Passover

For this special study, we are going to take a look at the Passover. We'll touch on the events that led to the Passover, the plagues that God sent and Pharaoh's rejection. But the main purpose of this study is to examine the actual Passover. God gave specific instructions for this event and what's amazing about them is that they point to Jesus and His death on the cross.


SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE PASSOVER

During the time when Joseph was in charge of Egypt (Genesis 41) the Jews were treated well because Joseph was Jewish himself. Exodus chapter 1 takes place about 300 - 400 years later. Joseph is dead and a new king of Egypt comes to power and after seeing how powerful the Jewish people had become, he decides that the Jews were a threat to national security (Ex. 1:6-10). In an attempt to control them, the Egyptian government decided to make them slaves, building supply cities for Pharaoh (Ex. 1:11)

As treatment of the Jews continues to get worse, God decides to use Moses and Aaron (his brother) to act as His representatives to speak to Pharaoh and tell him to "Let My People go" (Ex. 5). Pharaoh refuses them and so God decides to send ten plagues.


THE PLAGUES

These plagues were not random acts. Egypt worshiped many false gods - they worshiped the Nile river, frogs, and bulls (livestock), so there was a reason for these specific plagues. The plagues God sent were:

PHARAOH'S HEART HARDEN

After each plague God gives Pharaoh a chance to free His people. If he had released them then God would haven ended then plagues. But as we read we see that Pharaoh "harden his heart" over and over again. Finally, in chapter 11:27 we read that the "Lord harden Pharaoh's heart".

Is there a contradiction? Is God forcing Pharaoh to refuse Him so He could judge Egypt? No. The Lord harden Pharaoh's heart by offering him forgiveness. Pharaoh has refused the Lord so many times that even when God offers His mercy; it only causes Pharaoh to become harder, angrier, bitter.

We see this even today. You tell people Jesus loves them, died for them and they are so angry at hearing this they're ready to explode. You see, his heart has been harden over the years by rejecting Christ again and again and even the love of God only causes him to become harder.

THE PASSOVER

After all these plagues, God sent the tenth and final plague - the death of the firstborn (Ex 12:29). God gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions as to what the people should do to avoid this terrible judgment. Let's take a look at them and notice how they point to Jesus and His death on the cross.


YOU ARE TO TAKE A LAMB (Ex. 12:3)

On the 10th of the first month on the Jewish calendar the people chose a lamb for the Passover.

John the Baptist referred to Jesus, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This term is also used to describe Jesus in the Book of Revelation.


THE LAMB WAS TO BE WITHOUT BLEMISH AND A MALE (Ex 12:5)

The priest would inspect the lamb to see if there were any blemishes (faults) on the lamb.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was without sin (without blemish). During the Passover when He was crucified, Jesus appeared in six trials - and no faults was found in Him (Luke 23:4).


KEEP THE LAMB UNTIL THE 14th THEN KILL THE LAMB AT TWILIGHT (Ex 12:6)

After the lamb was found acceptable he was sacrificed. The secular historian Josephus wrote that it was customary in his day to sacrifice the lamb at about 3:00 PM.

After Jesus was found acceptable (at His trial He was found without fault) He was crucified. He died at 3:00 PM- just like the Passover lamb. (Matt 27:45)

PUT THE BLOOD ON THE SIDES AND ON THE TOP OF THE DOORFRAME (Ex 12:7)

The blood of the lamb was placed on the sides and top of the door and the lamb was in the middle. If you did this what you would see is two crosses (the blood on the doorframe) with a lamb slain in the middle.

If you were at Calvary the day Jesus was crucified you would see two crosses with the Lamb of God slain in the middle (Matt 27:38).


ROASTED IN FIRE - NOTHING WAS TO REMAIN (Ex. 12:8)

The lamb was roasted in fire and nothing was to remain. What did remain (the head, organs ect.) were to burned with fire too (Ex. 12:10)

Jesus, taking our place on the cross took the wrath of God so you wouldn't have to.


WHEN GOD SAW THE BLOOD HE WOULD 'PASSOVER'

The blood on the door was a signal to God not to judge the people inside. It wasn't as if the people inside "got away" with being judged but rather God saw that judgment had already come. The lamb had taken the judgment for the people so they wouldn't have to suffer through it.

When you die, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior -- your Passover Lamb - God will see the blood of Jesus and 'Passover' you when the time comes to judge. Jesus, the Lamb of God took the judgment for you so you wouldn't have to.

After the final plague Pharaoh released the Jews from captivity (Ex 12:29). The Jews followed all these commands by faith. They trusted that God would keep His word to Pasover them. God hasn't changed. He asks us to follow by faith. He asks us to trust that by accepting Jesus He will keep His word and Passover you and I.

It's incredible how this event was designed by God to point towards an even greater event - when you and I would have the opportunity to have judgment "Passover" us. It shows how every detail of the Bible points towards Christ and it shows the harmony between the Old and New Testament.

If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior and you would like to visit our Who Is Jesus? section