wings (Exodus 19:4).

      Scriptures associated with this are Deuteronomy 32:9-13; Isaiah 31:5; 40:31; Luke 17:33-37; Revelation 12:6,14.

17.        They sang a song of rejoicing to the Lord (Exodus 15:1,19-21).

      Spiritual Application. Whenever a believer experiences and understands the meaning of Passover, there is a spirit of rejoicing to the Lord for his or her deliverance from sin, and for experiencing the newness of life in the Messiah. Note: The Passover Seder, which is the service and meal that celebrates the Passover, always ends with songs of rejoicing and the declaration: Next year in Jerusalem! This can be seen in Mark 14:26.

18.        Israel is the firstborn of G-d (Exodus 4:22-23).

      Spiritual Application. All those who accept the Messiah Yeshua are called the firstborn of God even as Yeshua is called the firstborn of God (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18; Hebrews 12:22-24).'

After the release from Egypt the Hebrews were led by God to the shore of the Red Sea, with the forces of Egypt in pursuit.

The Hebrews were separated unto God. The Red Sea opened to let them out of Egypt, then closed behind them to keep them out of it forever. (Symbolic of our baptisim in water, the waters receive us out of the world and as we raise, seal us from it forever through Jesus.)

The Bible tells us that the children of Israel were “baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate from the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was Christ..” (1 Corinthians 10:2-4)

They were brought out to be alone with God in the wilderness, here away from the pagan world of Egypt and its’ idols God came to dwell with them.

The Hebrews, however, after long years of bondage in a pagan land did not really remember or understand who they were in Covenant with so He led them to Mount Sinai on the first Pentecost to introduce Himself.

Exodus 19:17-18 tells that God came down on the Mountain to meet the people, He appeared as smoke and a furnace.  (The same God who passed through the sacrifice before Abraham!) (Gen 15:17 KJV)

God then gives Israel his calling card, a way for them to understand His character; the Ten Commandments!

God knew of course that they would not be able to keep the Law because of the sin nature within them.

THE COMMANDMENTS WERE TO BE A MIRROR FOR THE PEOPLE TO SEE HOW HOLY HE IS AND HOW SINFUL THEY ARE.

To teach Israel the true way to approach Him he established the TABERNACLE, SACRICES AND THE PRIESTHOOD.

God gave explicit instructions on these issues, then Moses built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God. He then took the blood of the sacrifice and splashed it against the altar. Then the Ten Commandments and the other laws were read publically before the people. Moses then threw some of the blood toward the people themselves. He then took the blood and sprinkled it over the Book of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments and the other laws. Then Moses said; “This blood (note: NOT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS) confirms and seals the covenant the Lord has made in giving you these laws.”  THE SINAI COVENANT WAS A BLOOD COVENANT!

GOD NEVER INTENDED THE HEBREWS TO APPROACH HIM BY TRYING TO KEEP THE LAW. HE CAN ONLY BE APPROACHED THROUGH A BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. IT IS HIS ONLY PROVISION! (It is fascinating to see that of the 613 laws of the Mosaic Code, one third, or one out of every three involved the sacrifices! Does that ratio speak of anything?)

Therefore, God established the Tabernacle and the Priesthood and sacrifices as the means to approach Him.

PSALMS 50:5 “GATHER TO ME MY CONSECRATED ONES WHO MADE A COVENANT WITH ME BY SACRIFICE.”

AS WE STUDY WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ALL THESE THINGS ARE BUT SHADOWS AND TYPES OF THE REALITY OF CHRIST (COL 2:17) THEY WERE NEVER INTENDED TO PERFECT THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR (Hebrews 10:1). THE TRUE BLOOD COVENANT IS IN THE MESSIAH!