"AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD I WILL PASS OVER YOU"

Before God brought the 10th plague upon Egypt, that is, the death of the firstborn in every family among the Egyptians, including the animals. He informed Moses that no harm would come to the children of Israel (Exodus, chapters 11&12). On the 10th day of the first month of Abib every man was to take a male lamb of the sheep or goats and keep it until the 14th day when it was to be slain. The men were instructed to take the blood of the animal and put some on the doorposts and the lintel of the house. Instructions were also given as to how they were to prepare the lamb for a meal in each household. Only unleavened bread was to be eaten with the meal.This was the “Lord’s Passover”. The Passover was to be a memorial for Israel throughout their generations. The Lord spoke to Moses, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12, 13, Emphasis, mine,re). The lamb that was killed was without blemish. The blood that was placed on the doorposts and lintel of the houses assured the people of Israel that the firstborn of each family would be spared from death. The Passover lamb of the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. In 1 Corinthians we read, “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him,he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The lamb that was offered by the children of Israel was to be without blemish, so was the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on Calvary. The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:18, 19, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” As the lamb’s blood was placed on the doorposts and lintel, the blood of the Lamb of God was shed when He was on Calvary’s cross. When Jesus was eating with His disciple during Passover, He took a cup and said, ““Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). John wrote in Revelation 1:6, “To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.” The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:7 concerning Jesus Christ, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…. ” And we know that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22). Thank God for His infinite grace and the precious blood of Jesus Christ. In Romans 6:3,4, we learn when we come in contact with the blood of Christ: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” It is not the water that saves us when we are immersed, rather it is the blood of Christ when we are “baptized into his death” when His precious blood was shed. It is in this sense that God ‘passes over us’ in the forgiveness of our sins. There was an old hymn that we used to sing in worship when I was a boy entitled, ‘WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD’ that contains this thought. Here are two of the stanzas and the chorus, “Christ, our Redeemer, died on the cross, Died for the sinner, paid all his due; All who receive Him need never fear,Yes, He will pass, will pass over you. O what compassion, O boundless love, Jesus hath power, Jesus is true; All who believe are safe from the storm, O He will pass, will pass over you. When I see the blood, When I see the blood, When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” - J.G.F

'LIFE IS NOT A BOWL OF CHERRIES'

Sometimes the valleys in life are deep and long. But it is not a time to give up. Blaming God and leaving the Lord would not be the answer. Gold refined by fire rids the dross and makes it purer (I Peter 1:7). I think of this passage in Proverbs 24:10, “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.” There was a time when many of the disciples of the Lord left Him and He asked His own apostles, “Do you also want to go away?” It was then that Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. “Also we have come to believe and know You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:66-69). It is in the valleys of life that I need Him. He has never forsaken me and why should I forsake him. He is my Rock and my salvation. He is my Hightower; my shelter in the time of the storms. He gives me comfort in the night. His strength is greatly manifested in weakness. I have often requested of Him to bestow His grace upon me so that I might see the sun beyond the overcast and the silver lining behind every cloud. And His grace is sufficient for me. A moving verse is found in James 4:6 which is a simple but a very profound statement, “But He gives more grace.” Here is a precious promise of our Heavenly Father, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). Also we find in Psalm 46:1 that “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” The following hymn explains best what I am trying to say: HE GIVETH MORE GRACE By Annie J. Flint (1866-1932) He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials He multiplies peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources Our father’s full giving is only begun. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, Our God ever yearns His resources to share; Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; The Father both thee and thy load will upbear. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. - THE TRIUMPHANT STORY of ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT By Rowland V. Bingham