Exodus 12:1-13:16 - The Passover And The Tenth Plague: Deliverance From God’s Judgment—Liberated, Set Free
Introduction:
Exodus 12 is one of those incredible passages that the Bible contains. I personally believe that this chapter is one of those passages that every believer should be acquainted with. In fact, every believer should be well versed in this chapter. Because it so greatly speaks about the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb, namely Jesus Christ. This chapter has Jesus Christ woven all throughout it. It is like a great sermon…it is all about Jesus!
What we understand in the book of Exodus so far is that God has been dealing with Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. He has left their nation in ruins, both physically and religiously. There has been 9 previous plagues come against Pharaoh and his people. Now, in this 12th chapter of the Book of Exodus, we will be partakers in the sight of the death-blow to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. You must understand that Pharaoh and Egypt become types (representations, foreshadowing’s, pictures, illustrations) of Satan and the World.
Pharaoh is holding the Hebrews captive in slavery, Satan is holding people captive to do his will (2Tim.2:24)
Moses said to Pharaoh “Let My people go” (Ex.5:1), We are to pray to God to set free, those who are held captive:
ü 2Corinthians 4:3-7; 10:3-6; Mark 9
The Passover Deals With The Judgment Of God And The Deliverance Of God.
Þ The judgment of God upon the unbelievers of this world, upon the evil oppressors and the ungodly and unrighteous of this world:
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”" (John 3:36, NASB95)
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness," (Romans 1:18)
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things [immorality, impurity, greed, filthiness, coarse jesting, covetousness and idolatry] the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light" (Ephesians 5:6-8)
"… and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”" (Revelation 6:16-17)
Þ The deliverance of God, His deliverance of all who believe in Christ and diligently follows Him:
"Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:9-10)
"“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28, NASB95)
"Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25, NASB95)
The Importance Of The Passover Can Never Be Over-Stressed! It was without question the most significant day in Israel’s history. Grasp the magnitude of what God was doing in the Passover:
Þ God had a plan to save and deliver His people, all of them (John 10:27-28).
Þ God had a plan to judge the evil and brutal Egyptians while protecting His people (2Pet.2:9).
Þ God had a plan to show every future believer the importance of the blood of the Passover Lamb.
Þ God had a plan for the forgiveness of sin, every sin that Jesus Christ would willingly take upon Himself.
A. Instructions For The Passover (v.1-20)
1. The Significance of the Passover Feast (v.1-2)
a) Passover Marked Their New Calendar (v.1-2)
(1) The Passover was the most significant event in Israel’s history, so significant that God used the Passover to change the very calendar of Israel. It marked the very night when God delivered His people...
(a) from the slavery of the Egyptians (the world).
Slavery: "knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin"… "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:6-7, 14)
"Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18)
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." (Romans 6:20)
"But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life." (Romans 6:22)
The World: "The Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age (Galatians 1:3-4, NASB95)
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4, NASB95)
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5, NASB95)
(b) from the plague of death.
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Romans 8:1-2).
"But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9, NASB95)
"“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24)
"“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55-57, NASB95)
(2) The Exodus From Egypt Marked A Whole New Way Of Life For God’s People. Thus God wanted their new way of life marked with a significant event, an event that would always stir them to remember the Passover, the great night of His deliverance.
"Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place." (Exodus 13:3, NASB95)
"“You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’" (Exodus 13:8, NASB95)
"“And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 13:9, NASB95)
"“And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery." (Exodus 13:14, NASB95)
"“So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”" (Exodus 13:16, NASB95)
(3) How could God do this? How could God stir them to remembrance of a greatly significant event? By giving them a new calendar.
(a) Their new year was to begin during the very month of the Passover. From then on, the first month of Israel’s year was to be the month called Abib, which corresponds to today’s March-April. In Palestine, these were the months that began Spring. The word Abib means “young head of grain” which pictures the new “life-giving nature of springtime.”
