Exodus 12:1-11, Thoughts from Exodus (6)

1001   The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart also involved the hardening of the hearts of his servants (7:11,22; 8:7,18-19,29; 9:11,20-21; 10:7; 11:3,8; 12:29-30).

1007   The plagues are, for the most part, an attack on the land.  The property of Egypt.  God had blessed Egypt’s property through Joseph.  But now it is being ruined.  Remember, this is a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph (Ex. 1:8).  But when the plagues were over, Pharaoh knew the LORD, and so did Israel (10:1-2).

1029   Think about the common Egyptian citizen throughout the plagues.  #1-3 were on both Egypt and Goshen.  #4-6 (and #7-10) were on Egypt only.  #7 (hail) provided an escape for Egyptians who feared the word of the LORD (9:20).  #8 (locusts) reveal some of Pharaoh’s own servants plead with him to let the people go (10:7). 

1103   In other words, everyone else was getting the point.  But not Pharaoh.  After 9 successes for the LORD and “0” for Pharaoh, God still told Pharaoh what He was going to do, and Pharaoh still resisted.

1105   All the firstborn of Egypt died, but God’s firstborn, Israel, was untouched (4:22; 11:7).

1202 Here are a few notes on Passover from the text:

·       v2: It was at the beginnings of months.  Today Passover is in the Spring; the Jewish new year (Rosh Hashana) is in the Fall.

·       v3: On the tenth day each family selected a lamb. 

·       v4: You could go in with your neighbor if the families were small.

·       v5: The lamb (or kid) was to be without blemish, male and in the first year.

·       v6: On the fourteenth day they killed it at twilight.  After having it in the house, becoming very attached to it, you killed it yourself.  In every way possible it was a picture of Christ, our Passover Lamb.  He became one of us, dwelt among us; but we put Him to death.

·       v7: The blood went on the doorposts.

·       v8-10: They the lamb was eaten, roasted (not raw or boiled), with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  And with no leftovers.  Jesus said faith is like eating His flesh and drinking His blood (Jn. 6:53).  Faith has no leftovers; either we have trusted in Christ or we have not.

·       v11: It was to be eaten in haste, with your belt on your waist and sandals on your feet.

·       IT IS (signifies) THE LORD’S (what God will do) PASSOVER!

1211 “Passover.”  Hebrew pesach which was applied to the sacrifice, the animal and the event.  The word means to pass over, skip.  The verb is used 7X including Exodus 12:13,23,27.  It is also used in 1 Kings 18:21 when Elijah asked the people on Mt. Carmel, how long will you “halt” (pass back and forth without settling on one) between two opinions.  In the OT several Passover celebrations of significance are mentioned. 

·       Josh. 5:10-11: The first one celebrated in the land, at Gilgal (the camp near Jericho).

·       2 Kings 23; 2 Chron. 35: One in King Josiah’s reign said to have been like no other.

·       2 Chron. 30: There was a large one at the time of Hezekiah’s revival.

·       Ezra 6:19-20: This was the first one after the Babylonian exile, after the altar was built.