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Egypt； the warning of the most terrible of the plagues had been given。 Moses
was directed to say to Pharaoh； 〃Thus saith the Lord； Israel is My son； even
My first…born： and I say unto thee； Let My son go； that he may serve Me： and
if thou refuse to let him go； behold； I will slay thy son； even thy
first…born。〃 Exodus 4：22； 23。 Though despised by the Egyptians； the
Israelites had been honored by God； in that they were singled out to be the
depositaries of His law。 In the special blessings and privileges accorded
them； they had pre…eminence among the nations； as the first…born son had
among brothers。
The judgment of which Egypt had first been warned； was to be the last
visited。 God is long…suffering and plenteous in mercy。 He has a tender care
for the beings formed in His image。 If the loss of their harvests and their
flocks and herds had brought Egypt to repentance； the children would not
have been smitten； but the nation had stubbornly resisted the divine
command； and now the final blow was about to fall。
Moses had been forbidden； on pain of death； to appear again in Pharaoh's
presence； but a last message from God was to be delivered to the rebellious
monarch； and again Moses came before him； with the terrible announcement：
〃Thus saith the Lord； About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt：
and all the first…born in the land of Egypt shall die； from the first…born
of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne； even unto the first…born of the
maidservant that is behind the mill； and all the first…born of beasts。 And
there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt； such as there
was none like it； nor shall be like it any more。 But against any of the
children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue； against man or beast：
that ye may know how
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that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel。 And
all these thy servants shall come down unto me； and bow down themselves unto
me； saying； Get thee out； and all the people that follow thee： and after
that I will go out。〃
Before the execution of this sentence the Lord through Moses gave direction
to the children of Israel concerning their departure from Egypt； and
especially for their preservation from the coming judgment。 Each family；
alone or in connection with others； was to slay a lamb or a kid 〃without
blemish；〃 and with a bunch of hyssop sprinkle its blood on 〃the two side
posts and on the upper doorpost〃 of the house； that the destroying angel；
coming at midnight； might not enter that dwelling。 They were to eat the
flesh roasted； with unleavened bread and bitter herbs； at night； as Moses
said； 〃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 declared： 〃I will pass through the land of Egypt this night； and
will smite all the first…born in the land of Egypt； both man and beast； and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment。 。 。 。 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。〃
In commemoration of this great deliverance a feast was to be observed yearly
by the people of Israel in all future generations。 〃This day shall be unto
you for a memorial； and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your
generations： ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever。〃 As they
should keep the feast in future years； they were to repeat to their children
the story of this great deliverance； as Moses bade them： 〃Ye shall say； It
is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover； who passed over the houses of the
children of Israel in Egypt； when He smote the Egyptians； and delivered our
houses。〃
Furthermore； the first…born of both man and beast were to be the Lord's； to
be bought back only by a ransom； in acknowledgment that when the first…born
in Egypt perished； that of Israel； though graciously preserved； had been
justly exposed to the same doom but for the atoning sacrifice。 〃All the
first…born are Mine；〃 the Lord declared； 〃for on the day that I smote all
the first…born
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in the land of Egypt； I hallowed unto Me all the first…born in Israel； both
man and beast： Mine they shall be；〃 Numbers 3：13。 After the institution of
the tabernacle service the Lord chose unto Himself the tribe of Levi for the
work of the sanctuary； instead of the first…born of the people。 〃They are
wholly given unto Me from among the children of Israel；〃 He said。 〃Instead
of the first…born of all the children of Israel； have I taken them unto Me。〃
Numbers 8：16。 All the people were； however； still required； in
acknowledgment of God's mercy； to pay a redemption price for the first…born
son。 Numbers 18：15； 16。
The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical； not only pointing
back to the deliverance from Egypt； but forward to the greater deliverance
which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of
sin。 The sacrificial lamb represents 〃the Lamb of God；〃 in whom is our only
hope of salvation。 Says the apostle； 〃Christ our Passover is sacrificed for
us。〃
1 Corinthians 5：7。 It was not enough that the paschal lamb be
slain； its blood must be sprinkled upon the doorposts； so the merits of
Christ's blood must be applied to the soul。 We must believe； not only that
He died for the world； but that He died for us individually。 We must
appropriate to ourselves the virtue of the atoning sacrifice。
The hyssop used in sprinkling the blood was the symbol of purification；
being thus employed in the cleansing of the leper and of those defiled by
contact with the dead。 In the psalmist's prayer also its significance is
seen： 〃Purge me with hyssop； and I shall be clean： wash me； and I shall be
whiter than snow。〃 Psalm 51：7。
The lamb was to be prepared whole； not a bone of it being broken： so not a
bone was to be broken of the Lamb of God； who was to die for us。 John 19：36。
Thus was also represented the completeness of Christ's sacrifice。
The flesh was to be eaten。 It is not enough even that we believe on Christ
for the forgiveness of sin； we must by faith be constantly receiving
spiritual strength and nourishment from Him through His word。 Said Christ；
〃Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man； and drink His blood； ye have no
life in you。 Whoso eateth My flesh； and drinketh My blood； hath eternal
life。〃 John 6：53； 54。 And to explain His meaning He said； 〃The words that I
speak unto you； they are spirit； and they are life。〃 Verse 63。 Jesus
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accepted His Father's law； wrought out its principles in His life；
manifested its spirit； and showed its beneficent power in the heart。 Says
John； 〃The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us； （and we beheld His glory；
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father；） full of grace and truth。〃
John 1：14。 The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience。 They
must receive and assimilate the word of God so that it shall become the
motive power of life and action。 By the pow