(b) Note: Israel switched calendars after the Babylonian exile (586 B.C.). They switched to the Babylonian calendar which observed the new year in the Spring, the month of Nisan (Esther 3:7; Neh. 2:1).
b) Passover Marked Their New Beginning (v.2)
Their old year was suddenly broken off, a new year was begun. This is true of conversion:
(1) the person’s old life is suddenly broken off; a new life in Christ is begun:
(a) God has broken our calendar, and given us a new calendar.
(b) He now owns me and tells me what to do; it is now His agenda not mine.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV)
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" (Philippians 3:7-9, NKJV)
(2) the person passes from death to life, from the judgment of God to acceptance of God:
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," (Colossians 1:13, NKJV)
"Having predestined us to adoption as sons… to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:5,6, NKJV)
"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:50-51, NKJV)
(3) the person’s conversion becomes the greatest day of his life. He turns away from his old life and begins to live a new life, walking toward the promised land of God.
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, NASB95)
(4) the life of Christ is marked by a new calendar. The climax of His life was His resurrection from death. When He arose, He arose to a new life, a life that was to live eternally in the glory of heaven. Such an event astounds the world, so much so that the world measures its seasons and history from the date of His birth.
B. Who Was To Observe The Passover Feast (v.3-4)?
1. The Whole Congregation Of Israel (v.3).
a) Separation—Ritual Purity— Was An Absolute Essential In The Observance Of Passover.
(1) it was not to be eaten by foreigners (Exodus 12:43).
(2) it was not to be eaten by slaves unless they had been circumcised (Exodus 12:44).
(3) it was not be eaten by a temporary resident nor by a hired worker (Exodus 12:45).
(4) it was to be eaten only within the house of faith. No meat was to be taken outside the house, for the feast cannot be separated from the shed blood. No bone of the lamb was to be broken (Exodus 12:46). Note: this was a prophecy concerning the bones of Christ: no bone of Christ was to be broken (John 19:36).
(5) it was to be celebrated by the whole congregation (Exodus 12:47).
(6) it was not to be eaten by other nationalities if they were not circumcised (Exodus 12:48).
(7) it was not to be eaten by any uncircumcised male (Exodus 12:48b).
(8) The laws governing the Passover were to apply to both the native-born and to the foreigner (Exodus 12:49)
(9) Obedience that Lead To A Result (v.50)
b) What Is Circumcision? — The cutting away of the flesh.
(1) The Old Testament Institution of the Outward Covenant:
"This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. “A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. “But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”" (Genesis 17:10-14)
(2) Moses Failed To Circumcise One Of His Sons:
"And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision." (Exodus 4:24-26, NKJV)
(3) Circumcision Was Important, But Had No Spiritual Power:
"Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”" (Jeremiah 9:25-26, NKJV)
"For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Romans 2:25-29, NKJV)
"And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law." (Galatians 5:3, NKJV)
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”" (Acts 7:50-53, NKJV)
(4) Symbol of the Inward Cleansing:
"Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer." (Deuteronomy 10:16)
"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, And take away the foreskins of your hearts” (Jeremiah 4:4, NKJV)
"“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”" (Jeremiah 31:31-34, NKJV)
"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." (Deuteronomy 30:6, NKJV)
"But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18)…
"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10, NKJV)
(5) These regulations (circumcision) remind us that salvation is a birth into God’s family. In Christ is our true spiritual circumcision:
"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh (Col.2:11)… "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin…." (Romans 6:6)… “by the circumcision of Christ (Col.2:11)… "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new " (2 Corinthians 5:17)… “We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3)… buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:11-12, NKJV)
2. Today, the Body of Christ Is To Partake in Communion.
a) Communion: Observed Only By Those Who Believed In Christ (Lk22:19; 1Cor.11:24-25).
(1) Separation—repentance, & forgiveness of sins is essential for the Lords Supper.
