Bible Pathway - Jan. 21, 2012

Highlights:

Death of the firstborn; the Lord's Passover; the Exodus; pillar of cloud and pillar of fire.

With each miraculous plague, God proved that Egypt's gods were false deities and that He is the Only True God. The final plague of judgment was death. God spoke to Moses: About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn . . . shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh . . . even unto the firstborn of the maidservant (Ex. 11:4-5). However, God lovingly provided a way for all of the Israelites who were obedient to Him to save their firstborn from death. The sentence of death would not fall on them. It would fall instead upon a lamb without blemish (defect) (12:5). They were told to take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post (lintel) of the houses. . . . they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened (yeast-free) bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. . . . with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S Passover (12:7-11).

Later instruction regarding sacrifices states: They shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made . . . to sanctify them (29:33). The Hebrew word translated atonement carries the idea of covering something, thereby removing it from the sight of God and assuring the forgiveness of God, but sin was not fully eradicated until the death of Jesus, the True Lamb of God. This points out that an innocent lamb made only a temporary atonement; sin was not fully eradicated. Even though there were numerous daily, weekly, and monthly sin offerings, the Israelites were still required to observe a full Day of Atonement annually. In the New Testament, it is revealed: We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Rom. 5:11). The Greek word for atonement here means: We have now obtained our reconciliation with God.

The Sin Offering, the Trespass Offering, and the Day of Atonement, as the supreme act of national repentance for sins, were offered regularly. However, they all were only substitute offerings until Jesus became the One True Sacrifice and died for the sins of the world. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:10).

Since God is holy, He cannot fellowship with man in his sinful state. So God provided His sinless Son, Jesus, as the perfect and complete substitute to die for our sins (John 3:16).

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot (defect) to God, purge (cleanse, purify) your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God (Heb. 9:14)?

Thought for Today:

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Col. 2:13).

Christ Revealed:

Through the sacrifice of lambs without blemish. Not one of the lambs' bones was to be broken (Ex. 12:5,46). We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Pet. 1:19). It was foretold of Christ: He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken (Ps. 34:20; John 19:36).

Word Studies:

11:2 borrow, ask, accept; 12:9 sodden, boiled; purtenance thereof, inner organs of an animal; 12:11 loins girded, dressed for a journey; 13:2 Sanctify, Dedicate, Set apart; 13:12 matrix, womb; 13:18 harnessed, armed, equipped.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Government Officials: Secy. Gary F. Locke (Dept. of Commerce) and Atty. General Eric H. Holder (Dept. of Justice) • Country: Nicaragua (5 million) in Central America • Major languages: Spanish and English • Limited religious freedom • 95% Roman Catholic; 5% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Ask that the will of God be done in your life (Luke 22:42).

Optional Reading: Matthew 21

Memory Verse for the Week: John 3:16