The Blood of Passover
Understanding the Plagues - 6
Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Exodus 12:7, 12-13, 21-23
When reading the full chapter, we see that God gave very specific instructions about how to the prepare the meal, what to eat, and what to wear. The whole message was “Get ready, we are on the move!” I haven’t counted the weeks or days from the first time Moses went to Pharaoh until they leave Egypt, but it consumes several weeks. The urgency of this meal means leaving Egypt is upon them.
Do you notice that when Moses summoned the elders, he focused on “the blood.” It’s not written, but perhaps Aaron told them how to prepare the meal and do all that God commanded. Now Moses is explaining what to do with the blood and how important it is.2
The redemption from death for the Hebrews comes through the blood on the doorposts. It’s impossible as a believer to not relate that our own redemption from death and sin comes from the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Our prison now is sin and darkness not enslavement to Egypt. There is a direct correlation, and God is setting in motion his redemptive plan.
Moses instructs the elders to take a branch of hyssop (a type of mint) and spread the blood all around the doors of their homes. Spread it on the doorposts and the lintel above the door. Later when consecrating priests, the blood was applied to the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot (Exodus 29:20, Lev. 8:23-24). The same instructions were applied to those cured of serious skin infections and the “horns” of the altar. The common point of reference is that the blood was applied to extremities. These are places the enemy would strike first.3
Blood is not needed to protect the Hebrews from all the plagues they have already experienced. Here blood is a sign. Think of it as a “stop sign.” When God sees the stop sign, he will pass over this house and the plague will not enter this house. Most translations render the Hebrew words as pass over, this comes from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew writings. The Hebrew, according to Hamilton, actually says, “I will protect you” or “I will stand and watch over you.” The end result is that for this deadly plague the Hebrews need to take action. They need to spread the blood on the doorframe and then God will join with them and stand and watch over them protecting them from death. They needed God’s protecting presence.3
There is no doubt that the meal preparation instructions were issued to the Israelites but Moses’ instructions to the elders firmly and significantly emphasized the blood of the lamb or goat spread around the door. If there is no blood, there is no deliverance. The blood itself, while critical, will not keep the destroyer out. It’s a stop sign so that God himself will protect, watch over, stand guard against the destroyer. Only God can stop the destruction that is about to occur. It is clear that the Israelites need both the blood on their door posts, and more importantly God’s protecting presence.3
When we look at the Lamb of God, provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus, it is clear we need the blood applied to our lives and we need the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. Yes, the blood is for redemption from death, but He, the fullness of his presence, is the hope for living the holy life that we have been called to live. We cannot do it on our own.
Lord, I desire your presence.