What We Learned:
Exodus Chapter 12
According to the web when summarizing this chapter, Copilot says, “This chapter emphasizes themes of deliverance, obedience to the commands, of GOD and the importance of tradition. It marks a turning point in the Israelites history as they prepare for their liberation from Egyptian bondage.”
The chapter is the ending to a new beginning. The LORD is getting ready to make all things new for the Hebrew children. No more bondage to the Egyptians.
We begin with the Passover instructions from The LORD. The Passover Meal. The final plague and the promise of protection. This chapter ends with GOD’s final plaque against Egypt, the Exodus of the Hebrew children, and The LORD’s instructions on the Passover meal and the obedience of the Hebrew children to the WORDS of GOD.
Golden Text: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats” (Verse 5) GOD wants our very best!
1 And The LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Look at this – The LORD told Moses and Aaron to tell the Hebrew children to change their calendar. The new year would start with the month of their deliverance from Egypt. Guzik said this was GOD’s way of saying, “Everything is about to change.”
Sometimes, we have to start anew and let GOD make all things new for us. We have to be willing to let go of the old to move to what The LORD has for us.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
GOD was giving very specific instructions. There was no room for error – for disobedience. The LORD said, to take a lamb, not cattle, or a chicken but a lamb on the tenth of this first month. The lamb was to live with the family for four days until Passover.
The LORD even made provisions for smaller homes. There should be at least 10 people for each Passover lamb and not more than 20.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
The LORD did not want just any lamb but, a lamb without blemish (injury) of any kind, had to be a male lamb of one year old. It had to be a perfect lamb. The LORD always wants our best and HE is worthy of it.
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
This was very important for the Hebrew children to obey these instructions if they wanted to live to see another day.
Before this lamb could be eaten, its blood had to be put on the doorway of the home, at the top, and on each side of the door. The only part of this sacrifice given to The LORD was the blood.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs, they shall eat it.
After applying the blood to the doorposts, they could eat the lamb only after being roasted with fire. They could eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs could be eaten as well.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Again, The LORD was very specific on how the lamb was to be eaten and prepared.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remains of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
If any of the lamb was left the next day, it must be burned with fire. You could not eat it.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is The Lord’s Passover.
The LORD told the Hebrew children how to dress, to have shoes on their feet and a staff in their hand, and to eat in haste. For this was The LORD’s Passover.
The Passover lamb had to be eaten in faith, trusting that GOD was going to do what HE said HE would do.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I AM The LORD.
Now GOD was warning the Hebrew children what was to come in this night. The firstborns in the land would die even the firstborn of the animals.
This night GOD would show all that HE was ALMIGHTY GOD and there was no other GOD but HIM.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.
This is why it was important for the Hebrew children to be obedient to the very WORD of GOD. They could not veer to the left or the right but to do what The LORD had told them to do. We sometimes do our own thing and wonder why things did not work out as The LORD said they would.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to The LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
This day The LORD said would be a memorial and the Hebrew children were to keep it as a feast to The LORD forever more through every generation.
15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
This was a strong warning here. For seven days only unleavened bread could be eaten and if any person ate any leavened bread they would be cut off from Israel and they would no longer be considered one of GOD’s chosen children. They would no longer be protected or receive the promises under the covenant.
Guzik said, “Passover began on the tenth; on the 14th they ate Passover, and this was the first day of unleavened bread. Then for the next seven days, they ate only unleavened bread.”
16 And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Remember the sabbath day to keep it Holy.
I remember growing up. People truly took the Sabbath day seriously. They did not cook, they only warmed up what they cooked the night before. The did not work around the house. This was serious. It does not seem like it is taken seriously in the times we are living in now.
17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore, shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.
18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
No leavened bread could even be found in their homes. To disobey GOD for such a simple thing would result in a catastrophic event. The person would be cut off from Israel. They would no longer be one of GOD’s chosen children.
It is the same with us today. When we disobey GOD and do not follow HIS Commandments, we are cut off from The LORD and if we die in these sins – we shall be forever cut off in hell.
20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Leaven was compared to sin and corruption among the people. Paul said in Galatians 5:9 “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” We all know a little yeast will affect the flour.
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover.
The Elders were expected to lead the people in what to do. They were to make sure to take the lamb out and according to the families to kill the Passover lamb.
22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssops, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason, and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
The LORD again gave specific instructions. To take hyssops, dip them in the blood and put the blood above the doorpost and on each side. Then The LORD said after this is done, do not leave your home until morning.
Again, all of this required obedience to The LORD and faith in HIM and HIS WORD.
23 For The LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when HE sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, The LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
The LORD said to the Hebrew children. If you listen to me, you will be safe, you and your family.
24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.
Guzik said, “Passover was the greatest work of redemption performed in the Old Testament side of the cross. The deliverance of Passover was not only for them but for their children and all generations to follow.”
The Jewish people to this day celebrate Passover and some CHRISTians do as well.
25 And it shall come to pass, when ye come to the land which The LORD will give you, according as HE has promised, that ye shall keep this service.
The LORD said even after HE delivered the Hebrew children, they were still expected to keep the Passover celebration.
