The Passover Instituted

God would perform the last miracle which would overwhelm Pharaoh and his people and make them send Israelites out of Egypt. The passover marked the beginning of the event that put an end to oppression of God's people. Likewise it was instituted to commemorate their deliverance. Exodus 12:13 - And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. These are discussed: The Passover Event; The Exodus, and The Passover remembered.

The Passover Event: God gave Moses and Aaron the direction to follow in preparation for the passover. The passover lambs were to be slaughtered and their blood applied to doorposts and lintels of houses of the Israelites for protection against God's judgement upon Egypt (Exodus 12:21-23). The "destroyer" an angel sent by God for the judgement was to spear inhabitants of the houses marked by the blood. The Israelites were also instructed to stay inside their houses throughout the night of the passover day.

Generations of Israelites were required to observe the passover feast. The feast was meant to remember God's saving grace and power by which Israelites were rescued from slavery and preserved from death (Exodus 12:24-28). Just as people faithfully responded by bowing and worshipping God, Christians are expected to faithfully respond to God's word and follow the Bible as the standard for faith and conduct.

The destroyer passed through Egypt at the midnight and houses without protection of the blood were smitten. Firstborn males of all Egypt's households including their livestock died (Exodus 12:29-30). God had earlier warned Pharaoh of the impending danger if he failed to release the Israelites. Pharaoh's stubbornness led to the final disaster upon his people. The Egyptians reacted with intense fear and anger such that they were ready to allow Israel to go as demanded by God.

The Exodus: The horrors of death gripped Pharaoh and his people, thus he was eager to release Israelites. Egyptians were in haste to see the people go to where God wanted them to be. Pharaoh didn't want to suffer any longer, he asked Moses to bless him as the Israelites were about to leave (Ex 12:31-36). Fear of more death gripped Egyptians that they provided Israelites with gold, silver and clothing and wanted them to leave in haste.

The Israelites were filled with joy (Ex 12:40-42), relief and thanksgiving as they were leaving Egypt. They didn't leave with empty hands, they were given good shares of wealth and treasure of Egypt as spoken by God (Ex 3:21-22; 11: 2-3). They were led out of the land with 600,000 men plus children and the women. They also left with flocks and herds. They had endured years of oppression in captivity but when God's time came nothing could stop their deliverance. Their deliverance was at the day they had lived for exactly 430 years in Egypt.

Just as the Israelites trusted and obeyed God for their deliverance, Christians must trust God and learn His word for instruction, direction and to secure His protection. We can be filled with joy when God responds to our needs and the time we recall wonderful things God has done in our lives.

The Passover Remembered: It was to be remembered by dedicating all firstborn males of people and their animals to God. The Israelites were chosen by God as His firstborn (Ex 4:22), which indicated special relationship with God. The obligation of being the firstborn of God was later transfered to the Levi (Number 3:11-13) and in the new testament Christians have taken up the devotion (1 Peter 2:9-10), and with the institution of the Lord's Super Christ renewed the Passover and made it applicable for all people (Matthew 26:26-30). Through faith in Christ believers are set apart for service to God as His chosen people.

God demanded that Israelites would commemorate their deliverance. They were to hold seven-day feast to rejoice and pass the message down to future generations. The blood of passover lamb was used for protection and deliverance of Israelites in Egypt, but in new testament Jesus became the Passover Lamb. Through his blood he bears sins of humanity, saves souls from consequences of sin and makes God's salvation available for all. Exodus 12: 1 thru 13:10.