Beauty in the Exodus - Introduction Part 2

In my research for some of the upcoming pages on the Tabernacle, I found a section in one of my books on Christ in the Passover as we were discussing yesterday. The book is called, “Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle,” by Ervin N. Hersberger.

From his writing, we may add the following pictures of Christ to the Passover:

·        God specified the hour they were to kill the lamb. It was to be between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon. This would put it at the same time of day when our Lord breathed His last on the cross.

·        “For the blood to be shed and displayed in the vessel was not enough, it had to be applied…The Blood of Christ, shed for all men, avails nothing except for believers who appropriate its cleansing power by faith.” (page 85)

·        The Israelites were instructed to prepare the lamb without adding water to it. This is most interesting:

“The lamb of course typified Christ, and with the cookware of that day the flesh could not be cooked without adding water. Christ shall not be watered down, nothing added to Him, and nothing taken away. The head, legs and purtenance were not to be eaten, but the lamb was to be roasted whole, emphasizing that Christ is to be appropriated in His entirety: nothing added nor removed.” (page 85)

·        Finally, they were not leave any part of the lamb until morning.  To which Hersberger responds thus:

“All that was not eaten was to be burned before morning. Typifying Christ, the lamb was holy. ‘Give not that which is holy unto the dogs’ (Mt. 7:6). ‘Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy one to see corruption’ (Ps 16:106). Those verses tell us why everything that was not eaten should be burned. Nothing should be left for the dogs, nor permitted to decay.  The body of Christ saw no corruption in the grave.” (Page 85)

Do you see how dazzlingly beautiful He is? In one single act, the initiation of the Passover, He gave us so many powerful analogies of the Christ, His Beloved Son. It is like holding a gem in your hand. You turn it over and around and hold it up to the light at different angles to see the magnificent facets all shimmering distinctly yet unified in one jewel.

Isn’t He AWEsome!? Simply breath-taking! Divine!

Beauty in the Exodus - Introduction

Every morning my children and I have been reading from a children’s version of the Bible. Currently we are studying the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. 

As I experience it again, I am reminded of the fascinating symbolism captured in the account.  I absolutely love how God hid Jesus in plain sight in the elements of the Passover and the Tabernacle.

Beth Moore does a most amazing examination of the Tabernacle in the study “A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place.” It is definitely my favorite of her studies, and that says a lot. It gave me a depth of insight into the mind of God I never knew existed.  It would give me no greater pleasure than to share it here and hope that you are as fascinated and enthralled with it as I have been.

Allow me to whet your appetite…

Before the Israelites are led out of Egypt into the wilderness, they are instructed to participate in the first Passover.  During their preparation, they are told to sacrifice an unblemished lamb, precisely large enough for the family – no more, no less.  They are to take the blood of the lamb in a bowl and using a bundle of hyssop, they are to mark the top of the door frame and the two side posts.

Two things are fascinating to me. First, they are to use hyssop.  Traditionally, hyssop was used as a cleanser because of its bleaching properties; hence, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” in Psalm 51:7. How divine of our Lord to show us plainly the cleansing power of the blood when it is applied.

Second, as Beth points out in “Stepping Up, the Psalms of the Ascents,” when the blood was applied with the hyssop to the top of the door frame, it would undoubtedly have dripped straight down to the floor. When it was applied to the side posts, it would by human nature have been applied at about the same height on either side.  If you follow the path, up and down and side to side, it makes… A CROSS!

We are told from the time we accept Jesus that we have passed over from death to life, but do we truly understand? Do we see the spiritual truth that is spelled out in this Old Testament physical reality? There is a cross of the blood of the Lamb on the doorframe applied by faith, which, when seen in the heavenlies, death passes over! If you have the cross of blood on the doorpost of your heart spiritual death will pass by you. We are saved from spiritual death by the blood of the Lamb who gave Himself to be our sacrifice.

Wait until you hear about the afikomen!  It will astonish you, I promise! It is overwhelming in its richness…

Until tomorrow, Lord willing!

Are Your Garments Spotless?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

            Elisha A. Hoffman, 1878

Wow! Such a clear reference to the “right clothing” offered through Christ.

In addition to the symbolism alluding to righteousness, we also see bold references to the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb; another facet of the gem that is God’s Word.  Once again, from Genesis to Revelation the message of God does not change. Our God is Faithful and unchanging.

The cleansing power of the blood is fascinating to me as well. Ok, it’s ALL fascinating, but…(see next post “The Soul Cleansing Power of the Blood.” Tomorrow, Lord willing.)