Bible Pathway - Jan. 21, 2011

Highlights:

Death of the firstborn; Passover instructions; departure from Egypt; firstborn to be set apart; pillar of cloud and pillar of fire; journey begins to the promised land.

God had only one plan: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt . . . and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:12-13).

Not one family was so good that it did not require the blood to be applied — no, not even Moses' or Aaron's. This was their only hope of deliverance from the death angel. The divine Command of God had to be obeyed.

Just as the blood of an innocent lamb was the only appointed means to preserve the Hebrews from death, so we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). One may assume that as long as he is sincere or good enough, that some other means would satisfy God, but sadly he will be eternally lost.

Later instruction regarding sacrifices states: They shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made (Ex. 29:33). The Hebrew word translated atonement carries the idea of covering something, thereby removing it from the sight of God and assuring His forgiveness. This points out that an innocent lamb made only a temporary atonement — sin was not fully eradicated. Even though there were numerous daily, weekly, and monthly sin offerings, the Israelites were still required to observe a full Day of Atonement annually. In the New Testament, it is revealed: We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Rom. 5:11). The Greek word for atonement means: We have now obtained our reconciliation.

God sent His only Son to die on the cross to save us from eternal death and adopt us into His family. Our security from this eternal death is through acceptance of Christ as our personal Savior. He alone can satisfy both God and the repentant sinner.

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (a means of reconciliation, redemption) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. . . . Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law (Rom. 3:24-25,28).

Thought for Today:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth (Is. 52:7)!

Christ Revealed:

By the blood applied to the door posts. Jesus is not "a door," but The Door to heaven. There is no other way to heaven except through Him (Ex. 12:7,12-13,21-23; John 10:9;14:6; Acts 4:10-12).

Word Studies:

11:7 move his tongue bark, growl; 12:9 purtenance internal organs; 12:11 with your loins girded dressed ready for travel; 12:22 hyssop common plant of the mint family; lintel crosspiece above the door; 12:36 spoiled took all the valuables of; 13:2 Sanctify dedicate; 13:3 leavened bread bread with yeast — symbolic of corruption and evil; 13:12 matrix womb; 13:16 token reminder that we belong to God; frontlets small leather box containing Scripture; 13:17 repent change their minds; 13:18 harnessed in military order.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Staff: Jannah Kennon • Government Officials: Sec. Gary Locke (Dept. of Commerce) and Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. (Dept. of Justice) • Country: Saudi Arabia (20.9 million) on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia • Major language: Arabic • Christian worship services for foreign personnel are tolerated, but those who seek to convert Muslims to Christianity face persecution • 86% Sunni (Wahabi) Muslim; 10% Shi'ite Muslim; 1% Ismaili Muslim; 3% Others (including 600,000 Christians and some Hindus and Buddhists) • Prayer Suggestion: Thank the Lord that you have no need to fear. Trust Him one day at a time (Matt. 6:33-34).

Optional Reading: Matthew 21

Memory Verse for the Week: Proverbs 28:9