passover

Egypt is primed for judgement, Israel is primed for freedom. Moses and Pharaoh are in the final stanzas of the last dance before closing time. Nine plagues done, one to come. The last plague God brings on Egypt is a full frontal assault on the pre-eminent god of the Egyptians - Pharaoh and his lineage, specifically the firstborn son, the next god on the throne.

All the firstborns in Egypt will be judged and killed in this plague. All of them in the land. So how does God manage the Israelites in this threat? With sacrifice and blood.

One lamb, consumed in whole, by a family or group of people, under one roof, roasted only, eaten in haste and ready to flee at daybreak. The sacrifice at twilight, blood on the door frame as a sign of following the ordinance. Follow these guidelines, all of them.

Passover. So the angel of death would see the blood then pass over the homes of the faithful and spare them the awful selective death of the firstborn. No blood on the doorposts meant someone in that household was going to die. The family had to follow every part of the ritual or they wouldn't be ready for the life to come and would lose the firstborns.

This substitutionary death, complete with blood splattering, is a foreshadowing of Christ's Passion and Crucifixion. Life was in jeopardy and God gave a way through the threat in both instances.

I find it amazing that the same elements of an acceptable sacrifice are present from the beginning of the narrative of God and his people. The elements commonly include a substitutionary death, perfection of the sacrifice, blood spilling, and simple altars. A common theme is the position of the "high place", or hill top as the location. Mankind knew and instantly responded to God's call to perform a sacrifice with a sense of what was right.

What do we learn? God solidfies the concept that only through sacrifice is a person or family saved from the consequences of spiritual death. Further we learn that the general consequences of community sin can be avoided by strictly adhering to the Word of the Lord and submitting to His sacrifice. Anything outside the strict guidelines is not enough to avoid the coming punishment.