The Feast of Unleavened Bread
January 17, 2022
Commentary
It has been said that the wilderness wanderings had no place in the purpose of God. This is certainly not true as we see Him leading his people each step of the way. Some of His purpose for leading Israel to Canaan through the wilderness could be summarized as follows:
It was in order that His power might be displayed as He brought them through the Red Sea.It was in order that Pharaoh and his servants might be destroyed.It was in order that the Israelites might receive His laws in the solitude of the desert.It was in order that they might be tried and proven prior to their entrance into the land.Now, in these verses, after an introductory statement about the first born (vv. 1-2), Moses addresses the people again about the Passover and the Unleavened Bread feasts (vv. 3-7). Like the Passover the Feast of Unleavened Bread had great educational value in the home (vv 8-16). It was to be a continual reminder of God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt. Like the Feast of Unleavened Bread the consecration of the firstborn was also a reminder of God’s gracious deliverance from the land of bondage. Just as the Lord used His mighty power to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt He wants to show His mighty power in rescuing us from the power of sin in our lives today.
Application
Just as God had a purpose in the Israelites wandering in the wilderness He has a purpose for everything He allows to happen in my life. This includes trials and blessings.
Exodus 13:1– 16 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “Set apart to me every firstborn male—the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.”
3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved, for the Lord brought you out of there with a mighty hand—and no bread made with yeast may be eaten. 4 On this day, in the month of Abib, you are going out.
5 “When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, then you will keep this ceremony in this month. 6 For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord. 7 Bread made without yeast must be eaten for seven days; no bread made with yeast shall be seen among you, and you must have no yeast among you within any of your borders.
8 “You are to tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 It will be a sign for you on your hand and a memorial on your forehead, so that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 10 So you must keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.
11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 then you must give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. Every firstling of a beast that you have —the males will be the Lord’s. 13 Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.
14 “In the future, when your son asks you ‘What is this?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals. That is why I am sacrificing to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.’ 16 It will be for a sign on your hand and for frontlets on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”
Illustration: God Will Provide
A young woman brought her fiancee to meet her parents. After dinner, her father asked the young man into his study for a chat. “So, what are your plans?” he began. “I’m a theology scholar,” the young man replied. “Admirable!” the father said, “But what will you do to provide a nice home for my daughter?” “I will study and God will provide,” he explained. “And how will you afford to raise children?” “God will provide.” The men left the study and the mother asked her husband, “How did it go?” “He has no money or employment plans,” the father said. “But on the other hand, he thinks I’m God.” (Source Unknown).