Exodus 12:21-3621Then 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. 22And 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. 23For 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. 24And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25And 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. 26And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27That 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. 28And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29And 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. 30And 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. 31And 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. 32Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33And 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. 34And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35And 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: 36And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:21‑36).
FULL instructions had been given about how they were to keep the passover and the feast of unleavened bread, hut it was not enough to know all about these things: the children of Israel must act. Moses said, "Draw out and take you a lamb." Perhaps the reader of these lines may know all about Christ, but have you received Him for your own personal need? If not, we plead with you to do so now, before the night of judgment comes upon this Egypt-world.
"A bunch of hyssop was to be used to sprinkle the blood on the lintel and side posts of their homes. Hyssop was a common weed, and it would remind us of how useless we are in ourselves—only fit for the fire of judgment. Some people do not like to admit this. I was speaking to a lady today who said she did not think she deserved to go to hell. She was satisfied with her own good works and did not feel her need of Christ as her Saviour. She refused to take her place as a sinner—just a useless "bunch of hyssop" fit for the fire—and therefore she would not have the shed blood of Christ to shelter her from judgment. God did not say, "When I see how good you are," for "There is none good, no not one." But God said "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." You and I are just as useless as a bunch of hyssop in ourselves, but through Christ's finished work we are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6,6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
Perhaps their children would ask why they kept the passover, and they were to be ready to explain. God told them exactly what to say. Our children often ask questions too! Are we ready to answer them from God's Word? May we always (lo so for the Lord's honor and glory.
I suppose while these instructions and warnings were being given to the Children of Israel, the Egyptians were having a good time; but their good time did not last very long, for the promised judgment came, and then what an awakening there was: There was one dead in every home where the blood had not been sprinkled. People do not like to have their rest disturbed now, but the Egyptians were surely disturbed that night, but it was too late. What an awakening there will be for this poor world when the Lord comes and takes His own to heaven. Their rest will surely be disturbed then, as they cry, "Lord, Lord, open to us;" only to find that it is forever too late.
Pharaoh called for Moses and told him they could go, and take their children, their flocks, and everything they had. The- Egyptians seemed to be glad to be rid of them. They gave them all they needed for their journey, too; and the children of Israel went gladly, for they were READY. The world today is becoming weary of the true Christian and his testimony for Christ, and they would like to get us out of the way. Not long ago a very well educated man said, "We could do without any of those Christians!" Well, he is going to have his wish, perhaps sooner than he expects, but it will be a sorry day for him when they are all gone and he finds the door of grace shut forever. "And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Matt, 25:10.
Messages of God’s Love 5/1/1949