January 24, 2026 - Exodus 12-13

Chapters 12 and 13 tell the story of the first Passover, the consecration of the firstborn, and the feast of unleavened bread.  The first, of course, emphasized to Israel the necessity of blood atonement and pointed to Messiah; the second declared the firstborn of the people (a reminder that, when the firstborn of Egypt died in the tenth plague, the Israelites were spared) of Israel but, also, of their animals (as sacrifices) to be the Lord’s.  The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminded the generations of Israelites of God’s deliverance as they quickly departed from Egypt with no time to leaven and bake bread as they would normally.  The testimony of Israel, thus, for generations, would be:  “By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery” (13:14).  We can say of ourselves, with Paul, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have . . . been set free from sin” (Romans 6:17-18).  Delivered by the same strong hand of the Lord but an even greater deliverance than that from physical oppression!

O for a heart to praise my God,

a heart from sin set free,

a heart that always feels Thy blood

so freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,

my great Redeemer’s throne,

where only Christ is heard to speak,

where Jesus reigns alone.   -- Charles Wesley (1742)