Sometimes, when GOD delivers us we forget about all that we promised HIM and all about HIM at times.
26 And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
The LORD knew the generations after would ask about Passover and The LORD told them what they were to say.
27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of The LORD’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed their heads and worshipped.
Guzik said, “In Passover, there was a two-fold work. First, an enemy was defeated (The LORD struck the Egyptians). Second, GOD’s people were set free and given a new identity, with new promises, a new walk, and a new life altogether (delivered households).
28 And the children of Israel went away and did as The LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
The Hebrew children were obedient to The LORD.
29 And it came to pass, that at midnight The LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
The LORD did as HE said. All the firstborns were smitten. No one could hide.
This is the same GOD we serve today. People treat GOD as though HE is not GOD. GOD is no ONE to play with.
30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
This is deep. The Bible tells us in Egypt there was not one house where there was not one dead person in it. The firstborn of all the Egyptians would die that night.
31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve The LORD, as ye have said.
No more playing around. Pharoah was ready to let the Hebrew children go. Why do we have to suffer so much to turn to GOD? My own testimony would be one of destruction if I had not looked to The LORD and asked HIM to save me.
32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
Pharoah was not trying to hold onto anything. He said to take all that you have an “be gone.” He wanted the Hebrew children out. He also wanted them to bless him. Wow, this is very interesting. Pharoah knew for sure that GOD was truly GOD. Guzik said, “Pharoah came to knowledge only after being broken.” Wow, that is a testimony many of us have.
Pharoah was the cause of his destruction, not the Hebrew children.
Remember The LORD told Moses that when the time came Pharoah would drive the Hebrew children out of the Egyptian land. GOD’s WORD will be sure to happen.
33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
All the Egyptians wanted the Hebrew children out of their land. GOD got their attention this time.
34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
No leavened bread would have survived the trip. It would have spoiled quickly. Crackers last longer than bread.
35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses, and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
Look at this when they left, they did not leave empty-handed. Their taskmasters, their oppressors, gave them jewels of gold and silver and clothes. Only GOD can make your enemies your footstool but you have to be obedient.
The Egyptians paid the Hebrew children to leave.
36 And The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
The LORD put favor on the Hebrew children. I do believe we can all testify to this.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
Hallelujah. Israel was now free. Sometimes when GOD tells us something. We expect it right then and there, but The LORD works on HIS time not on our time and HE always knows what is best for us.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them, and flocks, and herds, even very many cattle.
So other people left Egypt with the Hebrew children. There were some Egyptians who left and other people as well. They knew who the true GOD was.
39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
We see here that the Hebrew children only had time to get unleavened bread and nothing else. GOD allowed it and there was a reason for it. Faith and trust in GOD were needed for this journey. Faith and trust in GOD are needed for our journey in the land of the living.
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
This is a long time.
41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42 It is a night to be much observed unto The LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of The LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
This was something that each generation would remember and observe. They had been delivered from Egypt. It is like what CHRIST did for us. Delivering us all from our Egypt’s bondage of sin that was leading us to death – to hell.
43 And The LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof.
Those who left Egypt with the Hebrew children could only participate in Passover if they were to become the Hebrew children. This included circumcision.
44 But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Once the men became circumcised, they could observe Passover.
45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
If a person remained a foreigner or a hired servant, they could not participate in Passover.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
The food was to be eaten in one house as a family. None of the Passover lamb’s bones were to be broken. Not one.
Remember JESUS had not one bone broken during HIS crucifixion.
47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Guzik said, “All who were part of Israel had to commemorate the Passover redemption. You couldn’t be part of GOD’s people and not share in Passover.
Guzik said, “In this sense, Passover means all this and more to CHRISTians. “Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed CHRIST our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the Passover to The LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourned among you.
50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as The LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
The Hebrew children kept the commandments of GOD that Moses gave to them from GOD. Their faith and obedience to GOD save them and their children and family.
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that The LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
I like how Guzik’s commentary ended this chapter. He said, “When Israel left Egypt, it was a nation born in a day. It was as if the 430 years were a time of Gestation when the baby grew large. The plagues were like labor pains before birth and now the nation was born.
Name one thing new you learned or something that you can apply to your life.
When GOD says it – look for it. When GOD says it get ready for it.
Last Week’s Question – What message did you get out of this chapter in Exodus?
This Week’s Question – How does The HOLY SPIRIT speak to us today?
Prayer: FATHER GOD in the MIGHTY NAME of YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. LORD, we ask that you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to pray for us and not our flesh – for flesh does not know how to pray. LORD, please help us to just be obedient and trust in YOU no matter what the circumstance might be. Even when we don’t understand. Even when it is impossible for all of mankind. Let us remember that YOU are GOD and there is no other. LORD, please give us strength to believe when we find it hard to believe. Help us with our beliefs. Thank YOU, FATHER GOD for YOUR continued love, grace, and mercy over our lives. LORD, please continue to create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us, and lead us in the righteous way that is pleasing to you in JESUS’ NAME we pray. In JESUS NAME we Thank YOU, LORD. Amen.