EXODUS
CHAPTER
12
1. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2. This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3. Tell the whole congregation on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbour in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat it.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 1 to 4)
According to Exodus God was choosing s particular time in history in order to liberate his people from the bondage of Egypt. God chooses particular moments at a time that we would not be waiting for. God's moments are special therefore they are to be treated a such. The people of God were to celebrate this important moment in their life by sacrificing a lamb. This is symbolic of the Son of God who was also sacrificed on a particular day at a particular time in history in order to obtain our salvation. In the above mentioned verses it is written that the parts of the lamb were not to be wasted but consumed according to the number of occupants. On reflecting the lamb is wasted when we receive God without being properly prepared to receive Him.
5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 5 to 7)
Our offering to God is also to be perfect, in the sense that when we give Him worship our offering is to be from our heart and not simply lip service. We are to participate and not be passive. This is our personal celebration of our deliverance and not only that of the priest or celebrant. Therefore our contribution is very important in order to make our offering complete.
On the other hand the blood of the lamb was to be shed on the two doorposts of the shelters or homes where the people lived. This was done for a particular reason that we will be referring to. May God's blood always protect us from the snares of the evil one.
8. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10. You shall let none of it remain until morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 8 to 10)
According to verses 8 to 9, the sacrificial offering is to be completely consumed and nothing is to be left to the following morning. When we receive communion the Host is totally consumed by the recipients and nothing is left of it, in the sense that even the chalice of the celebrant is wiped clean of all possible traces. On reflecting God gave His full self to us without any exceptions, therefore we are to be a complete offering to God and to others without holding anything back of our selves including skills, financial assets, contacts and other means that we may possess with the help of God.
11. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. 12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute JUdgements I am the LORD.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 11 to 12)
God was aware of the pressure that the people would be under during their exodus out of Egypt. Therefore time was not to be wasted. God gave them orders to eat very quickly and not lose time. Not wasting time is always a very good habit or practice to adopt. As humans we have limited time on this earth. Every second is a gift to us, that is why it is called the present, therefore we are to make the most of each second that God has given to us.
13. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 13)
The blood on the doorposts was a sign of protection for the people of God, who would pass by on seeing the sign of the blood of the lamb. May God always protect us and cleanse us of our sins with His Holy blood.
14. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 14)
According to verse 14, every sunday is like the American Independence Day or the Great Siege of Malta or the commemoration of Malta's Independence from British rule. Every sunday we recollect that special day when God's people were liberated from the bondage of Egypt, when Jesus arose liberated from the clutches of death that could not keep a grip or hold on Him. Therefore Jesus's liberation is also our liberation if we want it to be that way. There are some who prefer to remain slaves in the Egypt of their sins, than to follow God and Moses out of Egypt. The choice is ours!
15. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel. 16. On the first day you shall hold a solemn assembly; no work shall be done on those days; only what everyone must eat, that alone may be prepared by you.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 15 to 16)
Even before the people of God had left Egypt, God had already instituted a programme according to which the people could lead their life. God gives us many sign posts that we are to follow. On reflecting I now appreciate more my meetings with God where He gives Himself to me time and time again. Love You Jesus, blessed be Your Name.
17. You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance. 18. In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you shall eat unleavened bread. 19. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land. 20. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your settlements you shall eat unleavened bread.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 17 to 20)
As from verses 15 to verse 20, God is strict on the observance of this rule or commandment. Therefore we are to obey it in the sense that no work that has a profit is to be done on a sunday and that this special day is to be always respected. In the New Testament Jesus continued to expand on this issue, when He said that if a person needs help on a Sunday we are not to say no due to the observance of the Sabbath but we must be practical and lend a hand. This is applicable for people who work in hospitals and powers-stations or airports but not for those who have supermarkets and give service on a Sunday.
21. Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go, select Lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of Hyssop dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood in the basin. None of you shall go outside the door of your house until morning.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 21 to 22)
God gave the Israelites strict orders on how they were to conduct themselves in order not to be harmed by the angel of God who was to unleash God's wrath on the firstborn of the Egyptians and even the firstborn of the livestock. As Christians or people who wish to follow God, we are to show obedience to God and His representatives. Obedience to God means that we truly love him, disobedience means the contrary.
23. For the LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians; when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 23)
Apparently it is the Devil who is under God's control and who has been assigned the role of destroyer. It is nice to now that the evil one is under God's thumb and that he is being controlled.