"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." (1 Corinthians 11:28, NKJV)
“Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast " (1 Corinthians 5:6-8, NKJV)
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NKJV)
"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-20, NKJV)
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14, NKJV)
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)
"Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!" (Psalm 119:115)
(2) Remember the great things which the Lord has done (1Sam.12:24), for it s “the goodness of God that leads us to repentance”(Romans 2:4).
3. Each Family, Each Household Was To Celebrate The Feast Of Passover (v.3-4)
a) The Lamb Needed For The Family (v.3b)
(1) Note the Progression (v.3-5):
(a) “a lamb” (v. 3), “the lamb” (v. 4), “your lamb” (v. 5). This parallels “a Savior” (Luke 2:11), “the Savior” (John 4:42), and “my Savior” (Luke 1:47).
(b) It is not enough to call Christ “a Savior” (one among many), or “the Savior” (for somebody else). Each of us must be able to say, “He is my Savior!”
(2) God specifies that the “firstborn” will die, and this speaks of God’s rejection of our first birth. All people are “firstborn” who have not been “twice-born.” “That which is born of the flesh is flesh...you must be born again” (John 3:6–7). People cannot save themselves from the penalty of death; they need Christ, the Lamb of God (Rom.3:23; 6:23).
(3) Notice the progression in the scriptures.
(a) Genesis 4 Lamb Sacrificed for a single man
(b) Exodus 12 Lamb sacrificed for a family
(c) Exodus 29 Lamb sacrificed for a nation
(d) John 1 Lamb Sacrificed for the whole world (John 1:29)
b) The Passover Was Family Centered.
(1) God Desires The Whole Family To Be Saved:
"Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." (Genesis 7:1, NKJV)
"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7, NKJV)
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." (Acts 16:30-34, NKJV)
(2) J. Vernon McGee says this:
“When Israel entered Egypt, it was as a family. When they made their exit from Egypt, it was as a nation. The interesting point is that God puts the emphasis on the family here because the family comprises the building blocks out of which the nation was made.... An old cliché says, ‘No nation is stronger than the families of that nation.’
“The Israelites have become a nation and God is going to deliver them, but He will do it by families and by the individuals in the family. There was to be a lamb in every house.”
(3) Parents Must Take The Lead In Drawing Their Children Around The Lamb Of God. "Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren," (Deuteronomy 4:9, NKJV)
"“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NKJV)
"Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”" (Deuteronomy 31:12-13, NKJV)
"There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them." (Joshua 8:35, NKJV)
"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." (Psalm 34:11, NKJV)
"My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;" (Proverbs 3:1; 2Tim.1:5; 3:15)
4. Small households were to share their lamb with neighbors (Exodus 12:4).
a) J. Vernon McGee has another excellent explanation of this particular point:
“This verse does not say anything about the lamb being too little for the household. This would not happen; the lamb is sufficient. It is possible, however, that the household might be too little for the lamb. God is interested in each individual member of the family. Each family was to have a lamb, but what if a man and his wife were childless or had married children who lived apart from them? This couple is then supposed to join with a neighbor who is in the same position and divide the lamb. Each individual in each family is to receive a part of the lamb. The celebration of the Feast of the Passover is to be a personal, private matter. It is redemption for the nation, yes, but it centers in the family. It must be received and accepted by each individual member in the family. The Passover is a family affair.
“God is presenting the modus operandi [a method of operating of functioning] by which He is going to save individuals. No one is saved because he is the member of a nation or a family...each member of [a] family made a transaction with the Lamb; each had to partake of the Lamb.... Every member had to exhibit his faith in this way.
“...Each one [had] to participate and partake of [the lamb] in order to come in under the protection and the redemption of the blood that is out on the doorpost of the house.”
C. The Qualifications For The Passover Lamb (v.5)
1. The Passover lamb was to be without blemish or defect (v.5a).
a) God is perfect, perfect in holiness and righteousness
(1) Whatever Is Given To God Must Be Perfect (Lev.22:21)
(2) Don’t Give God the Leftovers (Malachi 1:6-8)
(3) The Passover Lamb Was a Type of Jesus Christ.
"Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" (John 8:46, NKJV)
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)
"Christ… Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:22-24, NKJV)
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)
"For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;" (Hebrews 7:26, NKJV)
"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5)
(4) Imputed Righteousness By faith in the Perfect Lamb of God.
(a) O.T. Saints believed God’s promise and He counted the believers righteous.
"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”" (Romans 4:3, NASB95)
(b) N.T. Saints believe the promise of God’s Son, that His blood cleanses us from all sin and makes us acceptable to God. Therefore, God counts us perfect in Christ.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." (Romans 5:1, 9, NASB95)
2. The Passover lamb was to be one year old, in its prime (v.5b).
3. The Passover sacrifice was to be a lamb or a young goat (v.5c).
(1) The Hebrew word for lamb can refer to either a young sheep or a young goat.
D. The Instructions Governing The Lamb’s Sacrifice (v.6-11).
1. The Lamb Had To Be Slaughtered At Specific Time (v.6).
a) Symbol 1: the lamb had to die, to be slaughtered. Symbolizes that Christ had to die: Why?
(1) Penalty For Sin Is Death.
"for all have sinned… the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23, 6:23)… "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (Ezekiel 18:20)
"Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:15, NKJV)
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”" (Revelation 21:8, NKJV)
(2) Penalty Has One Remedy. Someone to…
(a) Take the penalty of our sin upon Himself… Pay the penalty for our sin.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)," (Galatians 3:13, NKJV)
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9, NKJV)
(3) God The Father Predestined The Death Of His Son.
"“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;" (Acts 2:22-23, NKJV)
b) Symbol 2: the lamb had to be slaughtered at a very specific time (v.6).
(1) Christ was slain on the 14th day of the month, just at the time when the Passover lambs were being offered!
(2) Jesus came to earth and died at a specific time, a time set by God.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5, NKJV)
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”" (Mark 1:15)
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time," (1 Timothy 2:5-6, NKJV)
(3) God speaks of killing it (the lamb), not them (lambs), to God, there is only One Lamb!
(4) Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7), and John the Baptist answered in (John 1:29), “Behold, the Lamb of God!” All of heaven says, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Rev. 5:12)
2. The Application Of the Blood (v.7, 22)
a) The Blood Was To Be Smeared To the Door Of the House (v.7, 22).
(1) The blood would drip down, and form a figure of a cross in the doorway.
(2) Hyssop (a plant of humility) was used to apply the blood (Ex.12:22).
(3) David Mentioned It As An Instrument Of Inner Cleansing, A Plant Of Humility (Ps.51:7).
"Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)
"But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:2, NASB95)
b) The blood smeared on the doorframe was a public profession.
(1) Neighbors, friends, and family—all clearly saw that a person believed God and believed in God’s Word, His promises, and His coming judgment.
(2) This is a strong challenge to us: bearing witness to Christ, openly and unashamedly that we believe in God’s promises and in His coming judgment.
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16, NASB95)
"for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”" (Acts 4:20, NASB95)
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." (Titus 2:11-15, NASB95)
3. The Protection of the Blood (v.12-13, 23).
a) The Passover lamb & its blood concerned two things:
(1) The first purpose concerned judgment (v.12). God was to execute judgment upon Egypt (the world), including both man and animal, and also upon all the false gods of Egypt.
Moses Reviews their Journey: “They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the Lord had struck down among them. The Lord had also executed judgments on their gods." (Numbers 33:3-4, NASB95)
(2) The second purpose concerned faith, belief in God. The Blood smeared on the doorposts was a sign that a person believed God.
(a) If an Israelite home didn’t believe in the power of the blood of the lamb, they could sacrifice the lamb and eat of it, but they would still be visited by judgment.
