Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
– Exodus 12:3-13
The Story of Moses
In the book of Exodus, Egypt has been thrown into chaos by nine devastating plagues. These plagues are not random misfortunes; they are God’s judgment on Egypt for enslaving the Israelites. However, before Israel can be freed, one final plague is coming in which God will strike down every firstborn son. Unlike the previous plagues, this one will target everyone in Egypt, including the Israelites, unless God provides a way of escape.
This is the story of Passover where we learn that God is holy and just in His judgment, yet merciful in His rescuing provision. In the face of the final plague, God provides a substitute for Israel in a perfect, unblemished lamb. The Israelites are instructed to sacrifice their lambs on the night the firstborn will be struck down. They must apply its blood to their doorposts and, when God sees the blood, He will pass over their homes. This act demonstrates that Israel is spared not because of their own righteousness but because an unblemished lamb died in their place.
You might be wondering: how does the story of Passover relate to Advent?
The message of Passover is salvation through substitution, foreshadowing the crucifixion of Jesus in the New Testament. The birth of Jesus set in motion God’s plan of redemption in which He provided a perfect and unblemished lamb whose blood could cover all sins. In other words, Jesus is our Passover lamb. His birth, death, and resurrection point not to our righteousness, but to the One who died in our place.
Reflect
What was your moment of salvation like? Have you trusted in Jesus for your salvation and the forgiveness of your sins? If not, what questions do you have?
Prayer
Father, thank you for loving us so much that you provided your one and only Son for the forgiveness of our sins. You sent Jesus, an unblemished and perfect lamb, to take away the sins of the world, so that we might share in everlasting life with you. We are grateful for your character, for you are a holy and just and merciful and rescuing God. Help us to remember your rescuing hand today. Amen.