The Moedim - Pesach / Passover

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The Moedim: Passover, Unleavened Bread and First-Fruits
Exodus 12:1-28 / Leviticus 23:5-8

Israel had been enslaved by Egypt for many years, but through Moses were given the hope of freedom. Moses was sent to speak to Pharaoh by YHVH on behalf of both God and His chosen people, but through Pharaoh’s stubbornness, the children of Israel were afflicted with greater burdens. Thus YHVH ravaged Egypt with nine plagues, revealing the powerlessness of the pantheon of gods they worshipped; but the worst was left until last, brought about by the betrayal of Pharaoh, who had reneged on each of his promises to free the Israelites. The tenth plague was a terrible and devastating repayment for the deaths of the firstborn of Israel, perpetrated years prior: the death of the firstborn of every Egyptian family. But the children of Israel were given a means of escape. YHVH instructed Moses to tell the people of a ritual that would deliver them from the hands of the angel of death.

Passover was a ceremony whereby a lamb would be slaughtered and roasted within each Hebrew household, its blood painted on the doorposts and lintel. The household would remain indoors all night, nobody was permitted to leave lest they be struck down. As this would bring their immediate release from slavery, they were commanded to bake matzot or unleavened bread (a flat-bread baked without raising agent) as there was no time to allow the dough to rise: their exit from Egypt was sudden and with little time to prepare food.

When the Torah was delivered to the people in the wilderness following their release, they were commanded to commemorate this moment in their history by taking the seder (the ceremonial Passover meal) each year on the anniversary of their escape from Egypt and for the seven days following Passover they were to rid their households of leaven, eating unleavened bread each day to remind them of their salvation from captivity. Leaven represents sin, hypocrisy and arrogance, and this feast reminds us that we must always be vigilant of these things in our households and individual lives. The week is a significant time to search our lives for any ‘leaven’ and rid ourselves of the unrighteousness in honour of the One who pulled us from darkness and into life. Also in this week is First Fruits, on which an offering was made of the first barley harvest of the year, an offering of thanks to Elohim for blessing the crops of Israel.

These feasts are highly significant in understanding Yeshua’s role as redeemer, the crucifixion fulfilling the purpose of these particular feasts. After all, the blood of lambs and calves may have covered sin, but only the blood of Yeshua could completely remove sin and its curse. Recognising that these moedim have been fulfilled by our Messiah, we celebrate a memorial of these feasts to remember the depths of YHVH’s love for us, that He would sacrifice His son so that His people may be saved.



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