24. You shall observe this rite as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children. 25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 24)
The Hebrews were ordered by God to observe these rites and practice them even when they would be liberated from their land of bondage and slavery. God also wishes us to observe His Holy Word that leads us to our "Promised Land' that is Heaven in His Holy presence forever. This is to be our life long goal to strive to live a life according to God's will with the positive consequence of reaping our reward in heaven. This can only be done due to God's grace because as humans at some time or another we are bound to step on the snake's head as in snakes and ladders and slide down a level or two or even to our point of origin on the board of life.
25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance. 26. And when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this observance? 27. you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.'
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 25 to 27)
As people who worship God we are duty bound to our children who are our future descendants to share the faith with them. This requires that we are both informed so that we can be formed in order to be able to transmit the right answers according to the teachings of our faith and the will of God.
28. The Israelites went and did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 29. At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of the livestock.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 28 to 29)
In order to help picture this damned situation please click on the following link:
Plague of death
Since the Pharaoh did not obey the will of God he had to suffer the mentioned consequences. The death penalty was imposed on Egypt so that the faith of the chosen people of God would be strengthened on having witnessed the wrath of God. Some say seeing is believing however feeling is also a means that helps one to believe. Unfortunately at times we have to witness the consequences of our sins, as in the case of the Pharaoh.
30. Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, "Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go worship the LORD, as you said. 32. Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 30 to 32)
Finally it was time for God to continue unfolding His plan for our salvation. The Pharaoh was downsized enough to surrender and obey the will of God. In order to view this great event please click on the following link
Moses parts red sea
33. The Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, "We shall all be dead." 34. So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35. The Israelites had done as Moses told them; they had asked the Egyptians for jewelry of silver and gold, and for clothing, 36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they plundered the Egyptians.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 33 to 36)
Now that the people of God witnessed the power and great marvels and wonders of God they obeyed Him to the letter and fulfilled all of God's recommendations that had been transmitted to them by Moses and Aaron. In our every-day life the same thing happens. In order to really and effectively sustain our belief we need to see results. However the big question is 'Do we need to see results in order to believe? This is not faith! We still need to grow in faith like Noah who obeyed before he had seen result!
37. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38. A mixed crowd also went up with them, and livestock in great numbers, both flocks and herds. 39. They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 37 to 39)
The Israelite chosen people of God experienced their first hours of liberty from the bondage and traumas of Egypt. However they were now under the conditioning of God who gave them strict instructions on how to behave on having left Egypt. On the path of our salvation, every day is a new day on the pilgrimage of life. Throughout the way leading to our salvation we encounter many personality types as in the case of the referred to 'mixed crowd', however although mixed we are and may have different agendas we still believe in God and our primary objective is to be reunited with him.
In order to view the route taken by the chosen people of God from Rameses to Succoth please click on the following link:
Please click to view route
40. The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41. At the end of four hundred thirty years on that very day, all the companies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42. That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their generations.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 40 to 42)
On reflecting this is why the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Easter Sunday with such grandeur and solemnity because this marks a very important event in the life of Christians who are still on the pilgrimage to our heavenly home, but who on the other hand trace their roots through Jesus who traces his roots to Abraham and the Patriarchs, Isaac, Jacob etc
43. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance for the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but any slave who has been purchased may eat of it after he has been circumcised; 45 no bound or hired servant may eat of it.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 43 to 45)
God strictly specified that communion with Him as in the breaking of Bread was to be strictly for those who believe in Him mainly Christians and any other person who has become a Christian.
46. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the animal outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47. The whole congregation of Israel shall celebrate it. 48. If an alien who resides with you wants to celebrate the passover to the LORD, all his males shall be circumcised; then he may draw near to celebrate it; he shall be regarded as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it: 49. there shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 46 to 49)
God mad a special emphasis that the lamb was to remain whole and not be dismembered and torn to pieces to be shared amongst families. The sacrificial lamb is a replica of Jesus who remained whole on the cross for us. As humans our lives are also to be a sacrificial offering to God.
50. All the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51. That very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 50 to 51)
As previously mentioned God kept his word and brought His people out of the bondage of Egypt. This is very encouraging. God never leaves us more than our capacity in our state of persecution. On seeing that we will be harmed God intervenes and delivers us. The moments of trial and tribulation are moments of formation for us, because it is a good time for us to slow down and reflect on God our-selves and the situation. This in turn gives God a chance to touch our hearts and place us back on track.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my father I would like to thank You for those moments of tribulation. I am referring to the long period of unemployment and crisis that I experienced due to the fact that the supermarket that I used to work in terminated its operation during that same week. I thank you because although the situation was indeed stressful, You were always with me and my family. I would like to thank You for all that has happened in my life, the happy moments and even the crisis, which has been an important part of my spiritual, social and psychological formation as a human and best of all as a Christian.
