A series on the story of redemption
The story of Moses: Part II
(Click on the link below to read the
verses.)
Exodus 12:1-30
[Everybody has a story. Even God has one. His is a story about love and redemption and faithfulness. In this series we are going to take a closer look at God’s story through the lives of the people that He touched. How their story became His story of redemption. And how your story is also a part of it.]
Twenty years ago, after our Christmas Eve service,
we decided to drive around and look at the Christmas lights. Afterwards, we
were hungry, but because it was Christmas Eve the only restaurants that were
open were Chinese.
We finally found a place called Lee Garden. It was a family style restaurant nestled in a small strip mall on a side street. The food was good and reasonably priced. Plus, they played Christmas karaoke music!
Ever since then, when we’re home for Christmas Eve, we’ve
eaten at a Chinese restaurant. It’s become a Christmas family tradition, minus
the karaoke music.
Israel has a tradition that was started when Moses
led them out of slavery in Egypt. It also included a meal. Truthfully though,
it has a much deeper meaning than a spur of the moment family tradition.
Following his call at the burning bush, Moses returned
to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go into the wilderness to worship
the Lord. Of course, Pharaoh said no. In fact, despite devastating plagues that
the Lord sent on Egypt, he said no ten times. Finally, he relinquished when the
plague was for every first-born son to die.
Except the Israelites were saved from this heart-breaking loss when the Lord gave them instructions for the first Passover.
They were to smear the blood of a goat or lamb on the top and sides of the doorpost
of their house.
12 "On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt
and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of
Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am
the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts
will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the
blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I
strike the land of Egypt." NLT
The Lord instructed Moses to have Israel continue the
Passover permanently, making it a tradition. The Passover is how Israel
remembers the Lord delivering them out of slavery and into the Promised Land.
Traditions can be born out of many circumstances. For
us, our Christmas Eve tradition was the result of being hungry. For the
Israelites, it was the fulfillment of a generational covenant.
Now… fast forward to the first century when Jesus
returned to Jerusalem for Passover. Like the blood of a lamb smeared over the
doorpost during the first Passover, the blood of the Lamb of God was shed to
save us from death. Not the death of a plague, but the death that results from our
own sinful nature.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! NIV John 1
God’s plan of redemption continues today.
13b "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." NLT
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