Bible Pathways 01/21/05

January 21

Read Exodus 11 - 13

In Today's Reading:

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 was the One True God who controls His creation. 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 to the firstborn of the maidservant (Exodus 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, but upon a lamb without blemish (defect). 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 you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S Passover (12:5,7-11).

The Hebrew word translated atonement carries the idea of covering something, thereby removing it from God's sight. However, even though an innocent lamb made 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.

The sin offering, the trespass offering, and the Day of Atonement, as the supreme act of national atonement for sins, were offered regularly. However, they were only substitute offerings until Jesus became the one True Sacrifice and died for the sins of the world.

Since God is holy, He cannot fellowship with man in his sinful state. So God has provided His sinless Son as the perfect and complete substitute to die for our sins. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot (defect) to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).

Christ Revealed:

Through the sacrifice of lambs without blemish. Not one of the lamb's bones was to be broken (Exodus 12:5,46). We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:19). It was foretold of Christ: He keeps all His bones: not one of them is broken (Psalm 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 BP Staff: George Kopchak · Government Official: Gov. Gary Locke (WA) · Country: Iran (65 million) in southwestern Asia · Major languages: Farsi and Turki · Hostile to all Christian activity · 98% Muslim; .4% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: What a comfort to know that we depend upon His strength (Psalm 71:16).

Optional Reading: Matthew 21

Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 5:23