01.25 Christ Our Passover
XXV. Christ Our Passover
Wherever the Bible has gone the story of the night when the Passover was first observed in Egypt has been told. Wherever a Jew exists on the face of the earth that night is remembered, celebrated and pointed to as the greatest event in their national history. Of its historical truthfulness there can be no question. It is the most remarkable instance of Divine intervention recorded in the Scriptures. The Children of Israel from being the honored guests of Pharaoh became his slaves. As slaves they desired freedom, but their struggles for freedom only increased their bondage (Exodus 1:13-14), and in their despair they called upon God (Exodus 2:23-25), and God sent a "Deliverer"-MOSES, and through him said to Pharaoh-"Let ’MY PEOPLE’ go that they may serve Me." Exodus 8:1. The Children of Israel were not made for Egypt, nor Egypt for them, they were made for Canaan. God intended that they should drink of the water of Jordan and not of the water of the Nile. While they were born in bondage they were made for LIBERTY. God had told Abraham that his seed should be a stranger in a land that was not theirs, where they should be afflicted for 400 years, and afterwards should come out with great substance. Genesis 15:13-14. When the time for their deliverance and return to Canaan had come, God found it necessary to wean them from Egypt by making their lot in Egypt unendurable. To this end He stirred up the heart of Pharaoh to increase their burdens. The deliverance of the Children of Israel from Egypt is a type of the deliverance of the sinner from the bondage of sin and is well worth our study. Egypt is a type of this present "EVIL WORLD." In Moses’ day it presented the best specimen of worldly glory and magnificence that the world has ever seen. In it were gathered the world’s wealth, art, and commerce. As seen in its ruins there was nothing lacking in that which would gratify the "Lust of the Flesh," the "Lust of the Eye," and the "Pride of Life." The food of Egypt was not only plentiful, but gross and stimulating. It was composed of cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. Egypt was also famous for its fish. Numbers 11:4-5. But Egypt was not to be compared with Canaan for beauty or food, for Canaan was a land of figs and pomegranates, of olive oil and honey, of new corn and wine. Deuteronomy 8:8-9.
Pharaoh was a type of "Satan." Egypt was full of idolatry, the very stronghold of Satan, and a "hotbed" of every species of sin. Having Israel in his power Pharaoh tried to make it permanent. That is what Satan tries to do with the sinner. It is Satan’s "Taskmasters" who make the sinner sweat in hard bondage.
Moses was a type of Christ. Notice that God is always "BEFOREHAND" with His salvation. Salvation is no "AFTER-THOUGHT" of God’s. God was preparing Moses in the Wilderness for the work he was to do in delivering Israel. The quickest way to get relief is "via" the Throne of God. Israel phoned to God, God phoned to Moses. God always knows where the man needed for the occasion is. In fact, owing to His foreknowledge, He has him ready. When Moses appeared in Egypt and made his mission known there was trouble. He was looked upon as a "labor agitator," and Pharaoh increased the burdens of the Children of Israel. So Satan makes the way rough for the sinner who desires to get away from him. When Pharaoh refused to let the Children of Israel go then God took a hand, and proceeded to bring judgments, in the form of "Plagues," upon Egypt. The purpose of the "Plagues" was to make Pharaoh and the Egyptians see that the God of Israel was stronger than the "gods" of Egypt. The "Plagues" were 10 in number and distributed over about a year. With the exception of the first and the last they were "Natural Phenomena" common to Egypt, the miraculous thing being that they came and went at the command of God and were of great severity. The "Ten Plagues" were judgments against the "gods" of Egypt. (1). "Water into blood," against the Nile, the "Idol River." (2). "Frogs," against the worship of frogs. (3). "Lice," against the earth god "Seb" and the priests, who could not officiate when vermin was upon them. (4). "Flies," against the atmosphere "Shu," son of "Ra," the SUN-GOD. (5). "Murrain," against the "Sacred Bull"-APIS. (6). "Boils," against "Sutech" or "Typhon," to whom victims were offered, their ashes being flung to the winds. (7). "Locusts," against the "Sacred Beetle." (8). "Hail," against "Shu." (9). "Darkness," against the "Sun-God" -RA, of whom Pharaoh was believed to be the child. (10). "Death of the First-Born," against the nation guilty of wholesale infanticide in ordering that all male Hebrew children should be cast into the river Nile. Exodus 1:22. The first 9 Plagues may be divided into 3 groups of 3 Plagues each. In the first two of each group Pharaoh was warned; in the last no warning was given. The first group only affected the comfort of the people, and were universal upon Egyptians and Israelites alike. The second group affected only the Egyptians, the Children of Israel’s cattle were spared for sacrifice. Here property suffered. The third group fell mainly upon the Egyptians, there being no hail in the land of Goshen, and the Children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
EGYPTIAN COMPROMISES When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh they said-"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a Feast unto me in the Wilderness." And Pharaoh said-"Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." Exodus 5:1-2. Then Moses and Aaron demanded that Pharaoh let Israel go a three days’ journey into the Wilderness. Pharaoh again refused, and practically said, the service of God is a WASTE OF TIME. He then increased the Children of Israel’s burdens. But when after the first 3 Plagues there came the "Plague of Flies" upon the Egyptians only, Pharaoh thought it was time to "compromise," so he sent for Moses and said-"Go ve, sacrifice to your God in the land." Exodus 8:25.
