Atkins Inspiration

Exodus 12: 1-30

So God sets up a holiday for his people. In fact, in a sense, time is measured from this moment. He says ok- This is now the first month of your year. On January 10th (OK not really January, but you get the idea), every man takes a lamb for his family- one per household. If you've got a small family, you can go in with your nearest neighbor. Determine how much lamb by how much you're going to eat. None of this lamb will be served as leftovers, lamb stew, lamb casserole, or even lamb on rye (unleavend) with lettuce and tomato. What you don't eat that day, you burn.

The lambs are to be year old males without defect. Sheep or goats are fine. Take care of them until the 14th. At twilight you will take part in a community slaughter. Take some blood and put it around the doorframes of the house where you will eat the meat. You'll eat the lamb with a side of bitter herbs and some yeast-less bread. No raw lamb- nothing cooked in water- cook this over a fire,roasted heads, legs and inner parts.

Now when you're eating- keep your sandals on, make sure your cloak is tucked into your belt and have your staff in your hand. And scorf it down- eat it quick, it is the Lord's passover.

That night, I'll come through Egypt and strike down every firstborn, men or animals. I'm bringing judgment on the Egyptian gods. When I see the blood, I'll pass over you (Passover...get it?) . As long as the blood is on the door, you'll be fine when I strike Egypt.

So starting on the 14th- no yeast for a week. In fact- get the yeast out of your houses. If you eat yeast from the 14th- 21st, you will be cut off from Israel, no matter who you are. You'll have a couple of sacred assemblies on the 14th (?)and 21st(?)- and you can't do any work on those days- except food preparation.

So Moses tells the people- get that blood on your doorframes- and don't leave your house until morning. You'll be safe as long as you're inside.

The Israelites follow through and they're ok- the Egyptians...not so much. Lots of death- in fact not a house without someone dead. Does this mean that no one in Egypt caught on and followed through with the blood thing? No one told an Egyptian friend- hey- you might want to know this...

Or was the blood only a test for the Israelites- irrelevant for those who weren't part of the chosen race? The Israelites then worship.

Some observations/questions:

1) I assume this lengthy list of requirements began the following year. It feels like this is all the next day (so no four days of care for the lambs, etc. More like, get that blood up quick - and to remember it, from now on do it this way.

2) Why such detail? OK- the blood stuff obviously points to Jesus, and death of the firstborn too. The staff in hand, sandals on feet stuff seems to directly indicate- get ready to go, we're moving quickly and I want you to replicate that feeling each year to remember what I've done.

But what's the deal with specific number of days, and bitter herbs, and unleavend bread? Did the firstborn adults die too? If Pharaoh had been a firstborn (was he?) would he have died too?

3) What would the feeling of this holiday be? While it certainly was a joyous remembrance of being spared, would the celebration have been lessened with the memory of the massive deaths among the Egyptians?

4) "The destroyer" is actually doing the killing- not God, although it says somewhere else "I will pass through". Is this an "angel of death?" "Satan?" "God?" Something else?

Something significant (in my mind) happens toward the end of the chapter. Moses tells the people

Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' 27 then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' " (NIV)

God wanted them to understand why they were doing what they were doing. Not- God said so. Not- we've always done this. Not- this is what the book of the law reads. He explains to His children.

And while I don't think this is always the case- I seem to have as many questions as answers most of the time, it seems to me that God wants us to get it. Ask, seek, find.