Exodus 12 reminds me of breaking bread. That’s an expression we use to describe the unity of eating a meal together. This simple act somehow creates a deeper bond of friendship. Today’s lesson is that a great meal is about more than just the food. The chapter begins with the Lord instructing Moses that the Passover will reset the Hebrew calendar: “This month is to be… the first month of your year.” The exodus required very specific preparation steps with life and death in the balance. The lamb is to be selected on the tenth day of the month, and only “year-old males without defect.” They are to be cared for until “the fourteenth day of the month… slaughter them at twilight”. Each family must then: “take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses”. The Lord continues: ”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. The blood will be a sign… when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” The blood of the lamb covered the sin of the people, satisfying the judgement. Each family that believed God’s promise and obeyed His instruction was saved. The sacrificial lamb paid the penalty for their rebellion. The instruction continues: “eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast”. This ceremony is not done in the synagogue, but in the home: “It must be eaten inside the house… Do not break any of the bones.” They are told to eat: “Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” They must be prepared to leave quickly. The Lord makes it clear that this is to be: “a lasting ordinance… you are to commemorate; for the generations to come.”
There is additional instruction for the bread: “For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast… remove the yeast from your houses”. Yeast is symbolic of sin and hypocrisy. There is a level of urgency associated with not waiting for the bread to rise, and also carefully removing every speck for 7 days. Seven is the number of completeness. After the blood covers their sin, they must be careful to avoid taking its contamination with them into the Promised Land. They had to unlearn the habits of slavery. “Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat”. Purity must be a purposeful decision. Many find that at conversion they must purge the old reminders to move forward, because: “A little yeast works through the whole batch” (Galatians 5:9). This purge is taken very seriously: “For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses… anyone… who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel.”
Moses summoned all of the elders of Israel and repeated all of God’s instruction. Moses reminds them this is to be a: “lasting ordinance for you and your descendants… When you enter the land that the Lord will give you… observe this ceremony.” Moses adds that in the future they must be prepared to answer their children when they ask: “What does this ceremony mean to you?” The blood, the lamb, and the bread prepared Israel for the New Covenant that was to come with Messiah. 1400 years later, the symbols of the exodus became the process for permanent salvation; first for the Jews, and later extended to the Gentiles. Jesus was “selected” on the 10th of the month when He entered Jerusalem riding the donkey. During the “Last Supper” Passover meal, Jesus forever changed the meaning of the wine and the bread. He was crucified on the 14th of the month as His blood covered the horizontal and vertical beams to the Roman cross. His sinless sacrifice fulfilled every aspect of the once and for all atonement for those who believe the promise. The chapter closes with the final plague: “At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt… Pharaoh and… all the Egyptians got up during the night… for there was not a house without someone dead.” Finally Pharaoh was broken: “Up! Leave my people… Go, worship the Lord… Take your flocks and herds. The chapter ends with preparation for new life: “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing…. so they plundered the Egyptians.” Friend, have you had enough of eating and drinking alone? It is time to enjoy the abundance at the communion table with Christ! Brea