Entering into a Completely New Story
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Introduction:
We are continuing a series of messages through the Old Testament book of Exodus… and we’re specifically learning about God’s nature, his character—God is revealing his name and what it means to be his people in our world.
Today we’re looking at the original Passover—you’ve probably seen it in the Disney film or something…
This is meditational literature, meaning there are so many parallels and connections to the origin story in Genesis. We are meant to reflect back, and forward to Christ, and to our own lives, as we respond to God’s invitations to trust him completely.
For example: In Genesis we read about a seven day creation, and in those seven days God spoke ten times.
…and here in Exodus, over ten plagues, God is speaking again, saying “let my people go…” and he’s addressing the snake (remember Genesis 3), who in this case is Pharaoh. The snake’s lack of acknowledgment or trust in Yahweh has put everyone in bondage. And God is about to free his people, those who will put their trust in him.
That exact same freedom is available for you and I…and through this last plague, allow me to show you how…
This is the last of the Ten Plagues, the absolute worst one of them all. Just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse…here is the death of all the Egypt’s firstborn…
1 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)
4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
9 The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
Whoa, the confrontation has reached a brutal climax! The slaughter of the Hebrew firstborn male babies (from chapters 1–2), is about to come back on Pharaoh and his people in an absolutely horrible way.
And then in chapter 12:1–28, there are instruction about how remember this moment—this Passover with a Festival of Unleavened Bread.
…and then in verse 29 the narrative pick up again
29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
…and then in verse 43 it goes back to more instructions for the Passover meal.
Most likely, Moses is writing this to a group of Israelites who are still wandering in the wilderness for forty years before entering into the land God had promised to them. Moses is situating them into the reality of who they are as the people of God. He’s reminding them of where they came from and where they are going. He’s documenting and teaching and inviting future generations, like you and I, what it means to live as the people of God.
A Story of Life and Death
A Story of Life and Death
You can think about the Exodus story as a second creation story—God is stepping into the chaos of disobedience and slavery…and he’s bringing order, he’s establishing identity, he’s bringing the new creation of a people who bear his image… but its costly. There are two major aspects of this story: death and life.
The story is told in a spare, straightforward way; there is no literary embellishment, no stopping to savor what happened to the Egyptians. There’s no pleasure in the death. It’s kind of solemn
It takes place in the darkness of the night, which matches the darkness of the deed. No household, no barnyard was spared, not one.
However appropriate to talk about judgment, of the genocide of all Hebrew baby boys not long ago, no one rejoices at the deaths of these children. Their lives ended because of what their adults had done.
Why not just any person from every Egyptian family? Remember that this is not an ethnic conflict, this is between Yahweh, the creator who is divine, and a human pretending to be divine and refusing to acknowledge any authority outside of himself.
This is a public statement as to God’s claim over Egypt, over all creation, God’s authority over the Egyptian people rather than Pharaoh’s. And out of the darkest of nights, God brings to life a people who will bear his image for the sake of the whole world.
We see the same story in the New Testament, in the life of the Messiah, the Christ—Jesus of Nazareth. More about that in a moment!
A Story of God’s Protection and Provision
A Story of God’s Protection and Provision
There’s an amazing contrast here, between Pharaoh’s complete lack of mercy, fueled by his fear of the Hebrews growing too strong, he throws every baby boy into the water. And so Yahweh’s turns his evil back on him, but for anyone who fears the word of Yahweh, anyone who would apply the blood to their doorframe, Yahweh promises to passover…
The word we translate “passover” is interesting… (פסח – pe-sach) is also translate as protect.
Exodus 12:23 (NIV)23 When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will פסח that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
The English word “protect” actually makes way more sense here. Why does that matter?
The picture is God lovingly hovering over their homes to protect them. Pharaoh is refusing to even acknowledge Yahweh and thus bringing destruction on all who trust him. But for those who trust Yahweh, they are protected…and, as we see in a moment, so much more.
Who is included in this protection? Anyone who fears the word of the Lord, here is a means of escape, your house can become a house/ark of refuge—going into the house…
Exodus 12:12–13 (NIV) 12 “On that same night 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. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
And the phrase "into the house" in Hebrew (hibiata), is the word for Noah's ark spelled backwards. What‽ The house becomes a little ark, where humans and animals go in together to escape, to be protected from God's judgement—echo's of Noah.
And, they have to stay in the house!
Exodus 12:22 (NIV) 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.
You must stay under the protection of Yahweh…
But while you’re in the house and having this special dinner, be ready to leave at a moments notice!
Exodus 12:11 (NIV) 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
Why eat quickly and ready to leave? And why not use yeast in the bread? Yahweh is teaching them to be ready to depart at a moment’s notice. They had to be ready to pivot quickly.
So do we. In this life we’re living, we follow the one who spoke the entire universe into existence, and we want him to have the freedom in our lives to direct and redirect at a moments notice. There really is someone in charge, and you and I, we’re not it! Staying under his protection means he gets to call all of the shots.
