Bible Survey: Part OneEgzanp

Between chapters 5 and 12, God sends nine disasters on Egypt to try to convince Pharaoh to release the people of Israel from slavery and allow them to go where God is sending them. After all these disasters, Egypt has to be nearly destroyed and yet Pharaoh continues to resist God.

Now God sends his final disaster by killing all of the firstborn of Egypt. The people of Israel are spared this disaster, so long as they put blood around their doors. It is an act of faith to do what God tells them to do even though there is no rational reason to think blood around a door would actually protect anyone. This time God’s persuasion works and the people of Israel are released. Jews celebrate Passover to this day. In a sense, Christians do too. 1 Corinthians 5:7 refers to Jesus as our Passover Lamb and Jesus was crucified during the Passover season. The Passover lamb that died to save the lives of people is like Jesus who died at Passover to save all humanity from sin and punishment.

It takes faith for people today to believe that Jesus’ death could have any meaning for us. There is no rational reason to think that someone’s death 2000 years ago would save me from my sinful actions. We can be like Pharaoh and wait for God to prove His power or we can step out in faith and save ourselves from destruction.