"For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6, NLT)
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21, NASB95)
(b) If an Egyptian home or other nationality did believe in the power of the blood of the lamb, and they made a proper Passover sacrifice, they would be spared the judgment.
"Many people who were not Israelites (mixed multitude) went with them " (Exodus 12:38)
(c) An intellectual agreement with what God had said about the blood was not enough; they actually had to do what God said should be done with the blood.
b) No one is allowed to leave the house until morning (v.22)
(1) Anyone Who Stayed In the House Was Protected.
"The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:13, NASB95)
"When He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you." (Exodus 12:23, NASB95)
"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy." (1 Corinthians 7:14, NASB95)
(2) Anyone Who Walked Out Of The House Left the Protective Covering.
"And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”" (Acts 27:30-31, NKJV)
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:6, NKJV)
(3) Anyone Who Walked Out Of The House Walked On Blood (Ex.12:22)
"If we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people." (Hebrews 10:26-29)
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls [God’s Word] before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6, NASB95)
"Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words… shake the dust off your feet." (Matthew 10:14)
"Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”" (Acts 18:6)
"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
(4) The Person Who Does Not Trust Jesus Christ Shall Face The Judgment Of God.
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." (John 3:19, NASB95)
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”" (John 8:24, NASB95)
"God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”" (Acts 17:30-31, NASB95)
"God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." (Romans 2:16, NASB95)
c) What Jesus’ Blood Has Done For Us! The Blood of Jesus:
(1) is the New Covenant which is shed for many (Matthew 26:28)
(2) was sweat like great drops of blood on our behalf (Luke 22:44; Heb.12:3-4)
(3) flowed out of His side after being pierced with a sword (John 19:34)
(4) purchased the church of God (Acts 20:28), therefore glorify God in our bodies (1Cor.6:19)
(5) propitiated us (Romans 3:24–25), justifies us & saves us from the wrath of God
(6) reconciling us (Romans 5:8–11), redeemed us & giving us forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:5,7)
(7) has brought us near, into a spiritual union and intimacy with God (Eph.2:13)
(8) will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God (Heb.9:14)
(9) makes us holy unto God (Heb. 13:12)
(10) give us fellowship with God & purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7)
(11) makes it possible for any man to come to God (Rev. 5:9)
(12) takes away our filthy robes of righteousness & gives us the righteousness of Christ (Revelation 7:14; Zechariah 3:1-5)
(13) gives us victory & makes us overcomers (Rev. 12:7, 11)
(14) frees us from our sins & makes us a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:5-6).
Thought 2. J. Vernon McGee has an excellent application on this point:
“God said that when he saw the blood, he would pass over that home. The blood was not some mystic or superstitious sign. A great principle runs all the way through the Word of God that without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. In other words, God cannot arbitrarily or big-heartedly shut His eyes to sin and do nothing about it, any more than can a judge today when the guilty are brought before him. The judge should apply the law to the guilty, and the penalty should be paid. Part of our problem in America today is the laxity in law enforcement. But God’s law is inexorable in the universe— ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ The death sentence is upon all of us. But God is gracious, and an innocent life may be substituted for the guilty. Up until Christ came, it was a lamb. Then Jesus was ‘...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). If we receive Christ, we are saved from the judgment that we deserve as sinners.”
"By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them." (Hebrews 11:28)
4. The believers were to eat of the flesh of the lamb (v.8-9).
a) We are to partake of the death of Christ.
Believers: "While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”" (Matthew 26:26, NASB95)
-"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." (1 Corinthians 11:28, NKJV)
-“Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast " (1 Corinthians 5:6-8, NKJV)
-“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NKJV)
-"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-20, NKJV)
Unbelievers: "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”" (John 6:50-58)
b) Results of Partaking of the death of Christ (John 6)
Careful reference to (vv.40 & 47) with (vv.53 & 54) will show that believing on Christ is exactly the same thing as eating and drinking of his flesh and blood.
