Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Unleavened Bread
Many years ago the children of Israel had been slaves in bondage in Egypt. When Moses returned from the wilderness God had told him to go to the Pharaoh to tell him to let them go keep a feast in the wilderness. When he refused God did signs and wonders to show that He was God. Finally, there was the Passover where the children of Israel killed the lamb, putting the blood on the doorposts, and ate the lamb with unleavened bread. That night God judged the Egyptians, killing the firstborn, and judged the gods of Egypt, but passed over any household marked with the blood of the lamb. Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron in the night and told them they could leave. The next day during the day they prepared to leave by borrowing valuables from the Egyptians, and they left on their journey.
Exodus 12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
They left in a hurry, as those that have read the story know. They ate unleavened bread because they did not have time to prepare anything for themselves. They would eat unleavened bread for seven days as God had directed. There were 600,000 men, plus the children and the women of the children of Israel that left. But there were more than this that left that day.
We see in verse 38 that a mixed multitude also left with them. Who were these people? They were people that had seen the signs and wonders, and believed in the God of Moses. They saw how the Egyptians suffered, but the children of Israel were protected by their God. They wanted to be on His side with the children of Israel. Can you imagine what it would take to leave your homeland and families to go into the wilderness with another people? Truly, the signs and wonders convinced them who God was. They wanted that protection too. They were so convinced that they left their own beliefs and gods behind for a chance to be a part of what God was doing.
Today, we eat unleavened bread for seven days to remember this journey. We want to have that same blessing, that same experience. We too can have the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob on our side, if we will leave all behind to follow Him.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High God. Thank You for what You did many years ago for the children of Israel, delivering them from the Egyptians when You saw the blood of the lamb on their doorways. Thank You for what You do for us today when You see the blood of the Lamb, our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) on our hearts, the doorway to our soul and spirit. Thank You for sending Him to die for us that we might live. Please forgive us when we fail to walk in Your ways and when we doubt You. Please send today that same wealth of our enemies for our journey with You, beginning today. Please send the same deliverance, and heal us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.