Pesach – Session 1

The Celebration of Passover

A Story of Freedom from Bondage

Passover celebrates the Jewish people's freedom from Egyptian bondage that took place approximately 3,500 years ago, as told in the first 15 chapters of the biblical Book of Exodus (Shemoth).

Prophesied to Abraham – Genesis 15

12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 "As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 "Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete."

Commission of Moshe

In Shemoth chapters 3 and 4, the Most High commissioned Moshe to go back and bring God’s people back to the mountain where they would worship Him.

Resistance of Pharaoh

When Moshe went back and presented this to Pharaoh, he would not let the children of Israel go. In fact, he made it harder on the children of Israel.

Miracles and Plagues

So God worked in many ways, through miracles and plagues to show the Egyptians His might, so that Pharaoh might release the Israelites.

God’s Separation of His People For 9 plagues,

God had made a distinction between Israel and Egypt. When a plague affected Egypt, it didn’t affect Goshen (where the Israelites were).

God’s Separation of His People

Shemoth 8:22 - "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living…”

God’s Separation of His People

Shemoth 9:4 - "But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel."

God’s Separation of His People

Shemoth 9:26 – “Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.”

God’s Separation of His People

Shemoth 10:22 – “So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

After Nine Plagues…

Finally, God said through Moshe that He had yet one more plague to place upon the Egyptians, where He, Himself, was going to go through the midst of Egypt (Mitzraim) and all the first-born in the land of Egypt were to die…

Shemoth 11:1-7

…EXCEPT….

…for the ones upon whose doorposts and lintels of their houses were covered by the lamb’s blood.

God said:

READ: Shemoth 12:1-14; 21-24

God would make a distinction

By a sign that those who believed in Him would put on the doorposts and lintels of their houses: the blood of an unblemished lamb.

Faith of the People

For 9 plagues, God Himself had made a distinction by Himself between Egypt and the children of Israel, now on faith, Israel was to make a distinction between itself and Egypt!

Now, They Must take a Step of Faith

Now, they must take the blood and apply it to their door-posts and lintels in order to preserve the life of their first-born.

Hebrews 11:28

By faith he {Moshe} kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

Faith and Works

It takes faith to believe the Word of the Lord and to act upon it!

God wants a people, a distinctive people, who will by faith obey Him!

True Biblical Faith is Not Simply an Intellectual Assent to Something

Must BELIEVE and DO!

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

James 2:19

Difference between Correct theology and a Saving Faith!

Though Demons have a Correct understanding of the Oneness of God, but they are lost! They will not DO what God wants them to!

Having a correct biblical theology will NOT save you! Having a Biblical faith WILL!

Correct Biblical Faith – James 2

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUS-NESS," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

God began a Process of Separation at Goshen

When Israel first moves into Mitzraim (Egypt) Genesis 46:

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, `My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; 32 and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.' 33 "When Pharaoh calls you and says, `What is your occupation?' 34 you shall say, `Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians."

Put Israel in a Part of the Land…

Where they would be Separate from Egyptians.

Less interaction with them; less being like them.

We Need to Show Distinction between US and the WORLD

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” -James 4:4

Called a “Holy” (Kadosh) People Strong's Number:  06918  kaw-doshe' Parts of Speech- Adjective  Definition  sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart  Translated Words KJV (116) - Holy One,

39; holy, 65; saint, 12; NAS (115) - Holy, 8; Holy One, 44;

consecrated, 1; holy, 50; holy one, 3; holy ones, 6; one is holy, 1; saints, 2;

Adjective

word which modifies a noun, but which is not itself a noun.

For example: The brown table, the happy child.

Deuteronomy 7:6

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Leviticus 20:26

'Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.

Deuteronomy 14:2

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Deuteronomy 28:9

"The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.”

Numbers 15

37 The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, 38 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 "It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. 41 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God."

A “Holy” People

Should be living “holy” lives.

God CALLS (Noun) us “Holy”

Then God GIVES us His Torah so that we can LIVE “holy” lives.

Shaul on the Torah – Romans 7

12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

May not always Understand why…

…A commandment is given; just need to obey Him!

The commandment is given so that in our obedience to it, we begin to live what we are!

God Makes us Holy

By our keeping His Torah. The Torah creates a separation

between God’s people and the world.

We are Not to be like the World. Need to make a distinctive in our lives between us and the world.

1 Peter 1: 15, 16

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Exodus 24:7

“Na’aseh venishma” – Na’aseh - we will do ve - and then nishma - “understand.”

If you are new to the Torah Observance

Need to do the same thing: Like with Passover:

Observing the removal of chometz (do) – Will talk about next Shabbat

Then understand as you go along.

Reminder: Passover celebrates the Jewish people's salvation from Egyptian bondage

God didn’t free His people from Egyptian bondage to place them under bondage again!

The Torah is NOT bondage! The Torah is freedom!

David - Psalm 119

V - Vav 41 May Your lovingkindnesses (chesed)

also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your word;

42 So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.

43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances.

44 So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.