(1) “Eat” & “Drink” (v.53) are in the Greek aorist tense, which means: a once-for-all act.
Jesus is simply saying that just as one must consume or partake of physical food to sustain physical life, so one must appropriate (spiritually lay hold of Christ by trusting Him for salvation by faith) Christ to have spiritual life.
(2) Flesh & Blood Point Us To The Work Of Christ On The Cross-.
It was there that His flesh was nailed to the cross & His blood was shed to make man’s salvation possible. By placing our faith in the crucified Christ, we appropriate Him and His work of salvation.
(3) You have no life in you (v.53 see also 1 John 5:12; 1Tim.5:6)
Thought 1. Unless a man receives (eats and drinks) Christ, he has no life within him. He is a dead man spiritually and eternally. He is walking around as a dead man.
The First Result: Receiving Christ Is Eternal Life (v.54).
(1) Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.
The word for “Eat” (Trogon) Is Different: “present tense”, which means continuous action. A person must continue to eat and to develop and grow into the habit of feasting upon Christ. Christian growth day by day is the picture.
The Second Result: Receiving Christ Is True Satisfaction, Not False (v.55).
(1) My flesh is food indeed & My blood is drink indeed.
“Indeed” means true as opposed to false. The Things Of The World Will Not Satisfy You it is like “cotton candy” (1 John 2:15-17).
"The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing." (Psalm 145:15-16, NKJV)
The Third Result: A Life-Transforming Union With Christ (v.56).
(1) He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
"Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22, NKJV)
"Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24, NKJV)
"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28, NKJV)
"Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (1 John 3:24, NKJV)
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:15-16, NKJV)
c) Result of not partaking in the death of Christ
(1) The Final Judgment—Eternal Punishment (Rom.2:1-5):
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15, NASB95)
d) Not raw, nor boiled, but Roasted in fire (v.8-9).
(1) The Jews knew the law against eating human flesh or any kind of blood or raw meet:
"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. “Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." (Genesis 9:3-4, NASB95)
"And any man from the house of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ “Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘No person among you may eat blood, nor may any alien who sojourns among you eat blood.’ “So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’ “When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean. “But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”" (Leviticus 17:10-16, NASB95)
"You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying." (Leviticus 19:26)
(2) The lamb could be eaten only if it had come into contact with the fire.
(3) Symbolizes Suffering of Christ on the Cross: As our Passover sacrifice, Jesus (1 Cor.5:7), had to come into direct contact with the “fire” of the Father’s judgment on our behalf, enduring God’s Wrath (Matt.27:45):
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning…? "I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me." (Psalm 22:1, 14, NKJV)
"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:10, NKJV)
e) With its head, its legs, its inner parts.
(1) Eat the Head (His Mind)
"in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3, NASB95)
(a) Phil 2:5—The Mind of Christ
(b) 1 Cor 2:16—We have the mind of Christ
(c) 1 Peter 4:1—suffering in the flesh will bring the mind of the Lord
(2) Eat the Legs (His Walk)
"And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”" (John 8:29, NKJV)
(a) Matt 11:29—Yoke learn from Me (fellowship of sufferings)
(b) Matt 16:24—Take up your cross and follow after Me
(c) John 13:35—Follow My example
(d) 1 Peter 2:21—Follow in His footsteps of suffering
(3) Eat the Entrails His Heart (inner part)
"I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”" (Psalm 40:8, NKJV)
(a) 2 Cor 5:14—Love of Christ Constrains us
(b) Ps 51:10—Create in me a New Heart oh God
(4) This symbolizes that the death of Christ was specifically spelled out. Thus, we must accept Christ exactly as He was prepared and offered by God. There is no other way to be saved, no other way whatsoever (John 8:24; 10:11; Rom.5:9; Acts 4:12; Acts 20:28; Eph.1:7; Is.53:10)
f) Not a bone was to be broken (v.46)
(1) This pointed to Christ:
"They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it." (Numbers 9:12, NKJV)
"He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken." (Psalm 34:20, NKJV)
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs." (John 19:33, NKJV)
"For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”" (John 19:36, NKJV)
Brokeness: "Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice." (Psalm 51:8, NKJV)
g) Unleavened Bread (v.8)
(1) Leaven is a type of sin (1Cor.5:1-8). They weren’t to have any leaven. Leaven is a process by which the bread rises through putrefaction; as it rots, the air comes in. The air bubbles as it rots, and it causes it to rise; not to have any rottenness in it. Leaven became an interesting type of sin, because you put just a little bit of starter in a batch of dough, and it permeates through the whole batch. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
(2) A little sin tolerated in your life, it begins to permeate until it fills your whole life. And so, it was to be unleavened bread. Again, the type of Jesus, who said, “I am the bread of life come down from God out of heaven.” But in Him, there is no sin, no leaven.
