January 21
Exodus 11 -- 13
With each miraculous plague, God proved that Egypt's gods were false deities and that He was the One True God who controlled the affairs of His creation. The final plague of judgment was death. God spoke to Moses: About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt 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 save their firstborn from death. The sentence of death would not fall on them, but upon a lamb . . . without blemish. . . . They shall take the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses. . . . They shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs. . . . And thus you 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 innocent lamb made a temporary atonement to God for the Israelites' sins. Even though there were numerous daily, weekly, and monthly sin offerings, the Israelites were still required to annually observe a full Day of Atonement. The Hebrew word which is translated atonement carries the idea of covering something, thereby removing it from God's sight. However, even though the sin was covered, sin was not fully eradicated.
Even after offering the sin offering, trespass offering, meal offering, peace offering, and burnt offering, and faithfully keeping the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement as the supreme act of national atonement for sins, the offerer could only stand at a distance from God, unable to enter the Tabernacle, or later the Temple, into the presence of God. Only the high priest could enter into God's presence, and then only once a year. The sacrifices were only substitute offerings until Jesus, the One True Sacrifice, died for the sins of the world. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28).
Since God is Holy, He cannot fellowship with man in his sinful state. But God is also the perfection of love and He provided His sinless Son as the perfect and complete substitute to die for our sins. In the Old Testament, we read: The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement (temporary cover) for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for your soul (Leviticus 17:11). And the same God repeats in the New Testament: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God (Hebrews 9:14).
Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), who has entered into the presence of God to make intercession for us with His own blood. Being the perfect Son of God and having lived a life as a Man, yet without sin, He could offer Himself as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
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.
Prayer:
Government Officials: Gov. Gary Locke (WA) and Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ) · Pray for Rick Hash and the Bible Pathway Radio Broadcasts on KRIO-AM, Edinburg, TX · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio Broadcast in honor of Barbara Jean Jackson · Country: Somalia (7 million) on the Horn of Africa · Major languages: Somali and Arabic · Islam is officially favored and all other religions are opposed · 99.8% Muslim; .1% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Glorify the person, character, and attributes of God as you pray a prayer of praise (Psalms 8:1-9).
Optional Reading:
Matthew 21
Memory Verse for the Week:
Psalms 12:6