Passover: God’s Original “Shelter in Place”

Passover: God’s Original “Shelter in Place”During these unusual days, it is comforting to know that “God’s got this…”. He is able to spare us from the effects of plagues, just as He did for the Jewish people in Egypt.  While we know that the “rain falls on the just and unjust” (Matthew 5:45) why not believe for complete deliverance during this unprecedented time?Every culture in the world has special holidays they observe.  Some mark birth dates of national heroes, others mark significant dates or occasions, religious events or even superstitions.  Worldwide, holidays – Holy Days – are observed annually.God instituted only seven holidays, and their significance far surpasses any other established days of man. These seven are discussed throughout the Bible, as they are integral in Israel’s history.  Collectively, the seven “feasts of the Lord” tell the full story of God redeeming mankind from sin and restoring us into fellowship with Him.  They foretell the major events in Jesus’ life, as you will see.These seven feasts belong to the Lord, and He invites us to join in them and receive their benefits.  In Hebrew, the word for “feasts” is moedim, meaning appointed times.Key overall points to remember:

• They were given to the nation of Israel, but Gentiles are welcomed into the blessing of observing them and the blessing of their fulfillment (redemption).
• They are based on the Jewish lunar calendar, which has a different setup than our solar calendar.
• The seven feasts relate to the spring and fall agricultural seasons. Four of the feasts take place in the spring, and three in the fall.
• The seven depict the entire redemptive career of the Messiah. The first four, spring feasts, have been fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming.  The final three feasts will be fulfilled in his second coming.
• God calls them “holy convocations.”

One place in Scripture has all seven listed together:  Leviticus 23.Leviticus 23:2Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations -  God goes on to list all of them…but Passover is… The “Crown Jewel of the Feasts”Passover (Lev. 23:5; Deut. 16:1-8; Exodus 12:1-13)

• 1^st month, 14^th day
• Pesach

The Historical setting of PassoverJacob’s family (Israel) went into Egypt as a family of 70 people, but 430 years later, they had become a nation, of a few million people.  Egypt had enslaved them for 400 years, and this event was the ordained time for their deliverance.  Israel would be redeemed from slavery and set free to enter their inheritance, the land promised by God.The price of freedom (redemption): The blood of an unblemished male lamb was shed, and applied to the doorposts of each home. For every home/family that obeyed and took protection under the blood, the death angel would ”pass over”By the first century, most of the current Passover tradition had been set. This is the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before his crucifixion – the night he was betrayed by Judas.  Within that meal were four cups of wine; the rabbis say these four cups are based on four promises God made to Israel in Exodus 6:6-7 – the four “I wills”.⁶ “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. ⁷ I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.

• Cup of Sanctification – I will free you
• Cup of Judgment – I will rescue you from your slavery
• Cup of Redemption - I will redeem you
• Cup of Acceptance/Praise – I will claim you as my own; I will be your God.

Let’s lean into God with worship, the Word, generosity, and acts of kindness during this special time.Download: Passover- God’s Original “Shelter in Place”