h) Bitter Herbs (v.8)
(1) This Helped Them Remember Their Bitter Experience Of Being In Bondage:
"The Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage— in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor." (Exodus 1:12-14, NKJV)
"So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance." (Exodus 12:14, NKJV)
"It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 13:9, NKJV)
(2) This Is A Picture Of Our Enslavement To Sin (cf.v.1-2).
"knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin"… "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:6-7, 14)
"Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18)
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." (Romans 6:20)
"But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life." (Romans 6:22)
(3) The days of our enslavement to sin are never to be forgotten (1 Samuel 2:24; Rom.12:1). Our hearts are to be constantly broken over sin.
5. The believer was to finish the food, no leftovers (v.10).
a) Leftovers would become corrupt, Christ did not see corruption.
"For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10)
b) We must finish the work that God has given us to do.
"Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34, NKJV)
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4)
"I have finished the work which You have given Me to do." (John 17:4, NKJV)
"After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”" (John 19:28, NKJV)
"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30, NKJV)
6. The believers are to eat it in haste (v.11)
a) Readiness, wasting no time, looking forward.
(1) We Are To Waste no time in separating from Egypt and beginning his new life of freedom.
(2) Lot had a lack of urgency (Gen.19:12-16), his wife looked back (v.26).
(3) Thought 1. This symbolizes that we are to eat, partake of, Christ quickly. We are to lay hold of the death of Christ immediately. The hour is urgent: now is the day of salvation. We are to immediately accept Christ, rush away from the world and begin our new life, our new life marching to the promised land of heaven. We are to live as though Christ might return today.
"“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”" (Matthew 3:2, NKJV)
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44, NKJV)
"“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (Matthew 25:13, NKJV)
"Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—" (Mark 13:35, NKJV)
"Now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2, NKJV)
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent," (Acts 17:30, NKJV)
"“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”" (Revelation 16:15, NKJV)
"“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." (Revelation 22:12, NKJV)
"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word." (1 Kings 18:21, NKJV)
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”" (Joshua 24:15, NKJV)
7. (14-20) The institution of Passover and Unleavened Bread as feasts.
a. Passover began on the tenth; on the 14th they eat the Passover, and is the first day of unleavened bread; then for the next seven days, they would eat only unleavened bread.
b. For the first Passover, the unleavened bread was a practical necessity; they left Egypt in such a hurry there was no time to allow for the dough to rise.
c. Leaven was also a picture of sin and corruption, because of the way a little leaven would influence a whole lump of dough, and also because of the way leaven would “puff up” the lump - even as pride and sin makes us “puffed up.”
i. Significantly, God called them to walk “unleavened” after their initial deliverance from Egypt; symbolically, they were being called to a pure walk with the LORD.
ii. Some suggest there was also a health aspect in getting rid of all the leaven; that since they used a piece of dough from the previous batch to make the bread for that day, and did so repeatedly, that harmful bacteria could take hold in the dough - so it was good to remove all leaven and start all over at least once a year.