I would also like to end this chapter with the following reflection given to us by our online source Yeshuas friends
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 1 to 4)
According to Exodus God was choosing s particular time in history in order to liberate his people from the bondage of Egypt. God chooses particular moments at a time that we would not be waiting for. God's moments are special therefore they are to be treated a such. The people of God were to celebrate this important moment in their life by sacrificing a lamb. This is symbolic of the Son of God who was also sacrificed on a particular day at a particular time in history in order to obtain our salvation. In the above mentioned verses it is written that the parts of the lamb were not to be wasted but consumed according to the number of occupants. On reflecting the lamb is wasted when we receive God without being properly prepared to receive Him.
5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 5 to 7)
Our offering to God is also to be perfect, in the sense that when we give Him worship our offering is to be from our heart and not simply lip service. We are to participate and not be passive. This is our personal celebration of our deliverance and not only that of the priest or celebrant. Therefore our contribution is very important in order to make our offering complete.
On the other hand the blood of the lamb was to be shed on the two doorposts of the shelters or homes where the people lived. This was done for a particular reason that we will be referring to. May God's blood always protect us from the snares of the evil one.
8. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10. You shall let none of it remain until morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 8 to 10)
According to verses 8 to 9, the sacrificial offering is to be completely consumed and nothing is to be left to the following morning. When we receive communion the Host is totally consumed by the recipients and nothing is left of it, in the sense that even the chalice of the celebrant is wiped clean of all possible traces. On reflecting God gave His full self to us without any exceptions, therefore we are to be a complete offering to God and to others without holding anything back of our selves including skills, financial assets, contacts and other means that we may possess with the help of God.
11. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. 12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute JUdgements I am the LORD.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 11 to 12)
God was aware of the pressure that the people would be under during their exodus out of Egypt. Therefore time was not to be wasted. God gave them orders to eat very quickly and not lose time. Not wasting time is always a very good habit or practice to adopt. As humans we have limited time on this earth. Every second is a gift to us, that is why it is called the present, therefore we are to make the most of each second that God has given to us.
13. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 13)
The blood on the doorposts was a sign of protection for the people of God, who would pass by on seeing the sign of the blood of the lamb. May God always protect us and cleanse us of our sins with His Holy blood.
14. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 14)
According to verse 14, every sunday is like the American Independence Day or the Great Siege of Malta or the commemoration of Malta's Independence from British rule. Every sunday we recollect that special day when God's people were liberated from the bondage of Egypt, when Jesus arose liberated from the clutches of death that could not keep a grip or hold on Him. Therefore Jesus's liberation is also our liberation if we want it to be that way. There are some who prefer to remain slaves in the Egypt of their sins, than to follow God and Moses out of Egypt. The choice is ours!
15. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel. 16. On the first day you shall hold a solemn assembly; no work shall be done on those days; only what everyone must eat, that alone may be prepared by you.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 15 to 16)
Even before the people of God had left Egypt, God had already instituted a programme according to which the people could lead their life. God gives us many sign posts that we are to follow. On reflecting I now appreciate more my meetings with God where He gives Himself to me time and time again. Love You Jesus, blessed be Your Name.
17. You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance. 18. In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you shall eat unleavened bread. 19. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land. 20. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your settlements you shall eat unleavened bread.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 17 to 20)
As from verses 15 to verse 20, God is strict on the observance of this rule or commandment. Therefore we are to obey it in the sense that no work that has a profit is to be done on a sunday and that this special day is to be always respected. In the New Testament Jesus continued to expand on this issue, when He said that if a person needs help on a Sunday we are not to say no due to the observance of the Sabbath but we must be practical and lend a hand. This is applicable for people who work in hospitals and powers-stations or airports but not for those who have supermarkets and give service on a Sunday.
21. Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go, select Lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of Hyssop dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood in the basin. None of you shall go outside the door of your house until morning.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 21 to 22)
God gave the Israelites strict orders on how they were to conduct themselves in order not to be harmed by the angel of God who was to unleash God's wrath on the firstborn of the Egyptians and even the firstborn of the livestock. As Christians or people who wish to follow God, we are to show obedience to God and His representatives. Obedience to God means that we truly love him, disobedience means the contrary.
23. For the LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians; when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 23)
Apparently it is the Devil who is under God's control and who has been assigned the role of destroyer. It is nice to now that the evil one is under God's thumb and that he is being controlled.
24. You shall observe this rite as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children. 25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance.
(Exodus chapter 12 verse 24)
The Hebrews were ordered by God to observe these rites and practice them even when they would be liberated from their land of bondage and slavery. God also wishes us to observe His Holy Word that leads us to our "Promised Land' that is Heaven in His Holy presence forever. This is to be our life long goal to strive to live a life according to God's will with the positive consequence of reaping our reward in heaven. This can only be done due to God's grace because as humans at some time or another we are bound to step on the snake's head as in snakes and ladders and slide down a level or two or even to our point of origin on the board of life.
