April 12, 2024

Exodus 12:43-51 (HCSB)
Passover Instruction
43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner may eat it. 44 But any slave a man has purchased may eat it, after you have circumcised him. 45 A temporary resident or hired hand may not eat the Passover. 46 It is to be eaten in one house. You may not take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of its bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it. 48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, every male in his household must be circumcised, and then he may participate; he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat it. 49 The same law will apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.” 50 Then all the Israelites did this; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 On that same day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their divisions.

James Burns
These last verses of chapter 12 are God’s command concerning the observance of Passover and the remembrance of how he saved Israel. The event is so significant that it changed the Jewish calendar, and signifies the start of their new year. The passage emphasizes that only those that reside with the Israelites and follow their precepts are allowed to observe Passover in their home. In other words, the Passover should be observed by those that believe that the God of Israel is all powerful and all loving. It is also for those that believe that Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God, and His blood was shed to protect us from the death angel as well; same as spreading the blood of the sacrificed Passover Lamb over the door posts and lentils of the Israelites homes in Egypt. Praise be to God!