This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

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EXODUS
CHAPTER 12

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. 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 neighbour 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.

Moses receives instructions here for the most important feast of the Hebrews.
It is the feast of "Passover."
God tells him that this will be the month which begins the calendar for
the Jewish people. It is month called "Abib" here, and later referred to
as the month "Nisan."
It is in this month that God "delivered" or saved the nation of the Hebrews
out of the land of their captivity (Egypt). And the feast of Passover symbolically
represents the salvation that God gives all people who are enslaved to SIN.

Verses 1-28 of this chapter deal with the details of how to prepare the Passover.
This meal, you will notice, is instituted by the Lord and will continue "forever."
Passover gets its name from the fact that the "death angel" passed over the Hebrews
who followed God's directions, and did NOT pass over the Egyptians. Rather, during
this time, God brought death to every first-born of Egypt.

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: 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.

The lamb must be penned on the tenth day of the month and inspected for four days. It
must have no "blemish."
This "lamb" is prophetic of Jesus, "the Lamb of God," Who had NO sin.
The lamb was not for individuals, but for families; although each individual must willingly
participate. This is prophetic of Christ being the "LAMB" for the WHOLE family of
God; but each individual must willingly surrender to Him.

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 verse is very important for understanding the crucifiction of Jesus. Leviticus 23:5 says
this sacrifice was to be held in the "evening." Traditionally, the High Priest would offer a single
lamb for himself, and then one for the whole congregation. This was done at the "evening" sacrifice
on the fourteenth day of "Abib - Nisan" at 3:00PM. The time 3:00PM is translated from the "ninth hour." (See Lev. 23:5, Matt. 27:46-50, Mark 15:33-37, Luke 23:43-44, & 1Cor. 5:7)
It was at this time in 30 A.D. that Jesus died on the cross and His Spirit flew through the
temple and "rent the vail" which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Therefore, Jesus has made entrance to God which is immediately available to ANY person who
surrenders to Him.

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 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. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

The Passover Lamb was to be roasted - not boiled or fried.
Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was tested in the fiery judgment of Almighty God and found "not guilty."
Therefore, His expiation for our sins is able to make us perfectly righteous before
God if we ask His forgiveness and surrender to His will.

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.

They were to eat the meal as if they were in a hurry and ready to travel. This exemplified
faith and trust that God would indeed be true to His Word and cause Pharoah to let them go.

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. 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.

The blood of the lamb was to be placed on the door post in belief of God's Word and trusting that
He would "pass over" those who believed. It is trust that Jesus' blood made vicarious atonement
for you and me that causes the judgment of eternal death to "pass over" us.

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 for ever. 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. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an 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. 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 for ever. 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. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

The Passover initiated another feast which was to be observed "forever" in all of the Hebrew "generations."
This feast is called the feast of "Unleavened Bread." Beginning with the Passover meal, they
were to eat unleavened bread for seven days. A special congregational meeting for worship was required
on the day after Passover, and also on the following Sabbath (vs 16).
Leaven, in the Bible, is often a symbol of SIN. Leaven is yeast, and will cause bread dough to
rise; but it will also cause the dough to be corrupted if it is left uncooked.
Sin in your life will cause corruption and decay if it is not confessed before Holy God and tried
in the fires of forgiveness.

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. 22 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. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth 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. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 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 the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

Moses reiterated God's directions to the elders of Israel, who relayed them to all the people.
There is a very important thought in verse 26. We should enact our faith so as to inspire questions
from our children - and others. Then, we should "...be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..." (1Peter 3:15).
For instance, do you know how to answer someone if they ask: "Why do you attend church so often?"
Or, could you answer if someone asked you: "Why is your personality so different?"

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. 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. 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. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 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. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 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: 36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

When the Lord caused the death of the first-born as He had said, Pharoah called for Moses in the
middle of the night. He was indeed ready to "let them go!" And he had no qualms about them
going according to their own demands.
Notice that he asked for Moses to "bless" him - verse 32. As God had promised, the Israelites found
great favor with the Egyptians and were able to take away great riches. I'm sure the Egyptians
were quite willing to give the Israelites ANYTHING in order to see them leave!

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 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.

God first led them South by Southeast to Succoth, then South by Southeast to Etham (see Chapter 13:20);
then South by Southwest to Pihahiroth (see Chapter 14:1). This pattern was to confuse Pharoah and delay him.
Notice the number of men - 600,000. A "man" was not considered "of age" until he was about 30 years old.
So each man probably represents about four people (or more). This would mean that some 2,400,000 people
left Egypt.
They had been in Egypt 430 years, and had grown from 70 to 2&1/2 MILLION!!
They took with them some other people (verse 38) who believed. These later became a snare to them
(see Numbers 11:4).
They took the unleaved bread dough because they had no time to prepare food for the journey (verse 39).

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. 43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 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. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 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 sojourneth among you. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 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.

Here is an account of how important is this event. It became the central point for every year
after that for the nation of the Hebrews. It was important spiritually for the observance of Passover could
only be observed by those of "circumcised" families.
How could "circumcision" SAVE anyone? It can't. Circumcision takes place in a child when he
is not old enough to understand what's happening. Obviously this is not an act of "will," or a
purposeful decision on the part of the child.
However, it is an act of will on the part of the parents. They are determining to TEACH this
child according to God's Word. The same applies to "baby dedication" in Christian families today.
Now if a "stranger," or one OUTSIDE the family, came and wanted to participate in the things
of God, he had to first be circumcised. Much like baptism today. The circumcision (or baptism) doesn't
SAVE anyone. But it is a "profession of faith" in the truths of God.
Therefore, if a person wanted to be "SAVED," he must first "PROFESS FAITH" in God by circumcision.
And today, if a person wants to be saved, he must first profess faith in the truths of God by trusting
Jesus as his expiation for sin, and surrendering to Him as Lord of his life.

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.