Yada Yahweh
Book 2: Called-Out Assemblies
…Understanding the Basics
3
Pesach – Passover
The Story of Our Redemption…
During the Exodus, Yahuweh established His seven-step plan for our salvation. The journey from human oppression to the Promised Land, and to camping out with God in paradise, begins on the fourteenth day of the first month with Pesach/Passover. This is immediately followed by Matsah/Unleavened Bread and Bikurym/FirstFruits. Our mortal souls are cleansed of sin on Passover, freeing us from its consequence—which is death. We are redeemed on Unleavened Bread, where a ransom is paid to deliver us from the penalty of sin—which is separation. The result, at least for those who observe the Torah, is a FirstFruits harvest of souls, God's gracious gift to us, whereby the purified and ransomed rise up and come into the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Seven sevens plus one Sabbath later, at the Mow'ed Miqra'/Called-Out Assembly Meeting of Shabuwa/Sevens, a grand party is held where everyone is invited regardless of race, sex, age, geographic location, religion, or social status. Those who have answered the summons, and who are the beneficiaries of Pesach, Matsah, and Bikurym are enveloped in Yahweh's Set-Apart Spirit, empowering us to become witnesses to the other guests, and then to the world.
On the first day of the seventh month, on the Mow'ed Miqra' of Taruw'ah/Trumpets, Yahweh's Spirit-filled troubadours are called to signal a warning and to shout for joy. The blaring warning is to those who are unaware of the meetings, and do not know that attendance at the next one, Yowm Kippurym, is a life or death decision. And the joyous music is in hopeful anticipation that many will answer the summons, and enjoy God's company—now and forever.
Ten days later, on the Day of Reconciliations, all humankind is given a choice. We can come into the presence of our Spiritual Mother and be reborn into Yahweh's family, living eternally with our Heavenly Father in His home. Or, we can choose not to attend the meeting, or simply ignore the summons. The consequence, according to the Creator and Judge, is that upon their death, such individuals will have their souls, or consciousness, diminished to the point of nonexistence. The message is simple and fair: if you do not value God sufficiently to answer His call to life, He will respond in kind—and death will be the end of your existence.
The conclusion and desired result of Yahweh's seven-step plan of salvation occurs five days later on the Called-Out Assembly Meeting of Sukah/Shelters. This festival feast known as "Tabernacles" and "Tents," is a time where we get to camp out with God, and thus it depicts eternal life with our Heavenly Father in Heaven.
Sadly, while all claim that the Old Covenant was inspired by God, there isn't one Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or Mormon in a million who answers Yahweh's call to attend any of these annual meetings. The preponderance don't know His name, their names, or understand the role the Mow'ed Miqra'ey play in our salvation. They don't know that they provide the lone, narrow, unpopular, and seldom traveled path to eternal life in our Heavenly Father's family and home. Worse still, the overwhelming preponderance of these victims of religious concealment, corruption, and counterfeiting, celebrate holidays in their place which were conceived in the pagan milieu of Babylon.
It is little wonder that Christians believe that "Jesus Christ" ushered in a new religion on behalf of "the Lord, God" with his birth on Christmas Day, his triumphal arrival on Palm Sunday, his celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday with its initiation of the Eucharist, leading to god's death on a pagan cross on Good Friday, his resurrection from hell on Easter Sunday, with weekly worship observances religiously attended every Sunday thereafter throughout the year. The problem is, each of these aberrations were born and bred in Babylon, and none harmonize with Yahweh's Word. Christendom is wrong, and the consequence is deadly.
All religions, from Hinduism to Socialist Secular Humanism, are manmade constructs designed to empower and enrich clerics, kings, elitists, and merchants by confusing the masses. The tools of confusion are concealment, corruption, and counterfeit—with the latter being the most beguiling. Just as a counterfeit bill is crafted to appear genuine, but is actually worthless, imbedded within the pagan celebrations of Christmas and Easter there are sufficient biblical strokes to fool the casual observer into thinking that they are godly. But in these cases, the Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman solar nativity, mother of god, and solstice- and equinox-based death and rebirth festivals are far worse than worthless, because they conceal the solitary path to God.
