Topical Bible: Egypt: Israel in The Passover Instituted

◄ Egypt: Israel in The Passover Instituted ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Passover, a pivotal event in the history of Israel, marks the culmination of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This event is recorded in the Book of Exodus, specifically in chapters 11 and 12, where God institutes the Passover as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites.

Historical Context

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for several centuries, suffering under harsh conditions imposed by Pharaoh. God raised up Moses as a leader to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of His people. Despite a series of plagues that demonstrated God's power, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. The Passover was instituted as the final and decisive act of liberation.

The Institution of the Passover

In Exodus 12, God provides Moses and Aaron with detailed instructions for the observance of the Passover. Each household was to select an unblemished lamb on the tenth day of the first month, Nisan, and keep it until the fourteenth day. On that evening, the lamb was to be slaughtered, and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintels of the houses. This act of faith would serve as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" the homes of the Israelites, sparing them from the plague of the firstborn.

The Israelites were instructed to roast the lamb and consume it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were to eat in haste, with their loins girded, sandals on their feet, and staff in hand, ready for the imminent exodus from Egypt. The Lord declared, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and I will strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD" (Exodus 12:12).

Significance and Observance

The Passover was not only a historical event but also a theological statement about God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy. It underscored the distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, highlighting God's covenantal relationship with His chosen people. The blood of the lamb symbolized redemption and protection, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, in Christian theology.

God commanded that the Passover be observed annually as a lasting ordinance. It served as a memorial of God's deliverance and a teaching tool for future generations. "And when your children ask you, 'What does this service mean to you?' you are to reply, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes'" (Exodus 12:26-27).

Theological Implications

The Passover event is rich with theological implications. It demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises, His power over the false gods of Egypt, and His ability to save His people. The requirement of an unblemished lamb and the application of its blood foreshadow the sacrificial system and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. The Passover also emphasizes the importance of obedience and faith in God's provision and protection.

In summary, the institution of the Passover in Egypt is a foundational event in the narrative of Israel's deliverance. It is a testament to God's redemptive power and a precursor to the greater redemption found in the New Testament.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:1-28
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

"In Remembrance of Me"
... The Passover was ordained as a commemoration of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian ...
At the time of their deliverance from Egypt, the children of Israel ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 72 in remembrance of.htm

Exodus
... might (v.). Blow after blow falls from Israel's God upon the obstinate king of Egypt
and his ... an event in connexion with which the passover was instituted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/exodus.htm

The Writing on God's Hands
... When Israel came out of Egypt, the Passover was instituted as 'a memorial unto all
generations,' or, as the same idea is otherwise expressed, 'it shall be for ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the writing on gods hands.htm

The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ...
... Writing to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul said, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed
for us" (I:Cor.5:7 ... In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and their ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter six the typical significance.htm

The Ordinances of the New Testament.
... accustomed, if we may call it a custom, to eating; but when God separated Israel
from Egypt and gave them a law, he instituted a supper called the Passover. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter viii the ordinances of.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go ... A Passover celebration was arranged
for, and to ... proclamation was sounded "throughout all Israel, from Beersheba ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... of a lamb, but inwardly trusting in him who is the Lamb of God's passover; no more
with ... You know that very soon after Israel came out of Egypt they said ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my ... conferred, when, upon the
occasion of Hezekiah commanding all Israel to keep the passover, it was ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... 'The children of Israel shall keep ... them [the Israelites who were delivered from Egypt]
my Sabbaths ... The Jewish passover and Sabbaths are superseded; Christ our ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

The Paschal Supper - the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... the order of Levitical sacrifices but after that of the Passover. ... misery which our
fathers ate in the land of Egypt. ... next year in the land of Israel; this year ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the paschal supper.htm