FIRST COMPROMISE
Pharaoh would not object to an occasional sacrifice IN THE LAND if that would make the Children of Israel satisfied to remain in Egypt where he could retain his power over them. So Satan does not object to an occasional "spasm" of religious endeavor as long as we still remain in the world. If Pharaoh’s advice had been followed the Children of Israel would never have left Egypt. To it Moses replied-"It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the ’Abomination of the Egyptians’ to the Lord our God ... and they will STONE US." Exodus 8:26. As we have seen the "Sacred Bull"-APIS, was one of the gods of Egypt, and if the Children of Israel offered sacrifices of "bullocks" to Jehovah "in the land," that would be an "abomination" to the Egyptians, and they would STONE THEM for sacrificing the "Gods of Egypt." This compromise means that a man cannot be a Christian and worship God "in the land" without offending the world. Let him at the next meeting of his club get up and insist on offering a prayer, or engage in some religious exercise, and the members will "stone him" with ridicule. Moses refused to accede to Pharaoh’s proposal, and said, "We will go THREE DAYS’ JOURNEY into the Wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He shall command us" (Exodus 8:27), and, because the "Plague of Flies" was unendurable, Pharaoh proposed a SECOND COMPROMISE.
"I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the Wilderness; only ye shall not go VERY FAR AWAY." Exodus 8:28. The lesson is, Stand your ground, do not give in, and Satan will begin to compromise. This second proposition or compromise is more dangerous than the first, for Pharaoh knew it would be easy to get Israel back if they did not go very far away. So Satan says-"Yes, become a professing Christian, join the Church, but do not go very far away, observe Lent and other religious seasons, but the rest of the year be back in Egypt (the World) enjoying its pleasures." How could the Children of Israel reach Canaan by going only three days’ journey into the Wilderness? "Not very far away" is incompatible with a happy Christian life for it means a vacillating life. The Israelites in the Wilderness did not like the manna God gave them. Their taste had been spoiled by eating cucumbers, garlic and onions, and they longed for the old Egyptian diet. When professing Christians no longer take delight in spiritual food it is plain that they long for their old worldly fare, if they have not already been down to Egypt and had a square meal of onions and garlic. Of all the distasteful dishes that can be imagined a mixture of "Manna and Onions" is the worst. An Egyptian dog would turn away from it. When you hear Christians ask-"Is it right or wrong to do this ?" you may know that they have been caught in the "NOT VERY FAR AWAY" Compromise.
THIRD COMPROMISE
Between the Second and Third Compromise there were the Plagues of Murrain, Boils and Hail. Then Pharaoh’s servants said unto him-"How long shall this man Moses be a snare unto us ? . . . knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed ?" Exodus 10:7. Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said unto them-"Go, serve the Lord your God, but WHO are they that shall go?" And Moses said-"We will go with our YOUNG, and with our OLD, with our SONS and with our DAUGHTERS, with our FLOCKS and with our HERDS will we go; for we must hold a FEAST UNTO THE LORD." Exodus 10:9. They needed their flocks and herds for sacrifices. But Pharaoh said-"Not so; go now ye that are MEN." Pharaoh knew that if the men left their loved ones in Egypt it would not be long before they would be back. This Compromise means let the older people become Christians if they want to, but do not force religion on the young. Be a Christian if you want to, but do not force religion on your wife and children, for it is a personal matter. Let them enjoy their "Egyptian Pleasures" and you show no concern as to their salvation. With the offer of this Compromise Pharaoh drove Moses and Aaron away. Then followed the Plagues of the Locusts and the Darkness. These Plagues were too much for Pharaoh, so he sent again for Moses and offered a FOURTH COMPROMISE.
"Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your FLOCKS and HERDS be stayed (remain in Egypt); let your little C’ ones also go with you." Exodus 10:24. Moses, seeing that
Pharaoh was weakening, now demands to be paid for going-"Thou must give us also ’SACRIFICES’ and - ’BURNT-OFFERINGS,’ that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. OUR cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an ’HOOF’ be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we come thither." Exodus 10:25-26. They knew not what sacrifices would be required, for the "Law of the Sacrifices" was not given until they reached Sinai. This Compromise means be a Christian, give your soul to God, but keep your possessions for yourself. If you have paying investments in the world leave them there. Do not sell your "Brewery Stock" or part with those investments that pay large dividends even though it be at the expense of the poor. Many are caught right here. They fail to recognize their STEWARDSHIP. They invest their money for the purpose of increasing their wealth, while churches and chapels are burdened with debt, and missionary treasuries are empty, while their "flocks" and "herds" FATTEN IN EGYPT. Let them follow Moses’ noble example and say-"Not a ’HOOF’ SHALL BE LEFT BEHIND." With the rejection of the Fourth Compromise by Moses he was driven out from the presence of Pharaoh, who forbade him to see his face again under penalty of death. That closed the "Day of Grace" for Pharaoh. Then followed the Tenth and Last Plague, the "DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN." From what has preceded we see the "Compromises" that the sinner must refuse if he is to escape from the world. Let us now see how he is to be saved from the power of Satan and redeemed by BLOOD. THE PASSOVER
God’s standard of "Power" in the Old Testament is the EXODUS, but before He could deliver Israel by His "Power," they must be redeemed by BLOOD. "The Passover" is a beautiful illustration of the "Plan of Salvation" through Christ. "For even Christ our ’PASSOVER’ is sacrificed for us." 1 Corinthians 5:7. As the blood of the "Passover Lamb" saved Israel, so the BLOOD of the "Lamb of God" saves us. "Ye were not redeemed "with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but with the precious BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 1:18-19. As the Children of Israel dwelt in the "Land of Goshen," and it was a part of Egypt, they came under the "Doom of Egypt," which was that all the "First Born" should die. To offset this the Children of Israel were commanded to take a lamb, without blemish, of the first year, and kill it, and take of the blood and sprinkle it on the two side posts and lintel of the door of their dwelling, and when the Lord saw the blood He would pass over that house on that fateful night, and not destroy the "First Born" sheltered behind that blood-marked door. Exodus 12:1-28. The Passover was to be to Israel the "BEGINNING OF MONTHS." Exodus 12:2. It was to be the First month of the year to them. A man does not begin to live until he is saved by the "BLOOD OF CHRIST." Until then he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1-3. The time spent in the "brick-kilns" of sin, and amid the "flesh-pots" of pleasure, do not count, and must be omitted from the life of the Believer. The Passover as a means of salvation was a plan of God’s own devising. No man had a hand in it, except to do as God commanded. It was all of GRACE. Redemption is no "AFTER-THOUGHT" of God. It was not something to which He had to resort from force of circumstances. God is always "FORE-HANDED" with His salvation. Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be the Saviour of men. 1 Peter 1:18-20. The Passover consisted of two parts. The "Sacrifice" and the "Feast."
1. THE SACRIFICE. The "Sacrifice" was to be a LAMB. Exodus 12:5. An emblem of meekness and purity, such was Jesus. "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter." Isaiah 53:7. The lamb was to be young, a male of the first year. It was to be without blemish. If a spot had been found upon it, it would have been unfit for sacrifice. Jesus was without blemish. He was absolutely sinless. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5. He was perfect as a babe at Bethlehem, as a boy at Nazareth, as the "Son of Man." The words of the Father at His Baptism-"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17), had reference to Jesus’ life from a boy. Pilate said of Jesus-"I find in Him no fault at all." John 18:38. And Judas said- "I have betrayed the innocent blood." Matthew 27:4. The lamb was to be KILLED. Exodus 12:6. It was not enough to take a lamb into the house and fondle it, to make a pet of it, to let God see how much they loved the lamb. It was not enough to tie the lamb to the door, where it might be seen by the "Death Angel," it had to be KILLED. We are not saved by the life of Christ, but by HIS DEATH. If Jesus had not DIED upon the Cross there would have been no "RENT VEIL," no "SHED BLOOD," no "OPEN TOMB," no "INTERCEDING HIGH PRIEST." It is by His "STRIPES" we are healed, not by His example. "His own self bare our sins in His own body on THE TREE." 1 Peter 2:24. He did not bear them anywhere else. He did not bear them in the manger, or at the Jordan, or in the Wilderness, or in the Garden of Gethsemane, but on the CROSS. But the lamb was not simply to be killed, something had to be done with the BLOOD, and with the FLESH. They were to take the BLOOD and sprinkle it on the two side posts