The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-24
Read Exodus Had to 1886
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Study Exodus lZ:Zl-Z6
The refusal of Pharaoh to let
Israel leave Egypt was followed
within nine or ten months by nine
great plaques which brought no
better results. 1t was certain
however that the tenth would
prove effectual. And so with the
final plague in immediate prog
pect, the Hebrews asked Of the
Egyptians the jewels which were
readily and gladly given, the
Passover was infinitely planned
and faithfully observed, the death
angel went on his dread mission,
and then dawned the day of
Israers deliverance.
PREPARATION BY SACRIFICE
The Lamb Must be Slain. The
patriarchal idea of sacrifice re-
appears after what was appar-
emily long period of suspension.
The instructions are issued in
time for all the people to hear
and heed them. The first step is
to be taken on the tenth day of
the month when lamb is to be
provided for each household; or,
'if the household be too little for
the lamb" then two neighbors
may join in its purchase, prepare
ton, and consumption. A sub
stantial flesh diet would physic-
ally prepare the people for the
hard march they were soon to en-
ter upon, while in its typical as
poets no animal was so well suit
ed to the purpose as the lamb.
Not any kind of lamb would be
accepted. 1t must be "a male of
the first year." and so in the full
ness of its vigor; without blem-
ish," and so free from any defect
or deformity; separated from
the sheep, or from the goats"
and thus set apart for holy pur-
poses; kept up until the four
teenth day of the same month"
thus receiving special care and
winning intimacy with the family
it was to serve; and finally, as in
every family throughout "the
whole assembly of the congrega-
ton of Israel" it should be- slain
as the first shades of the Pass
over night came on.
PREPARATION BY
SUBSTITUTION
The Blood Must be Sprinkled.
When the lamb was slain the first
thing to be done was to apply its
blood according to divine direc-
ton: "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 was test both
of their faith and Of their obedi-
ence, each of which was essential
in the new life the Hebrews were
now entering. But for the use of
the blood in strict accordance
with instructions, obedience in
every other detail would have
been useless.
PREPARATION BY
SUSTENANCE
The Supper Men be Eaten. The
blood was the more important be-
cause it secured deliverance from
the destroying angel, but the
flesh was essential in that it qua
lifted for the departure from
bondage and was sign of the
covenant with Jehovah. Firt of
all, the lamb must be properly
prepared: 1t must not be eaten
raw, nor must it be boiled, but
"roast with fire; his head with
his legs, and with the purtenance
thereof" and so no bones were
to be broken. 1t must be eaten
with unleavened bread and with
bitter herbs, significant of the
fact that Israel was now turning
from the leaven of Egyptian de-
Element and the bitterness of
Egyptian bondage. The whole of
the lamb was to be eaten, or the
remnants to be burned by the
morning, thus forestalling super
stitution. And finally, the feast
should be partaken in the atti-
tude of departure with your
loins girded, your shoes on your
feet, and your staff in your
hand"
PREPARATION BY
SALVATION
The Salvation Must be Accept
ed. With the announcement of the
feast came also the forecast of
the divine stroke which should
break the letters of all Israel.
The tenth plague would show the
supremacy of Jehovah. In that
hour of universal dread and
death, the safety of the Israelities
would lie only in their obedience.
The blood about the doorway
would evince their faith and
cause the death-angel to pass
them over. So their security was
centered in the atoning blood.
PREPARATION BY SERVICE
The Ordinance Must be Under
stood. Even before it's institu-
ton the Passover was declared o
nermanent ordinance IF the es-