Read Exodus 11 -- 13
In Today's Reading:
Death of the firstborn; the Lord's Passover; the Exodus; pillar of cloud and pillar of fire
Each miraculous plague proved that Egypt's gods were false deities and that the One True God controls His creation. The final plague of judgment was death. God spoke to Moses: About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn . . . shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh . . . even to the firstborn of the maidservant (Exodus 11:4-5). However, God lovingly provided a way for all of the Israelites who were obedient to Him to save their firstborn from death. The sentence of death would not fall on them, but upon a lamb without blemish (defect). They were told to take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post (lintel) of the houses. . . . they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened (yeast-free) bread . . . with bitter herbs they shall eat it. . . . with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S Passover (12:5,7-11).
The Hebrew word translated atonement carries the idea of covering something, thereby removing it from God's sight. However, even though an innocent lamb made a temporary atonement, sin was not fully eradicated. Although there were daily and monthly sin offerings, the Israelites were still required to annually observe a full Day of Atonement.
The Sin Offering, the Trespass Offering, and the Day of Atonement as the supreme act of national atonement for sins, were mandatory. However, they were only substitute offerings until Jesus became the only true Sacrifice and died for the sins of the world.
Since God is holy, He cannot fellowship with man in his sinful state. But God has provided His sinless Son as the perfect and complete substitute to die for our sins. How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot (defect) to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).
Word Studies:
11:2 borrow = ask, accept; 12:9 sodden = boiled; purtenance thereof = inner organs of an animal; 12:11 loins girded = dressed for a journey; 13:2 sanctify = dedicate, set apart; 13:12 matrix = womb; 13:18 harnessed = equipped.
Christ Revealed:
Through the sacrifice of lambs without blemish. Not one of the lamb's bones was to be broken (Exodus 12:5,46). We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:19). It was foretold of Christ: He keeps all His bones: not one of them is broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:36).
Pray For:
Government Official: Gov. Gary Locke (WA) · Country: Luxembourg (429,000) in western Europe · Major languages: Luxembourgish and German · Religious freedom · 84% Roman Catholic; 2% Protestant; .1% Eastern Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Thank God for His mercy to cleanse from all sins (Psalm 51:2).
Optional Reading: Matthew 21
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:5