Exodus 12: 1-13

1: And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

Notice they were still in Egypt (which represents sin) when God spoke to them, just as the Holy Spirit will speak to the sinner's heart while they are lost. God loves His creation so much that He comes to where you are and does not wait for you to come to Him. He will give you the invitation while you are in the lost state, but it is your choice to take it or leave it. God will not force you to leave the hog's pen and accept His grace.

In the Garden it was God that came looking for Adam and Eve after the sin, they were not looking for Him they were hiding.

2: This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

When we become born again our life in God's eyes starts over. Regardless of our age when this occurs, in a spiritual sense we are newborn babies.

3: Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

4: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

The lamb was taken on the tenth day and kept until the 14th day. Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the tenth day and was crucified on the 14th day. As the priests in the Temple were selecting the lambs to be sacrificed the true Lamb of God entered the city and they failed to recognize Him.

It is believed by some rabbi's that the lamb was taken out from the rest of the animals and kept in the house with the family. They would live with it for the three days and then it would be sacrificed. It is also believed that when the sacrifice was made that the father or head of the house would place his hand on the head of the lamb as the priest slit the throat of the lamb. The father would have to feel the life slowly slipping away from the lamb and realize the price that was being paid.

It was to be done according to the number of souls; in other words, salvation is accomplished for each person but each person has to obtain it. You cannot make it on someone else's merit.

5: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Separated from the goats - an allusion to the end time when Jesus will separate the goats and sheep and we will enter the Kingdom.

Jesus was without sin and therefore without blemish as the lamb was required by law. John recognized this when he proclaimed "behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world"

6: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

This same representation is made of the blood applied to our heart when we accept Jesus and the price he paid for our sins. His blood is applied to our lives and from that point on we are seen through this blood and the death angel has no power over us.

8: And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

An allusion to the Passover we keep in remembrance of Jesus' death for us. The flesh representing the body that was sacrificed, the unleavened bread representing ridding the sin out of our life, and the bitter herbs to remind us of the bitterness of slavery and sin.

9: Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

10: And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

11: And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.

The Lord's Passover - Done in haste symbolizing that we should be anxious to leave the chains of bondage and always be ready to move when the Lord directs us.

12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.