Fri.’s Devo - Unleavened Bread

Read: Exodus 12:14-13:16; Matthew 20:29-21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15
God had fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham to make his family a mighty nation. Now, God was making this group of people, his people and teaching them his ways. He was drawing them out of bondage and saving them just as the Pharaoh’s daughter drew Moses out of the Nile and saved him.
God would give them rituals they were to practice year after year as signs to show his big plan for the future. The first of these rituals was Passover. It would represent the life and death of Jesus. For us, it means our salvation.
The next was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven represented sin. They were to not have any yeast in their houses for seven days. They were not to eat anything with yeast in it during that time. This feast represents our sanctification from sin. Once we are saved, sin is not a part of our nature and we are no longer a slave to sin. Sin is crucified with Christ and he now lives in us. We make mistakes and fall into deception, but it is hard for a Christian, a true follower of Christ, to willfully sin. If we do willfully sin, we are instantly convicted and that is our invitation to repent and be restored. Sanctification is a process of changing our behavior to walk in righteousness and renewing our minds to think like God thinks.
When God gave them a new birth day, yesterday, he was giving them a spiritual birthday. We are born in the flesh on our official birthday but when we are born again, we get a new birthday and everything is new. We are born again into God’s kingdom. That is when Unleavened Bread starts for us. The week of Unleavened Bread represents our lifespan. We continually live in Unleavened Bread. We are constantly eating the Bread of Life and not the bread of sin. Jesus told his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which was their doctrine (Matthew 16:12). Their doctrine was man-made laws - not God’s laws. We walk in God’s law and his doctrine of grace.
Jesus did specific things on his way to the cross. He gave two men their sight physically which led to them being able to see spiritually. Once they saw, they followed Jesus.
Jesus walked the path to Jerusalem at the exact time the temple Passover Lamb was walking the path down to Jerusalem from the pool of Siloam. They would both be praised with palm trees and the song of “Hosanna to the Son of David” from Psalm 118. This Psalm is known as the Hallel which was sung each year during this feast. The people would sing it as they entered Jerusalem from all over the land.
Jesus entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple of the people who used God’s name to extort money from the people.
Jesus healed the blind and the lame and when the Pharisees heard the people singing the Hallel to Jesus they were indignant. Jesus told them that from the mouth of children, God perfects and ordains praise.
Jesus cursed the fig tree as a picture of him cursing Israel for not being ready to receive their Messiah.
Lord, may we live in constant renewal and change towards righteousness. May we hear clearer and see your hand on the earth. Thank you for our salvation!