Who is Coming Over?

O.T. #162  "Who is Coming Over?"
Nov. 5, 2013
Exodus 12-Part 2
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  John 1:29 NIV

LET IT GLOW

When visitors are coming to my house, I do some tidying up. Just looking around, I saw that it required more than tidying. I hate to admit it, but I skipped the spring cleaning at my house. Summer's dust was an inch thick, the musky smell-you get the idea. It was time to get down to some serious cleaning. (I figured it was cheaper to clean than to buy a new house.) Okay, I got out all the supplies and went to work, though it took a week to complete. I'm talking about the rock fireplace was swept, furniture was vacuumed underneath, everything dusted, curtains washed, the whole nine yards, except the windows aren't washed. (Any volunteers?) Ladies, that was just the living room. I was ready for company, until I looked at the kitchen. Girl, I'm still working on that room. I'm surprised my husband hasn't asked, "Who's coming over?"
That question didn't apply to the Israelites, but "Who's passing over?" did apply. Read on.

Moses and Aaron relayed God's message to Pharaoh and the Hebrews. The tenth plague was coming and the climax of this story. The LORD God Jehovah Himself was coming over or passing over. This meant that the first-born of all people and animals in Egypt were going to die. However, the Hebrews, the whole community of Israel, was exempt if they followed specified instructions. The first-born Israelite would not die if they were under the blood.
Here are the details:

• A commemorative meal called The Passover was to be eaten that specific night.
• There was designated food for the meal because of its representation.
• Each man was to get a lamb (or kid goat could be substituted) prepared for his family and household.
• If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor.
• Temporary residents or hired servants were not allowed to eat the meal. (verse 45 NLT)
• Only circumcised foreigners could eat the meal with the Israelites. (verse 48)
• They must determine the amount needed by how many people and how much each will eat.
• There was to be no left overs; food was to be burned if it was not all eaten before morning.
• Each lamb must be eaten in on house, not carrying its meat outside. (verse 46)
• The animal must be a one-year-old male sheep or goat. (According to MacArthur, a kid goat was an alternative choice.)
• The animal must have no defects- no disease, not lame; perfect inside and out. (Any flaw would render it unfit to represent a pure, wholesome sacrifice given to Yahweh. MacArthur)
• It was to be observed for perfection four days.
• It was to be killed at twilight, preserving its blood, the meat roasted over fire, not boiled.
• The lambs' bones were to not be broken.
• The rest of the meal included unleavened bread and bitter herbs or salad greens.

Is our family prepared for the second coming of Jesus? Are we? Will God come over to be our Judge for our sins or will He passed over us because we are covered with the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, is on our soul?

LET IT GROW

What does all of this represent?
THE LAMB:

• The death of the perfect lamb represented a new beginning, as the death of Christ makes a new beginning for the believing sinner.
• The chosen lamb was set aside and observed 4 days, just as Christ was tested and questioned 4 days before His death. Christ is the Lamb of God, the Savior, chosen before the foundation of the world 1Peter 1:19).
• The blood of the lamb was put in a basin, then applied over the door and its side posts. All first-born who were inside that house would not die, but God would pass over the house when He saw the blood. The blood of Christ on the cross is sufficient to cover our sins.

UNLEAVENED BREAD:

• Yeast is a picture of sin, which works silently, corrupts, puffs up, and can only be removed with fire. The hot heat of the fire in which bread is cooking prevents its rising.

BITTER HERBS:

• The bitterness was to remind the Israelites each year as Passover was celebrated of the bitterness of their family and nation's slavery in Egypt.

SILENCE:

• If not a dog was barking (11:7), then I tend to think the Israelites ate this supper in silence. Also, I think the sound wailing of the Egyptians over the loss of their loved ones was what made them silent.
• Were the Israelites silent because they were speechless due to the mercy God was showing them by not killing their first-born? We can find out when we get to heaven.

All of this was in preparation and remembrance of the Passover of God on the first-born and His grace in not killing them whenever He saw the blood over the doorposts.

As a Christian, I think of the bitterness and harshness that Christ went through on the cross and before, for you and me as sinners, in need of a Savior, before we were born. Sin must be paid for, and Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so we do not have to, if we believe in Him as our Savior, our blood sacrifice.
All that is required for our salvation is to believe all of this and ask Christ, the Lamb of God, to forgive us of our sins and be our Savior.

Will you today? Do you know of anyone who needs to trust Him today?
Do you have any first-borns in your family? My husband, daughter, father in law are.

LET IT GO

Daily surrender to Jesus Christ as my Savior.

Thank Him for dying for me, a sinner.

Love Jesus and others.

Look to the day of seeing The Lamb of God that takes away my sins.