For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, NIV
Read: Exodus 12:1-13
Generations after Adam and Eve, the effects of sin continue to plague the human race. In the last devotional we saw how in spite of human failings, through experiences of doubting God, cheating and deceit, God still worked through human frailty to preserve the generational line. The promised messiah would come to take away the sins of the world.
In the image of the first lamb sacrifice offered by Adam to the unforgettable image of Abraham with a raised knife over his precious son Isaac, we see a grim preview of what sin would cost our father, God. Through the offsprings of Isaac, the genealogy of a promise continues.
For many years after Joseph rose to be second in command in Egypt, the children of Israel lived comfortable lives in Egypt. Joseph had arranged for his father Jacob and the extended family to join him in Egypt in the country of Goshen. But the cancer of sin could only be cured by the ultimate blood sacrifice that would make its entry into the world in years to come.
After an extended period of peaceful living in Egypt, “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt” (Exodus 1:8, NIV). And suddenly the lives of God’s people changed for the worse–they became slaves. Isn’t it sad how fragile peace can be in human relationships? When the pharaoh changed, the circumstances of the children of Israel changed.
But God had a plan. Won’t He do it?? He sent a deliverer, a man called Moses, to lead the way out of Egyptian slavery. How did He convince the Egyptians to let His people go? Well, let’s just say that he gave them ten strong reasons why it was in their best interest to do so–a series of plagues. The final of the ten plagues was the most symbolic. The angel of death would visit the land and kill the first born son of each household. But the children of God could be spared if they sacrificed a lamb and used the blood to paint the door post of their house.
In any home that was so painted, the angel of death would pass over that house and spare the life of the first born son. In many ways, this moment was a hard reminder of the awful effect of sin – “you shall surely die.” At the same time, it was a hope filled reminder of the coming Lamb of God – Jesus Christ, His son–who would die to take away the sins of the world.
The Passover lamb was the promise of hope for a sin infested world. It was a precious gift wrapped in blood as a reminder of the high cost of our right to discipleship.
REFLECT: God sacrificed His own son for our right to discipleship. In what practical ways are we called to practice sacrificial living as His disciples?
Live deep; laugh much.
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