3 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Exodus 11:1-12:42
Matthew 18:21-35

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Exodus 12:26-27 (CSB): “When your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he struck the Egyptians, and he spared our homes.’ So the people knelt low and worshiped.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

God loves pictures, and the Old Testament is filled with them! Many Old Testament people and events provide a shadow of a reality presented in the New Testament.

One of the abundantly clear pictures is the Old Testament Passover. The New Testament reality of that picture is how Jesus saves us from our sins.

Just look at a few of the ways that the Passover points to our salvation found in Jesus:

PassoverSalvation
Israel was in slavery in Egypt, but God delivered themAs unbelievers, we were enslaved to sin and Satan (Romans 6:16-18; Colossians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:25-26)
God broke Egypt before setting Israel freeJesus defeated sin and death on our behalf before He saved us (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 3:8)
A sacrificial lamb was killed, and its blood was shedJesus was the “Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)
The lamb died as a substitute in the place of the death of the firstborn sonJesus died as the substitute of everyone who trusts in Him for salvation (Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Israelites were required to believe God’s words and act on them (kill the lamb, put its blood on the door posts) in order to be sparedThe work of salvation is done in our hearts when we believe the Gospel and act on it by repenting and trusting in Jesus (John 3:16; Acts 20:20-21)
The Passover lamb protected those who obeyed God’s word from His wrath and death angelTrusting in Jesus protects those who are saved from God’s wrath and eternal death (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:3-5)
The Passover was a new beginning for the IsraelitesSalvation is a new beginning for those who trust in Jesus (John 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

God loved illustrating New Testament truths in the Old Testament stories and precepts. So, look for them as you continue to read the Old Testament this year. Don’t force anything on the text; don’t make God’s Word say something it doesn’t. But you will be delighted to see how many New Testament shadows are cast upon the Old Testament.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to give you a greater hunger to study and understand His Word.
  • Ask God to help you see things in His Word you’ve never seen before so that each Bible reading is approached with excitement and anticipation.
  • Ask God to help you apply what you learn from Him. God’s Word was never intended simply to fill our minds; it was intended to direct our thinking and behavior.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the significance of the Passover Lamb, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What is the Passover Lamb?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)