Mon.’s Devo - The Locusts and the Passover

Read: Ex. 10-12
Today, I want us to look at this story from a different perspective. Sometimes we are the Pharaoh that refuses to let God’s people go. We hold them in judgement and unforgiveness. If God can’t get our attention by His kindness (remember the blessings that Joseph brought to Egypt), then he will have to turn us over to disaster. It will get worse and worse till we finally let them go or be destroyed. Sadly, many people don’t recognize God’s hand and accept their sickness and poverty and call it “bad luck”. I’m not saying that everything bad that happens to us is because of our sin, but it could be. It certainly was in Pharaoh’s case. I am saying that our unforgiveness and bitterness can lead to our destruction physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I find it comical that when Moses prophesied the locusts were coming, Moses’ servants begged Pharaoh to let them go. Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses and let him just go with the men but when Moses refused, he ended up throwing Moses out. The locusts came and then the three days of darkness. Pharaoh finally told them they could go…only to change his mind.
God then gave Moses and Aaron instructions about the feasts - his eternal plan for the earth. First, God gave them a new New Year. It had been Tishri1 and now it would be Nisan 1. The first month on their civil calendar had become the 7th month on their spiritual calendar. The seventh month on their civil calendar had now become the first. As a nation they were given a new spiritual birth day which is what happens when we are born again. On the tenth day of Nisan they were to sacrifice a lamb and everything that they were commanded to do to that lamb would be what their brothers many centuries later would do to Jesus. This lamb would save the first born just as Jesus would save our natural first birth. The second feast of unleavened bread would represent our sanctification of cleansing that salvation offers us.
They left Egypt on the exact day of the month that they had entered Egypt 430 years earlier. God is a god of detail and order. His plan is perfectly orchestrated.
Notice that anyone who wanted to be circumcised and keep God’s commands could eat the Passover and be saved. They would be considered as one of the Israelites and many of the Egyptians did. This is the picture of the Gentile being grafted in to the family.
Lord, You are so mighty in your great plan for the earth and for us. We are so thankful to be your children, your friend and your ambassador.