The Levitical presentation of the Mow'ed Miqra'ey began with: "Yahuweh (YHWH) spoke these words (dabar – communicated) to ('el) Moseh (moseh – one who draws out), saying ('amar – answering and promising, intending), 'Speak the Word to (dabar – communicated with) the Children (ben) of Yisra'el (yisra'el – from 'ys sarah and 'el, those who strive and struggle with, those who persist and endure with, those who persevere with and are empowered by God), and say ('amar – call out, declare, and promise that) these Godly ('el-leh) appointed meeting times (mow'ed – fixed assembly betrothal appointments which focus on the specific purpose designated by the Authority) of Yahuweh, these related ('asher) set-apart (qodesh) assemblies of the called out (miqra'ey – the calling together; from qara', to call out, to read, and recite), shall be proclaimed (qara' – called out, read aloud, and recited) in relationship to ('asher) their appointed meeting times (mow'ed – their fixed betrothal appointments where the assembly focuses on the specific purpose which was designated by the Authority).'" (Leviticus 23:1-2)
There are four names listed in this essential passage. Yahuweh is God's name—His one and only personal and proper name. It means "I Am," or "I Exist." As such, it answers the most important question in the universe: Is there a God? And as it did with the Exodus, our salvation begins with knowing that Yahuweh has come to rescue us. More important still, the Mow'ed Miqra'ey/Called-Out Assembly Meetings are Yahuweh's, meaning that they are not "Jewish religious holidays" the rest of us can ignore.
Moseh was named "to draw out" because he was drawn out of the Nile and rescued by one of Pharaoh's daughters when he was just a child. In life, Yahuweh would use Moseh to draw His people out of the crucible of bondage, an act which would serve as a historical portrait of the means to salvation for all people and for all time. The path to paradise is depicted in the words and deeds of Moseh.
The initial beneficiaries of this gracious gift were the Children of Yisra'el. Our Heavenly Father's purpose on Earth is to build a family and to bring His children home. Yisra'el specifies which children are admitted to the Promised Land. Ys is Hebrew for "individual." 'El is Yahweh's title, meaning the "Almighty," or "God." Sarah defines the substance which connects them. It's the additive element in Yah's salvation formula: six (the number of man) in addition to One (the number of God) equates to seven (completion, rest, and reflection as depicted in the Sabbath). So if we want to be with Yahweh, we need to sarah: "strive and struggle with, persist and endure with, persevere with and be empowered by" 'el/God.
Some of the descriptive words presented in the list of definitions pertaining to sarah may seem unexpected, so let's linger here a while. To begin, the primary meaning of "strive" is "to devote serious effort or energy into something." It means "to exert oneself." Those who prioritize their relationship with God and invest time in the Word, become His children. This is the spiritual essence of the Fifth Commandment. There, the operative word regarding our attitude toward our Heavenly Father and Spiritual Mother is kabed, meaning "weighty." The message is: if we consider God to be a priority in our lives, we will be a priority to Him, and as a result, we will live with Him for a long time in the Promised Land.
The cornerstone of Yahweh's Covenant with Abraham came in the form of a simple request: "Walk with Me." Walking with someone requires effort. If we want to be God's children, we have to engage. While Yahweh isn't asking a lot of us, He is insistent that we stand up, step toward Him, and journey along life's way in His company.
The second synonym associated with sarah, is "struggle." It is something we don't often consider in reference to God. It means that we can wrestle with God, as sons might with their own fathers, and even argue with Him as Abraham did. More importantly, it conveys the idea that this is a reciprocal relationship where we are encouraged to invest the effort required to challenge the obstacles life throws in our path with God's help. Life is a struggle, which is why the Sabbath calls for and promises a "day of rest."
Sarah's third definitive term, "persist," is related to the fifth, "persevere." To persist is "to take a stand, standing firm, and being resolute in spite of any conflicting opportunities or resistance." If we maintain this attitude and character in our relationship with Yahweh, then "we will continue to exist." Likewise, to "persevere" is "to stay the course in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement—to be steadfast." The uniting theme of the Covenant, both Old and Renewed, is that Yahuweh stood up for us so that we could stand with Him. Reinforcing this thought, in His initial instructions regarding the Covenant, God asked Abraham to "be straight with Him," in the sense of being a man of principle and conviction. The promise, of course, is to persist, to exist eternally with God.
