Daily Reading
Daily Thought
The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, introduces Passover, so named because the angel of death passed over homes protected by the blood of a lamb. If God knew which homes belonged to Egyptians and which were Israelites, why didn’t he simply skip the Israelite homes? Why did God require blood on the doorframe of a house to protect it from death?
Go back to the beginning. When Adam and Eve chose their own desire rather than God’s, they chose death. Judgment was immediate and they were instantly severed from God. They were, therefore, dead, because God is life. Death through sin has been passed on to each and every one of us. We are all dead, separated from God because of sin. But Grace began immediately, as well. The world makes light of sin and misses God’s grace. God allowed Adam and Eve, though dead, to keep breathing, and he launched his plan of salvation. Every breath is a gift of God. We are amazed by grace only so far as we are appalled by sin.
Fast forward to Exodus 12. The judgment that would be passing through the land was just. Every family deserving of death would be visited by the destroyer, which means, because all sin, every family would be visited, including the Israelites. That Passover night, the destroyer would not discriminate between Egypt and Israel, all would be judged unless death had already been to that household. A substitute sacrifice, a lamb approved by God would pay the price. Blood on the doorframe was a sign that the sins of this household had been covered by the death of a lamb.
Fast forward to A.D. 30. “The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29)
Daily Prayer
Almighty God, Your goodness runs deep, but I choose to wallow in the shallows of my desires. Still, despite my rebellion, Your grace seeks me through the loving sacrifice of Your Son. May your righteousness consume my passions and may my desires become Yours. In response to Your overflowing never-ending love, I live thankfully and joyfully in a life made new again.
What a wonderful Savior. What amazing grace.
Amen