Imagine with me in the Old Testament when Moses was asking Pharoah to let God's people go so they could worship their God. Do you remember the battle of the plagues? There were ten in total. Each plague was used to illustrate that God was greater than any other god. Egypt had many gods that "plagued" the land. God used the plagues to demonstrate His sovereignty over all of creation. His people were to worship Him and Him alone. They were to have no idols before Him.
But the final last plague came with a warning and promise.
And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” (Exodus 4:21-23)
We must first recognize that Pharoah was viewed as a god. The last and final plague was to prove God's power and authority over Pharoah and Egypt.
This is where our illustration began. My professor shared...
Imagine all of the different families across Egypt as word spread that Moses said, "You must cover the lentil of our door posts with the blood of a lamb that has been sacrificed. When the Spirit of God passes over Egypt when He sees the blood, He will Passover and the first born son will be saved from death. If there is no blood covering the first born sons in that household will die."
One family in fear would cover the door frame with great detail ensuring the blood covered the frame and lentil completely trying to not miss a spot. Focused on the details. Painting up and down as their hands shook wondering if they got it right.
Another family would argue over what makes up the lentil and the frame while loudly discussing how much to stroke across the top and down the sides. Their voices tense and rude with one another.
Yet, while another family known for being noisy and finding laughter in everything, would slap the blood on in swift strokes across the lentil and fast strokes down the frame while laughing and telling stories to each other. Not really caring if it covered every nook and cranny. Having fun despite the seriousness of the situation.
While another family will ignore the command to cover the lentil and frame. They didnt feel the need, but they felt they had peace about their relationship with God. He would pass over because they were good. So they would ignore the command about covering the lentil and door frame with the blood of the lamb because they were too busy focused on other things that distracted them.
Which family's experienced the blessing of death passing over them?
I hope you said, the three that put the blood on the lentil and frame.
Their emotions and discussions DID NOT play a factor in what God did. However, their obedience did matter. For the LORD said, "When I see the blood, I will pass on." It did not matter if it was a lot or a small amount. It simply mattered that they obeyed and were covered by the sacrifice of the blood of the lamb.
While the family that did nothing suffered because they did not obey. They lost their first born sons that resided in their homes because they did not cover their door with the blood of the lamb.
Often, we make excuses for our lack of obedience because of a feeling. We feel, "I am okay with God. I have peace. I am good", but if we do not obey His Word, we do not honor Him.
In our own way, culturally we have made ourselves little gods. We make our feelings, wants, and desires that are contrary to the Word of God more important than God. That is false worship. It is the worship of ME. What I want, they way I want it, and when I want it. These feelings will not save us. Only obedience to God's Word will bring forth His grace.
As I have been meditating on this for several weeks, God gave me this visual in a painting to show what the coverings could have looked like. One morning, I woke up with the image of the cross and Jesus' blood in the middle of the doors.
Just as God provided a plan for Moses and the people of God to get out of bondage many years ago, He has provided for us a way to have His covering for eternal life. It is believing that God sent Jesus to die on the cross, rise from the dead, conquer sin once and for all (John 3:16). We are given the promise that if we believe in Jesus, we will have the gift of eternal life. It is His shed blood that covers us and causes death to passover eternally.
Have you covered your heart with the blood of the Lamb?
Jesus' blood sacrifice is the covering we are given as our promise today. This is how we get His presence with us and are able to walk in true worship of God.
Shalom! Shalom!