We use an unleavened bread as one of our communion elements…it reminds me of this principle every single week.
The Jesuits talk about this as “living with one foot raised,” a readiness to respond to whatever God is doing at any moment.
I think about it as being available for “divine appointments” throughout my daily life—opportunities that I hadn’t planned on, but that seem to pop up as I walk through the day—a conversation, an opportunity to pray for someone, or to lend a listening ear and a caring heart.
What would it look like to you to live a life where you’re ready to join with whatever God is doing at a moments notice?
And as you do, God’s provision will be there!
Exodus 12:35–36 (NIV) 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
Their reality drastically changed, from being slaves in a country who couldn’t imagine living without their forced labor, to being given all the resources necessary to live in the wilderness for forty years, to build a Tabernacle of worship to Yahweh—everything they needed and more was given to them!
I wonder if one of the reasons we don’t follow the resurrected Christ is that we don’t really trust his protection and provision? We organize our lives, our resources in such a way that we completely leave God out of the equation.
When I was younger and just beginning to make decent money, I remember a loving, older pastor challenging me with this thought: Michael, would you rather have 100% of the money you earn, and be completely on your own. Or would you rather have 90% and have Almighty God helping you?
The mistake we often make, the mistake I was making, is that I was looking at all my responsibilities, and feeling completely overwhelmed because I was leaving God out of the equation.
How might you be doing the same thing?
A Story where Our Actions Really Matter
A Story where Our Actions Really Matter
Our obedience, and our disobedience has serious consequences, and not just for ourselves, but for those around us.
To our modern ears, this story can seem quite brutal and unfair. What did all those firstborn people and animals do to deserve this? Aren’t they were as innocent as the Hebrew babies a few chapters ago.
God is showing the entire world that our obedience, and our disobedience has real consequences. Our submission and surrender to, or our refusal to acknowledge Yahweh has real consequences for ourselves, and for others.
all the firstborn die of Egypt because of Pharaoh's actions
Here’s something we learn from this part of Exodus… If you persist in acting like an Egyptian, you will be treated by God like them. We are to take the commands of Yahweh seriously.
and the freedom Yahweh brings to Israel is not just for them, but for anyone who will align their life with God, and as it turns out, with Christ Jesus.
Our actions matter for our lives and for the lives of others… not just for ourselves
I wonder how much we want to freedom and blessing and love of God without the responsibility of sharing it with others? inviting others to the party? throwing our arms as wide open as God has thrown his arms?
I’ll end with one more little point…
A Story of Current Identity, not just Ancient History
A Story of Current Identity, not just Ancient History
This embodies who you are! If you’re a follower of Christ, this story completely changes, rearranges your identity.
The calendar is reset around this event!
Exodus 12:2 (NIV) 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
Yahweh is saying, Here’s your new first month of the year, and its different from the surrounding cultures. For Israel, the New Year begins in the Spring, everyone else celebrated it in the Fall.
You’re going to be living in the world with everyone else, but your not organizing your life the same way they are…not at all. Your very calendar is going to be different. Your week is going to be organized differently—human, meet the sabbath!
Part of the next forty years in the wilderness is about the time necessary to learn a whole different way of life, organized around the worship of Yahweh.
Here’s another way to think about it… we are being adopted into an entirely different story…
There were others, non Hebrews who joined Israel in this Exodus.
Exodus 12:37–38 (NIV) 37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
There’s lots of room for anyone who will submit to, follow, and worship Yahweh…for anyone who wants freedom, its here for the asking!
As you become a part of this you’re acknowledging that we don't belong to ourselves, we belong to Yahweh.
This part about dedicating the firstborn of everything to God is not about sacrifice, but about belonging—about adoption
Romans 8:15 (NIV) 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Through the indwelling presence of God's Spirit we can experience being adopted as God's very own
…and "sonship" refers to all the rights and privileges and responsibilities of the firstborn son—the full inheritance
Romans 8:23 (NIV) 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
…the adoption has already taken place when we place our faith in Christ, and there's more to come, the full expression of it is still in the future…
Ephesians 1:5 (NIV) 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
…and this is what God has had planned since the very beginning!
As Israel reenacts the story of Passover each year, it’s not just a fictional story, like some sort of theater production. It’s also not just a religious ritual as many have assumed. It’s also not just a recollection of a past story.
In the reenactment of the Passover they are entering into the reality of that event in such a way as to be reconstituted as the people of God. As they celebrate the Passover they are reentering the reality of being the people of God
The same things is true for us as we take communion week after week after week. In this simple ritual we are entering into the salvation God is offering us. That’s why we do it each week.
We are thanking the Father for the gift of Christ, for the death of Christ on our behalf, celebrating that he’s risen from the grave and seated with God right now, and inviting the Spirit to fill us again and bring continued transformation to our lives.
Ephesians 1 is such a great summation of this…
Ephesians 1:1–14 (NIV)
…To God’s holy people in Ephesus [Duluth] , the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Before I release us to take communion together, let’s pray. And especially if you’ve never surrendered to Christ…