Exodus 12 Commentary
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The LORD begins by changing Israel’s calendar. The thought is to restart with Israel. It is an attempt to return to the good times of Genesis 1. The LORD is quick to want to fix things and start afresh – often too quick for the minds that want to live in the past.
In fact every day is called today. Today if you hear HIS voice do not harden your heart. HIS mercies are new every morning. So changing the calendar should be viewed as yet another attempt to start afresh with Israel.
Changing Israel’s calendar marks the beginning of the renewal. Blessings would be declared again on conditions similar to the conditions given to father Abraham – righteousness. An attempt would be made to show how Israel would relate with her God. The Levites would be an important tribe in this effort (hence the Book of Leviticus). Israel’s reaction isn’t a complete success and so we see the Abrahamic blessing hitting another low point, but that is for later chapters.
The symbols presented here are an important representation of redemption that we now have with the cross. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. In the immediate context Israel was commanded to observe the Passover in order to escape death. In the long term the Passover would be fulfilled by the SEED laying down his own life for fallen humanity. Humanity must eat the Lamb otherwise death occurs.
The Christian message is simple; observe the Passover or die. Eat the Lamb or die. Eat the bread of life or die. Eat his body or die. Holy Communion is a celebration of the decision to eat the Lamb – the Passover Lamb. The symbolism is deeply important for our Christian walk. For example; the blood that was painted on door posts is representing the blood of Jesus that was spilled for our salvation.
The LORD hints on the purpose for the mighty works in Egypt – to bring judgment on the Egyptian gods – to prove that they are useless. How we need to be reminded of this fact!
The last sign is sounded and Pharaoh bows down in grief. Israel must go out. Fast. It’s has been 430 years in Egypt!
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