The First Passover
The Story of the First Passover
Over 3000 years ago in Egypt, the first Passover took place. The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. God called Moses to deliver them out of slavery. But the Egyptian Pharaoh did not listen to Moses which resulted in 10 plagues being placed on Egypt.
Disease, pestilence, darkness, destruction of crops and livestock, until finally the 10th plague. God told Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt and after that you will be freed”.
God said, “Because Pharaoh will not free my people, during the night, I will cause the firstborn male of every household to die”. Then God told Moses to institute the First Passover.
God instructed Moses, “Tell the whole community of Israel, each family, to take a male lamb one year old without blemish. At twilight, kill the lamb and roast the meat. Take some of the blood of the lamb and place it on the side and tops of the door frame of your homes. That evening; eat the roasted lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Eat it all, do not leave any uneaten. Eat it standing up, dressed ready to go, with your sandals on and with your staff in hand”. “Eat in haste, for this is the Lord’s Passover”.
God told Moses, “On the night that I pass thru Egypt, I will strike down every firstborn male. The blood on the doorpost will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and I will Pass Over you.” “This is a day that you are to commemorate for the generations to come.”
That night the destroyer passed thru Egypt and every house that had the blood of the lamb was spared. Afterwards, the Israelites were freed from their bondage. They crossed the Red Sea and began their journey toward the Promised Land.
One interesting nuance in this story of the First Passover, God told those families that couldn’t eat a whole lamb themselves, to seek out a neighbor and share the lamb with another family, so that none of the roasted lamb should be wasted.
This evening, we commemorate the Passover as twilight draws near. I have more Lamb than I can eat. HE is big enough for me and my family and my family’s in-laws, with even more Lamb left over. I want to share this Lamb and his life saving blood with you my friend.
God wasn’t looking for the righteous or those that were worthy or those that were good or those that attended church. He only looked for one thing. He looked to see if the doorpost was covered with the blood of the Lamb.
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. (Rev. 5:12)
Amen