25. When you come to the land that the LORD will give you as he has promised, you shall keep this observance. 26. And when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this observance? 27. you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.'
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 25 to 27)
As people who worship God we are duty bound to our children who are our future descendants to share the faith with them. This requires that we are both informed so that we can be formed in order to be able to transmit the right answers according to the teachings of our faith and the will of God.
28. The Israelites went and did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 29. At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of the livestock.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 28 to 29)
In order to help picture this damned situation please click on the following link:
Plague of death
Since the Pharaoh did not obey the will of God he had to suffer the mentioned consequences. The death penalty was imposed on Egypt so that the faith of the chosen people of God would be strengthened on having witnessed the wrath of God. Some say seeing is believing however feeling is also a means that helps one to believe. Unfortunately at times we have to witness the consequences of our sins, as in the case of the Pharaoh.
30. Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, "Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go worship the LORD, as you said. 32. Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 30 to 32)
Finally it was time for God to continue unfolding His plan for our salvation. The Pharaoh was downsized enough to surrender and obey the will of God. In order to view this great event please click on the following link
Moses parts red sea
33. The Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, "We shall all be dead." 34. So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35. The Israelites had done as Moses told them; they had asked the Egyptians for jewelry of silver and gold, and for clothing, 36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they plundered the Egyptians.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 33 to 36)
Now that the people of God witnessed the power and great marvels and wonders of God they obeyed Him to the letter and fulfilled all of God's recommendations that had been transmitted to them by Moses and Aaron. In our every-day life the same thing happens. In order to really and effectively sustain our belief we need to see results. However the big question is 'Do we need to see results in order to believe? This is not faith! We still need to grow in faith like Noah who obeyed before he had seen result!
37. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38. A mixed crowd also went up with them, and livestock in great numbers, both flocks and herds. 39. They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 37 to 39)
The Israelite chosen people of God experienced their first hours of liberty from the bondage and traumas of Egypt. However they were now under the conditioning of God who gave them strict instructions on how to behave on having left Egypt. On the path of our salvation, every day is a new day on the pilgrimage of life. Throughout the way leading to our salvation we encounter many personality types as in the case of the referred to 'mixed crowd', however although mixed we are and may have different agendas we still believe in God and our primary objective is to be reunited with him.
In order to view the route taken by the chosen people of God from Rameses to Succoth please click on the following link:
Please click to view route
40. The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years. 41. At the end of four hundred thirty years on that very day, all the companies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42. That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their generations.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 40 to 42)
On reflecting this is why the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Easter Sunday with such grandeur and solemnity because this marks a very important event in the life of Christians who are still on the pilgrimage to our heavenly home, but who on the other hand trace their roots through Jesus who traces his roots to Abraham and the Patriarchs, Isaac, Jacob etc
43. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance for the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but any slave who has been purchased may eat of it after he has been circumcised; 45 no bound or hired servant may eat of it.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 43 to 45)
God strictly specified that communion with Him as in the breaking of Bread was to be strictly for those who believe in Him mainly Christians and any other person who has become a Christian.
46. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the animal outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47. The whole congregation of Israel shall celebrate it. 48. If an alien who resides with you wants to celebrate the passover to the LORD, all his males shall be circumcised; then he may draw near to celebrate it; he shall be regarded as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it: 49. there shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 46 to 49)
God mad a special emphasis that the lamb was to remain whole and not be dismembered and torn to pieces to be shared amongst families. The sacrificial lamb is a replica of Jesus who remained whole on the cross for us. As humans our lives are also to be a sacrificial offering to God.
50. All the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51. That very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company.
(Exodus chapter 12 verses 50 to 51)
As previously mentioned God kept his word and brought His people out of the bondage of Egypt. This is very encouraging. God never leaves us more than our capacity in our state of persecution. On seeing that we will be harmed God intervenes and delivers us. The moments of trial and tribulation are moments of formation for us, because it is a good time for us to slow down and reflect on God our-selves and the situation. This in turn gives God a chance to touch our hearts and place us back on track.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my father I would like to thank You for those moments of tribulation. I am referring to the long period of unemployment and crisis that I experienced due to the fact that the supermarket that I used to work in terminated its operation during that same week. I thank you because although the situation was indeed stressful, You were always with me and my family. I would like to thank You for all that has happened in my life, the happy moments and even the crisis, which has been an important part of my spiritual, social and psychological formation as a human and best of all as a Christian.
Thank You God my father
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