Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 10th of Nisan

On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family (Exodus 12:3).

One of the essential elements of the first Pesach (Passover) was a hand-chosen lamb that was sacrificed. As the blood of the sacrifice was applied to the doorposts of their homes, the people who obeyed God's command (both Jews and Gentiles) were spared the judgment inflicted by God.

We should not overlook the preparation that went into selecting this important sacrificial animal. The Torah tells us that the people were to bring the lamb into their home four days before the actual sacrifice. They were to carefully scrutinize the lamb in order to verify that it met the qualifications for a sacrifice. It had to be an unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5). Clearly, God was showing our forefathers that since they were imperfect, a sinless sacrifice was required to pay the price for their sins. Nothing short of perfection would suffice since God is perfectly holy. If the lamb had any defect or broken bone, it was disqualified. These problems could be confirmed during the four-day period in which the lamb was brought into the home.

What a picture of the Messiah to come! Yeshua entered the city of Jerusalem on the tenth of Nisan as though he were presenting himself for inspection (John 12:1,12). There was great debate about his identity; some rejected him, yet many welcomed him (John 12:13) with cheers of "Barukh haba BeSheym AdonaI^" (Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord)!

Messianic believers today concur with the assessment of Yochanan (John) who cried out, "Look! God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

...be thankful that the blood of God's lamb, Yeshua, is applied to the doorpost of my heart

BK