LESSON 12
THE PASSOVER & THE DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN
Ex. 12:21-51
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: 12:36
Introduction:
We must ever remember that while the Passover meant death for the firstborn in the land of Egypt, it also meant salvation to the firstborn in the land of Egypt, where the lamb had been slain and the blood applied. The Israelites were also sinners, and God had to intervene, if f they were to be saved. Rom. 5:20, Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
I. THE PASSOVER INSTITUTED vv. 21-30
A. Instructions For The Passover Given To Israel. v. 21-28
1. The lamb to be slain, v. 21.
a. There can be no salvation without a sacrifice, Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:12, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God”. Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
b. The lamb was the substitute for the firstborn. 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Romans 5:6, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
2. The blood of the lamb applied, v. 22.
a. Only through the shedding and application of the blood can there be salvation, Heb. 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
1) The life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
2) The blood of Christ is precious, 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
3) Salvation is through faith in the blood of Christ, Romans 3:25-26, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
b. The blood applied on the outside, v. 22.
NOTE: The blood on the outside is typical of the Godward side of the cross, that God might be satisfied. As they ate the lamb on the inside, they were satisfied. So are we, as we feed upon Christ.
c. They were to use a bunch of hyssop. Lev. 14:4,51-52; Num. 19:6; I Kings 4:33, And he spake of … the cedar tree … even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall….
d. They were not to go out of the house until the morning; their only protection was the blood.
3. The Lord would PASS OVER the blood, v. 23.
4. This ordinance to be kept by Israel, vv. 24-25.
5. They were to teach the lesson to their children, vv. 26-27. This is the very place where so many parents fail today. The message of Christ’s sacrifice to be taught in the home as well as the Church.
6. The obedience of the people, vv. 27-28.
7. The putting away of the leavened bread did not save them, but they did this because they were saved.
B. Infliction Of Death Upon The Firstborn. The 10th Plague, vv. 29-30.
1. Without a substitute the firstborn died. v. 29
2. NOW they take God seriously. It is so with the wicked now.
3. Christ the firstborn died for us. Matt. 1:25, And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Col. 1:14-15, In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
4. The great cry in Egypt. v. 30. This reminds us of what is going to happen in the Tribulation. Rev. 6:12-17, And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
II. THE DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL vv. 31-51
A. The Dismissal Of Israel. v. 31-36
1. Pharaoh urges that they depart. v. 31
2. They were to take their children and their flocks. v. 31-32
3. They were urged to go by the Egyptian people. v. 33
4. Israel did not delay. v. 34
5. Israel received great wealth. v. 35-36
B. The Departure of Israel. v. 37-39
1. The first stage of their journey. v. 37
2. Their great numbers. v. 37. Counting women and children there must have been at least two million.
3. The mixed multitude. v. 38.
a. These were likely other slaves from other nations. The mixed multitude then and now are a source of trouble. Num. 11:4, And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
b. While the Church should guard against this, it is likely that there will be tares among the wheat. Matt. 13:24-30, Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Luke 14:25-27,
4. They were thrust out. v. 39
C. The Fulfillment Of The 430 years. v. 40-42
1. The length of the sojourn. v. 40. While there are no contradictions or errors in the Bible, there are problems with no easy solution. In Exodus there are only 4 generation from Jacob to the exodus as promised in Gen. 15:16. Paul tells us that there were 430 years from the covenant with Abraham to the giving of the Law. Gal. 3:17. The Scripture does not say that they spent 430 years in Egypt, but that this was the length of their sojourn. In Heb. 11:9-10, we are told that Abraham sojourned in the land of promise. One possible solution is that the 430 years included their sojourning in Canaan and Egypt. From Abraham’s departure from Haran, until Jacob went down into Egypt was exactly 215 years. (For proof compare Gen. 12:4; 21:5; 25:26; and 47:9.) If this 215 years is included in the 430, then they spent 215 years in Egypt. This is a problem that we should approach with humility. We are confident that the Scriptures are right, and all we need to do is rightly divide them. Gen. 15:13; Acts 7:6
2. They were now the “hosts of the Lord.” v. 41. They had been bought and paid for, by the Lord. I Cor. 6:19-20, What? know ye not thatyour body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
3. A night to be much observed. v. 42
D. Precepts For The Passover. v. 43-51
1. The stranger (v. 43), the hired servant (v. 45), and the uncircumcised (v. 48) were not to eat the Passover.
2. The bought servant (v. 44), and the sojourning stranger who would submit to circumcision (v.48), could eat it. No doubt some would disagree with God’s regulation on this, but it was the Lord’s word that counted. The same problem arises about the Lord’s Supper, but only those who have been saved and and Scripturally baptized and walking with the Lord in that local Church are invited to eat thereof.
3. The male alone was circumcised, but the female was represented by the male. So in the cross Christ represented His own and we are crucified with him, because He represented us. Gal. 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
—Outline by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Who did the passover lamb become a substitute for?
2. There can be no salvation without a
3. Why was it needful to put the blood on the outside, if the lamb had been slain anyway?
4. Where on the outside was the blood to be applied?
5. What did they use to apply the blood with?
6. When could they leave their houses?
7. Did the putting away of leaven save them? Why?
8. Did Pharaoh again ask for Israel to leave anything behind?
9. Israel journeyed from ____________ to ________________.
10. How many men left Egypt? How many people in all left?
11 . What was the length of their sojourn?
12. Why are they called the “hosts of the Lord ?”
13. Which three classes of people were not allowed to eat the Passover?
14. What was necessary before bought servants and sojourning strangers could eat the Passover?