and on the upper door post (lintel) of their dwellings, and they were to EAT the flesh. Exodus 12:7. The "First Born" was not safe when the blood was simply shed, or even when caught in the basin. It was not enough to "analyze" the blood, the blood had to be used, and they were not left in doubt as to how it was to be used, it was to be sprinkled on the door o£ their dwelling with a bunch of "Hyssop." Hyssop is a common plant, and grew everywhere in Egypt. It was not a rare plant that they had to send to some foreign country to get. Hyssop stands for "Faith." Faith is the commonest thing in the world, without it there could be no commercial, social, or domestic relations. None of the blood was to be put on the "threshold" or sprinkled on the floor of the dwelling. It was too costly and too sacred to be trodden under foot. Yet unbelievers, and religious teachers who make light of the "Blood of Christ," are treading under foot the Son of God, and counting His BLOOD as worthless. Hebrews 10:29. It is worthy of note that a "Priest" had no part in procuring redemption for the Children of Israel. The Passover was not a "Priestly Sacrifice." It was the "HEAD OF THE HOUSE" who killed the lamb and sprinkled its blood on the door. The blood was a "TOKEN." "When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you." Exodus 12:13. It is not a question of "personal worthiness," nor of "good works," nor of "morality," but of the BLOOD. "It is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11. The Israelites were not merely in a salvable state, they were SAVED, not partly but completely. If a hair of one of the "First Born" sheltered behind the blood had been touched, it would have proved Jehovah’s word void, and the blood of the lamb valueless. It is not necessary for us to see the blood. We may have no assurance as to our salvation, but have we applied the "Blood of Christ" to our soul, are we trusting to it, and it alone, for our salvation? If so, all that is necessary is, that GOD sees it.
Having applied the blood, what next: Go in the house and stay there. Exodus 12:22. No "First Born" child of Israel was safe outside the house that night until after the "Death Angel" had passed, even though the blood was on the door. Doubtless many made light of the Passover method of salvation, but no one laughed in the morning. Men may mock at the Gospel plan of Salvation, and ignore the BLOOD, but they will not laugh at the Judgment.
2. THE FEAST.
"Ye shall eat of the FLESH in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs ye shall eat it." Exodus 12:8-10. They were SAVED by the blood, but it was not enough to kill the lamb and use its blood, they were to FEED ON THE LAMB. Some Christians stop short at being saved by the Blood, and fail to FEED ON THE LAMB. That is why they are not nourished and sustained in their Christian Life. There can be no true fellowship only as we eat of the Lamb. The lamb was not to be eaten raw, or sodden with water (boiled), but roast with fire. To roast it they had to use a "SPIT." That is, they had to support it over the fire by a rod run lengthwise through it, and another rod at right angles through the shoulders to turn it by, thus symbolizing the CROSS. It was on the CROSS that Jesus’ body was subject to the "Fire of God’s Righteous Wrath" against sin, and we are now to feed by faith on His body by the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-30. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and the study of the Word. The trouble today is, that the world is not feeding on the "CRUCIFIED" Lamb, but on the "LIVING" Lamb. They are trying to follow Christ as an example and not as a SAVIOUR. They are living on the other side of the Cross and not on this side. What we are to do is not to go back to the living Christ, but to look forward to the "Coming" of the CRUCIFIED and GLORIFIED Christ. The Passover Lamb was to be eaten with UNLEAVENED bread. Exodus 12:8. Leaven is a symbol of evil and therefore could not be used at such a Feast as that of the Passover, and the Apostle Paul calls on us to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
They were also to eat the Feast with "Bitter Herbs," symbolical of their previous bondage, and they were to let nothing remain until the morning. They were to forsake sleep to feed on the lamb, and if any were left over they were to burn it lest it fall into unfit hands or be left behind in their hasty departure. What a beautiful picture we have here. While a terrible hurricane of Divine Judgment was sweeping at midnight over Egypt, destroying the "First Born" in every home unsheltered by the blood, the Children of Israel were FEASTING PEACEFULLY AND JOYFULLY ON ROASTED LAMB.
They were to eat the Feast with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand. Exodus 12:11. They were to eat it as a people prepared to leave Egypt where death, darkness, and judgment reigned. Their girded loins and sandaled feet declared them a "PILGRIM PEOPLE" ready to set out and walk with God, even though their pilgrimage should lead them through the Red Sea and the Wilderness, for they knew that though the way be tedious and long their destination as a redeemed and separated people was CANAAN, a land flowing with milk and honey. The journey of the Children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan has been called the "Pilgrim’s Progress" of the Old Testament, and beautifully portrays the Pilgrimage of a Christian as outlined in the New Testament. Everything depends on what we do with the BLOOD.