By Joshua Cooley
What a night the exodus from Egypt must have been!
For 400 years, the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt, brutalized and dehumanized. Then a prophet and his brother boldly returned to Egypt, and God’s judgment ensued. Water turned deathly red. Critters and creatures invaded. Tree-snapping hail rained down. The skies went black. While Egypt groaned, Israel was spared.
Then came the Passover, perhaps the worst night in ancient Egypt’s history. As midnight passed, cries of anguish and shrieks of terror filled the darkness. Every firstborn male of Egypt—even down to the livestock—was struck down. They were not under the blood of the lamb.
Meanwhile, the scene in Goshen, where the Israelites were quartered, was much different. Under dripping-red doorposts, every Hebrew family had eaten a carefully prescribed dinner with their traveling clothes on, sandals laced, and walking staffs in hand. On the menu that evening were both roasted lamb and urgency.
Suddenly, like a clap of thunder, it was time to go! A massive surge of humanity—likely around two million Israelites—threw knapsacks filled with still-unleavened bread over their shoulders and hurried out of bondage. Death was all around them. But not a single one of God’s chosen people was harmed. They were saved by the blood of the lamb.
On Israel’s journey to Sinai, God instructed the people to commemorate His divine deliverance with an annual weeklong celebration. They were never to forget the miraculous Passover. “Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the LORD brought you out of here by the strength of his hand” (Exodus 13:3).
Yet the Passover wasn’t just a one-time deliverance. It was a sign pointing forward to an even greater rescue on the horizon. This rescue would not free God’s people from an oppressive nation; it would free them—and us—from a corrupted nature.
Just before delivering Israel, God told them, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). Today, God’s judgment still passes over His children. Thanks to the precious blood of the true Passover Lamb, we have been delivered from sin’s bondage! Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), has once and for all removed our sin-guilt by His vicarious, atoning work on the cross.
Just as ancient Israel was to commemorate Passover each year, we, too, are to be people of remembrance today. We must never forget the cost of our sins or the glorious deliverance we’ve been given. We would do well to remember our great redemption in our prayers, Scripture readings, songs, conversations, and other moments of reflection.
Praise God for the true Passover Lamb, who rescued us from destruction and brought us into the promised land of His heavenly kingdom! May we always remember—and worship!
Post Comments (0)