“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:13
We’ve all seen blood but it isn’t something we like to think about. We know our bodies are filled with blood. In fact we contain about 5 or 6 quarts of the life-giving liquid which is constantly traveling through our bodies. The blood makes about three complete trips around our bodies every minute, traveling about 12,000 miles a day. Our body manufactures about 2 million new red blood cells every second.
When the Children of Israel lived in Egypt, they were treated as slaves. Pharaoh made their lives miserable. Yet God had plans for his people. He would rescue them from Egypt and lead them to a new land. Moses was chosen to be their leader.
The night before they left Egypt, God gave them some very important instructions. Every household was to kill a sheep or goat and cook the meat for a quick meal. Then they were to take a branch, dip it in a bowl of the animal’s blood, and wipe it on their doorframes. At midnight the Lord went through the neighborhoods—up and down every street. Each house that was painted with blood was left alone. In every house that did not have blood on the doorpost, the firstborn died. It was a dreadful night as scores of Egyptians were put to death. God wanted the Egyptians to know that he was about to set his people free. The next day Moses and all the Israelites began their journey to the new land.
Why did God ask his people do such a strange thing with the lamb’s blood? There was a reason. He wanted the people to know that it was the sign of the lamb’s blood that saved them. Only the homes protected with that blood were passed over.
That night pointed ahead to something that happened years later. There was another lamb. We call him the Lamb of God, or Jesus. He was also put to death. Like the Israelites’ lambs, he also shed his blood. And everyone who believes in him and is covered with the robe of his blood will be saved from eternal death. John tells us in 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” To enter heaven we must be wearing the blood of Jesus. That blood tells God that Jesus’ blood covers all our sins.
Jesus, Your blood and righteousness,
My beauty are, my glorious dress!
In these before my God I’ll stand,
When I shall reach the heavenly land. Amen.
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