Bible Pathway - Feb. 16, 2012

Highlights:

The Lord reminds us of how much time has passed since the Exodus (Num. 9:1). Once again the nation celebrated the Passover. It was of vital importance that they remember why they were freed from slavery. Once again divine protection was evident in the cloud by day and the awesome pillar of fire by night. What a mighty God we serve!

In the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt. . . . they kept the Passover . . . according to all that the Lord commanded Moses (Num. 9:1,5). The Passover Feast was a memorial of that great historic deliverance from many years of slavery in Egypt (Ex. 12:41-42).

The first Passover was held in Egypt, where Israel's only hope of deliverance was the blood applied to the doorposts outside the house. Inside the house, the lamb was eaten by the undeserving Israelites who believed the Word of God when He said: When I see the blood, I will pass over you (12:13). Yes, the blood satisfied God and protected Israel from the death angel, while the eating of the Passover lamb satisfied and strengthened the family for their wilderness journey.

The second Passover was observed in the wilderness at Mount Sinai as they looked ahead to the land of promise.

The third Passover feast was celebrated in the land of promise. This shows how essential the blood was in their redemption from start to finish. The man that . . . forbeareth (fails) to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the Lord in His appointed season (Num. 9:13).

The Passover was not only a remembrance of how they were delivered, but it was also a witness to the spiritual unity of the tribes. It was not an individual matter to be done at one's convenience, but a community participation.

The Passover is symbolic of the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself (Heb. 9:14). Every Christian looks back to the cross where Christ died to set him free from the power of sin. As we look forward to His soon coming, we have the assurance that His Word will sustain us while we are on the way through this our own wilderness journey.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (9:28).

I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Rev. 22:13).

Thought for Today:

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (I Cor. 5:7).

Christ Revealed:

The Passover (Num. 9:2) serves as a beautiful illustration of the redemption Christ accomplished at Calvary as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; I Cor. 5:7).

Word Studies:

8:2 over against, in front of; 8:4 beaten, hammered; 8:14 Mine, for the special purpose of God; 8:18 for, instead of; 9:7 kept back, prohibited from; 9:8 Stand still, Wait; 9:10 posterity, descendants; 9:11 unleavened bread, bread without yeast, a symbol of Christ as the sinless offering; 9:12 ordinances, biblical laws; 9:13 forbeareth, neglects, fails; cut off, excommunicated; season, time; 9:14 sojourn, live temporarily; 9:15 reared, erected; 9:17 abode, remained; 9:18 pitched, camped; 9:19 charge, order.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for International Broadcasts: Sponsored by Jeanne Young • Staff: Benjamin Wallace • Country: Singapore (4 million) in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Chinese and Malay • Religious freedom • 54% Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese Traditional Religion; 15% Muslim; 9% Protestant; 4% Catholic; 3% Hindu; .5% Sikh; .2% Baha'i; 14.3% None/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray fervently with others (Rom. 15:30).

Optional Reading: Luke 3:1

Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 3:18