Plagues and a Passover (Exodus 7:14 - 12:30)
2:24 AM
The Plagues Against Egypt:
As we read about the plagues, we see that Pharaoh would want relief from "the circumstance". As the plagues get more intense and difficult to bear, he would come closer and closer to agreeing to let the Israelites go. As soon as the hardship ended, however, he would change his mind and his heart would be hardened again. This is typical of the human heart. When circumstances are difficult, the heart wants relief. This is a time when many will make promises to God that they wouldn’t normally consider. I imagine God receives many prayers from the burdened heart that is seeking immediate relief, prayers like “ God , if you will just fix this situation, then I will promise to do what you want me too. “. That insincere, self - seeking heart, however, defaults on those promises as soon as the crisis is over and circumstances ease. God is not fooled, however. He knows the motives of our prayers and the deepest intentions of our hearts. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
The Passover:
The Passover has been celebrated by Jews for thousands of years. It is significant to them because it reminds them of God’s miraculous deliverance from the bondage of Egyptian slavery and it gives them hope and optimism for the future when the Promised Messiah will come. They celebrate and remember with a meal called the seder. Elements of this meal have special significance— matzah as the bread of affliction, salt water as the tears of oppression, bitter herbs as the harshness of slavery. They eat unleavened bread for the leaven symbolizes “sin”. The unleavened bread also represents readiness for the Jewish people had to prepare their clothing and food in haste and be ready to travel quickly.
For Christians, the Passover holds even more reason for remembrance and celebration because the sacrificial lamb of the Passover foreshadowed the coming of Jesus as the Promised Messiah. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 Jesus is called the Passover Lamb and Christians are reminded to celebrate with a humbled, sincere heart. “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
The prophet John the Baptist recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God”. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Peter makes reference to Christ as the “ lamb without defect”. “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19 ). Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). In Revelation, John the apostle sees Jesus as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.” (5:6). Interestingly, we read in Mark chapter 12 that the time of the crucifixion of Jesus was during the time that the Passover was observed.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior then you have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to your heart and have escaped eternal death. Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers. Have you been covered by the precious, holy blood of Jesus? Does it mark the doorway of your heart? Will he find you ready for his return so that he can take you to heaven, the promised land he has prepared for you?
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