Title The Passover and the Blessing of Salvation
Contents The blessing of salvation (Ex 12:29-51)
God prepared Israel for a fresh start as the holy people of God through the process of keeping the feasts. First, Israel would be saved from the plagues of death by the blood of the Lamb. Second, Israel kept the Passover at home and educated their children on the meaning of the Passover so that they could maintain their faith in God.
1. Death of the firstborn plague
(1) According to God's word, calamity fell (verses 29-30).
The calamity of the firstborn that caused the whole land of Egypt to be covered with cries of mourning became a shock that even the toughest Pharaoh could not endure any longer. So Pharaoh asked Moses to bless him, allowing him to leave Egypt with the people of Israel and all his possessions.
Who was the target of Jangjaejajajajah? (verse 29).
First, he was the eldest son of Pharaoh who sat on the throne. Second, he was the eldest son of a prisoner. Those in prison are considered “captives” rather than “prisoners,” and the felony plague did not only affect the Egyptians, but also all the Gentiles living in Egypt. Third, it was the first born of livestock. In God's judgment, cattle were no exception. As such, the extent of damage caused by the plague of the firstborn in Egypt was enormous (verse 30).
(2) Pharaoh submits to God (verses 31-32).
Pharaoh must have been acutely aware that he could no longer resist only holding the body of his dead eldest son. They were urging the Israelites to leave Egypt quickly. The Egyptians, who experienced the great power of the Lord, were afraid of what would happen again, so they gave up all the silver and gold jewelry and clothing that the Israelites requested. Rather, the result of the birthright was God's blessing to the Israelites who overcame death with the blood of the Lamb.
⑶ The drama of reversal (verse 33).
In the Bible, you can see countless people directing the drama of reversal of victory over the adversity of their faith.
① Look at Joseph. Who is Joseph? He is a prosperous person wherever he goes.
Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he prospered...
② Do you remember Esther? Esther was selected as a queen from the captivity, and Esther became the savior of the entire Jewish nation.
③Look at Jesus. He did not take equality with God, but came down to this earth in the flesh. At that time, the religious leaders framed Jesus for blasphemy, imprisoned him in the Inquisition, and eventually crucifixion. The disciples who had followed him for three years also abandoned him. But after that, things changed, Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and at the right hand of God the Father, He became the Savior who rules the world forever. Likewise, we too sometimes face adversity, but remember that God's providential grace is more amazing. You must not be disappointed.
In this way, he overturns human thoughts and rules the world with the wisdom and power of God. God changed the history of Israel like wind lanterns and lanterns. God led the Israelites from slavery to God's people. The Exodus is a drama of life change.
2. The way of the Exodus (verses 34-41)
(1) Take unleavened bread first (verse 34).
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to always commemorate the liberation from Egypt, which suffered oppression and suffering, while eating it with the bread of suffering, that is, the herbs covered with unleavened bread. Today, we must remember and not forget the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. And we must be on the alert so that our sinful nature does not grow like yeast in us. This means that we can live as a member of the Israeli community by eating the bread of suffering, being wary of whether sin grows within us, and preparing to leave at any time.
(2) God's blessing of salvation (verses 35-36)
In verse 35, the children of Israel did as Moses said. I obeyed. And they asked the Egyptians for silver and gold articles and clothing. Then, in verse 36, the Israelites gave what they asked for, and they took the Egyptians' goods. ‘Granted favor to the people of Israel’ These words mean that the people of Israel obeyed God’s word and were blessed, and there was God’s work behind all these things.
God gives minimal blessings to those who have been saved. It is a blessing to be able to serve God. The gold and silver treasures from Egypt were later used to build the tabernacle in the wilderness. God did not allow the Israelites to come out empty-handed when they came out of Egypt to serve the temple. Likewise, all of us Christians have been blessed by God to serve the temple, so I hope you will naturally seek that blessing. I believe that God will fill you.
⑶ Israel being liberated from the land of Egypt (verses 37-41).
Now, the Israelites, who were brought out of Egypt, had a family of only 70 when Jacob went down to Egypt 430 years ago, but it can be seen that they prospered into a huge population (Gen. 46:26-27). One of the purposes God had for Jacob's family to move to Egypt was to make Israel prosper in a short period of time. Egypt's stable prosperity, abundant food, and good natural environment were perfect for Israel's prosperity.
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years (verses 40, 41). But while the Israelites were going through a long night of suffering, God never left his people alone. It means that God was watching over Israel while they were going through a long night of torment. When God's appointed time came, He was born in earnest to save them.
3. The first Passover (verses 42-51)
(1) The night of the Lord (verse 42)
When did the exodus of Israel take place? It was at night that Jangjae Disaster occurred. In verses 29, 30, 31, and 42, the word “night” appears four times. But why does verse 42 say “the night of the Lord”? The Israelites had a truly amazing night that they will never forget for the rest of their lives. Because it was a night that could be revived by the blood of the Lamb, it was not the concept of day and night, but the ‘night of the Lord’ where God’s work of salvation took place.
(2) Passover regulations (verses 43-47)
The Passover is the event of revelation that man can be made alive by the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, not only the Israelites escaped the plagues of death, but some of the Egyptians who believed in the blood of the Lamb survived. It was the same among strangers and strangers. So, the rules for the Passover were established so that after being circumcised, you should eat unleavened bread, eat meat, and keep the Passover without breaking any bones.
⑶ Gentile circumcision (verses 48-50)
The law of salvation through the blood of the Lamb is the same whether native or foreign. This refers to the power of the gospel that all people are delivered from sin and death through the blood of Jesus Christ.
⑷The army of Israel (verse 51)
In verse 51 God calls Israel “the army of the Lord.” God sees the saved children of God as holy soldiers who will fight for the Lord. That is why the people of Israel were called into the army of the Lord at the same time as the Exodus. Another characteristic of the military is obedience and loyalty. Jehovah's army must be loyal to him. Whose direction should we receive, obey, and be loyal? He is God. Who is the leader of Jehovah's army? Jesus. As we live in this world, we face persecution and difficulties in many ways spiritually. Keeping the life of faith is fighting a spiritual battle with Satan.
Ministry: Let us seek the salvation of Jesus Christ to change ourselves and our circumstances.