Exodus 12:13 KJV 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.
After Egypt suffered a series of plagues, first attacking their gods of water, air and land, the plagues continued with a focus on the economy. When all seemed hopeless to the Egyptians with many turning their backs on their old gods, none of them could stand up to the One true and living God. At last the warning of a final plague was announced. It began by establishing a new era in time. God declared that day would be a new year, and a new beginning. This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (Exodus 12:2 KJV).
Each family was to choose a lamb without blemish, a male of the first year and set it aside by itself for four days. In the fourteenth day of the month, they were to kill the lamb, take the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of their home.
Exodus 12:22 KJV And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, 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.
Imagine being the father of a home. You’ve been a slave all your life. Your father was a slave and your grandfather was a slave. The worst part is watching your children live a life of slavery. The man is the priest, warrior and king of the home. What kind of king and warrior can you be living under the yoke of bondage? Always long hours of work, little rest and food. The threat of severe punishment hang over you like the relenting sun in summer. The days, weeks, years pass by. Death appears more like a release than a fear. You have no idea what keeps you going from day to day. No hope, little joy, no freedom, or future. One day that all seems to change. A strange man comes, someone you remember from years past. He used to be a prince of Egypt, but claims to be God’s deliverer. At first spirits are high, but the taskmasters soon crush any hope. Then this man seems to control the elements. What is happening? Do these things happen by chance, or are they the hand of God finally moving to free His people?
You look on as neighboring villages are flattened by rain, burnt with hail, and crops eaten by the worst plague ever seen. But your crops flourish, just as Moses and Aaron promised. Could this be the hand of God? You look on as groups of Egyptians come to the homes of slaves for relief. This is something new, masters coming to slaves for safety. Only a few at first, but with each plague the numbers increase. You listen to the stories of cattle dying, fields wasted and hope vanquished. They turned from one god to another for help. It seemed like every god in Egypt turned against them. Finally they realized how powerless their gods were. What could the Israelites tell Egypt about the God causing all these plagues?
At last the role of priest returned as the men were able to share their knowledge of God with Egyptians. Slaves from other nations also began turning to Israelites in an effort to learn about their God. At first the concept of One God seemed strange to them. As they learned the story of creation, the flood, how God choose one man, Abraham, and brought the nation of Israel from one son, they began to understand. It felt good to share, to lead people to God. For the first time in their lives they received a taste of freedom.
The first thing God restored in Israel was the role of priest in the family. The father, leader of the family and now priest, went out on the evening of the fourteenth day to slay the lamb. He took the blood and sprinkled it on the sides and top of the door post using a hyssop branch. This reminded them of their years of toil as a slaves. It was the toughest weed to remove. It not only had a deep tap root, but spreading roots to grow back from. It seeded fast and early in the season. Pulling each weed sent thousands of seeds out in every direction. After generations it seemed they would never defeat the weed.
We all have weeds in our lives, in our hearts trying to choke out the seeds God sends us. We also have weeds all over this world trying to snuff out the light we receive from God’s Spirit, telling us it can’t be done, or this and that has to be added to God’s message. Why can’t the world just accept the simple message of salvation? The Son of God, who the Passover lamb pointed to.
Matthew 26:2 KJV Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Mark 14:1 KJV After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
The weeds of this world are difficult to get rid of. Look what did Jesus’ disciples do when He shared this news with them. They argued over who was going to be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. They didn’t listen to the simple message. The disciples missed the point. They had no idea what the plan of salvation was until after they witnessed Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. It took everything God could show them to see Jesus was for real, and the plan of salvation was almost complete. The question is, do we really see? Do we really understand God’s plan, or are we like the disciples, arguing? You know, unity is a sign of understanding. God’s message brings unity. Look for it. I know you can find it in the Scriptures, the simple message and evidence of unity. It is all over the New Testament, and the Old. Your heart has to be as hard as Pharaoh’s to miss it.