The Passover

By:
Narrator: Chris Genthree
Exodus 12:7  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
It is instructive to note where the blood was sprinkled. Not at all on the fourth or lower side. Why was this? True, the blood of the lamb was not to be trampled upon; but does it seem that such is the special lesson taught by the omission? There the question was not how the blood was not to be treated by those whom it sheltered, but rather how the Israelite fared in virtue of it. The judgment of God was in question and where the blood had to be sprinkled in order to shelter from it. From what quarter was the stroke coming? Assuredly not from beneath, but from above. We know that God's relative position to man as put in Scripture is always above. Whether to judge or to deliver, He had to come down (Gen. 11:77Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (Genesis 11:7), Ex. 3:88And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (Exodus 3:8)).
Here therefore the blood was sprinkled; where there was exposure to judgment, passing over. The lower side was the only one unexposed at all stages of the passing over; and God did not say, I will pass under you, but over you.
Further, as God is above, so is the devil helped by “all that is in the world.” See John 8:23, 4423And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. (John 8:23)
44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44). Evil power is “from beneath.” The blood of “Christ our passover” was not shed and sprinkled to shelter the believer from the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil, but from the righteous judgment of God. Those Israelites very early found that the blood did not insure them against the attack of Pharaoh and his host. So is it with every believer while in the world. From God's judgment he is now and eternally sheltered (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)); but so far is he from not being exposed to attacks from spiritual wickedness that God has provided a complete suit of armor for him, which only avails with prayer and dependence on God (Eph. 6:11-1711Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11‑17)). D. T.