Exodus 12

On 14 April, we encourage you to fast and pray

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.” (Ex. 12:1-2). The “month” in verse 2 refers to the first month in the Jewish calendar, also known as Nisan or Abib. It also marks the first month of the ecclesiastical year.

Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. (Ex. 12:3-6)

This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. (Ex. 12:14)

On the tenth day of the first month, each family prepared a lamb, took care of it until the 14th day of the first month, slaughtered it at twilight that day, and the whole community kept the Passover together. According to the scriptures, every family will choose a lamb with great care, and determine the amount of lamb needed each person to consumed. On the 14th day of the first month, they were to eat the lamb as God had commanded.

This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. (Ex. 12:11)

Brothers and sisters, this year, 1 April is the first day of Nisan and today (10 April) is the tenth day of Nisan, which is the day when the Israelites prepared their lambs while in Egypt. We hope that you will start preparing yourself today, and then keep the Passover this Thursday, the 14th day of Nisan. On 14 April, we encourage you to fast and pray, and to ponder upon God’s salvation plan and Jesus’ sacrificial love.

This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. (Ex. 12:14)

The Passover is a day commemorated by the Israelites from generation to generation. As Gentile believers, let’s also commemorate Jesus Christ, the Lamb of our salvation during the coming Holy Week (10-17 April).