Our Jewish friends are celebrating the remembrance of their deliverance from slavery. Both solemn and joyous, these days are Passover, called Pesach on our calendar.
What do we learn from Passover?
- We are surrounded by sin, unbelief, ungodly dictators.
- We are slaves to a system that is big, strong, and bad.
- The only way to freedom is obedience to God.
- Our personal belief and our trust in Almighty God gives us the way to demonstrate our obedience.
- Our obedience to God brings freedom and empowerment.
- Our acceptance of this truth brings a wonderful reality of true love, peace, joy from God that is not found anywhere else. Eternal life with Him awaits us!
Here’s a few interesting facts that go with these main points.
- The Jewish people were living in an area of Egypt. They were forced into slavery.
- God called a man named Moses to lead them to freedom, to their own land.
- God sent 12 plagues on Egypt, but each time Pharaoh rejected the call to free them.
- Passover was the night to sacrifice a lamb, place a mark of its blood on the doorpost of each of their houses, and the people ready to leave Egypt.
- On Passover the first child of every family died, unless the blood was on the doorpost.
- God provided the way out and the protection they needed to cross the Red Sea on dry land, and journey to the Promised Land.
In Deuteronomy 6:20-25 Moses reminded them to obey God.
“. . . “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?’
then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt,
and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. Then He brought us out from there,
that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.
And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes,
to fear the Lord our God, for our good always,
that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’”
In the Bible we read about the love of God and the sinfulness of mankind. We are to confess our sins and ask forgiveness. He will forgive our sins and empower us to live by faith and obedience, looking ahead to Eternity with Him. Go to www.biblegateway and do a word search to learn more. It’s a challenge, an encouragement, a blessing.
We are Called, Chosen, Faithful . . . !
by Elaine Hardt ©2016