But since we are weak and mortal, to "endure" we need to be "empowered by" God. And that is why two of the three times sarah appears in Scripture apart from Yisra'el, it is rendered "to have power." When we are born spiritually into Yah's family, we gain direct access to His power, authority, and ability. Most important of all, through Him we gain power over death itself.
Therefore, all who "stand up and step toward God, who devote serious effort and energy into their relationship with Him, who prioritize Him and remain steadfast, who engage with Him as they would with their own fathers, wrestling their way through life's challenges together, and those who endure because they are empowered by Him" are God's children. We are Yisra'el. This message is for us.
In that light, the story Yahweh was communicating to the Children of Yisra'el was emblazoned in the fourth name in His list: mow'ed miqra'ey. The primary meaning of mow'ed is "a designated meeting time and appointed assembly place." The secondary connotation is "a festival celebration whose purpose is designated by an authority." Its third definition is "betrothal," and as such it is related to "marriage." Mow'ed is derived from ya'ad, meaning "to appoint a fixed assembly meeting."
Miqra'ey is the plural of miqra', meaning "called-out assemblies." The Miqra'ey are "gatherings for the purpose of reading and reciting," and "for communicating signs and symbols designed to bring a community together." So in a name, we have the purpose. The Mow'ed Miqra'ey are designated meeting times for the called-out assembly for the purpose of reading and reciting the Word and thereby bringing the family of God together.
Please note before we move on, mow'ed was repeated two times in this sentence because timing is always important to Yahweh. God's plan unfolds in a specific order, and on very specific and essential days. He is neither ambivalent nor flexible in this regard. He wants us to know the times. Keep the appointments. And understand the role they play in our salvation.
The four names Yahweh selected in His opening stanza regarding the Called-Out Assembly Meetings were nestled between three communicative terms. Dabar, Hebrew for "word," appears twice in the introductory sentence because the Word of God and the Messiyah are synonymous, and because the Mow'ed Miqra'ey depict the role Yahushua played in our salvation.
'Amar, meaning "to engage in conversation," is also used twice because the purpose of the Miqra'ey is to convey God's purpose and plan. During these called-out meetings we are to communicate the way home by reading and reciting the Word.
Third, qara', which means "to proclaim and to call out," as well as "to read and to recite," is deployed in the opening sentence to made sure that we wouldn't miss the fact that as the root of miqra', we are being asked to proclaim these appointments to everyone. Further, God wanted us to understand the correlation between qara'/call-out and miqra'/called-out assembly, and the Greek word ekklesia, meaning the "called-out assembly." It is the name God uses throughout the Renewed Covenant to describe His chosen people.
By way of review: "Yahuweh spoke these words to Moseh, saying, 'Speak the Word to the Children of Yisra'el ('ys sarah 'el – those who strive and struggle with, those who persist and endure with, those who persevere with and are empowered by God), and say that these Godly appointed meeting times (mow'ed – fixed assembly betrothal appointments which focus on the specific purpose designated by the Authority) of Yahuweh, these related set-apart assemblies of the called out (miqra'ey – the calling together; from qara', to call out, to read, and recite), shall be proclaimed (qara' – called out, read aloud, and recited) in relationship to their appointed meeting times (mow'ed).'"
Next, Yahweh equates the six-plus-one plan enshrined in the Mow'ed Miqra'ey, with how His work concludes with a restful time where we camp out with God—the Sabbath—albeit with an insightful twist. "Six (ses) days (yowmym) the service of the spiritual messenger (mala'kah) shall be performed ('asah – accomplished), so then (wa) in (ba) the (ha) seventh (shaby'y) day (yowm) will be a Sabbath (shabat – time of rest and reflection), a set-apart (qodesh) called-out assembly (miqra') for rest and reflection (shabatown). All (kol) service of the heavenly messenger (mala'kah) shall not (lo') be done ('asah – performed). It is Yahuweh's Sabbath (shabat – time for rest and reflection) in (ba) all (kol) your ('atem) dwelling places and throughout time (mosab – wherever and whenever you assemble)." (Leviticus 23:3)
Shabatown are the special Sabbaths designated in the Miqra'ey. Unlike the weekly variety which always occur on the seventh day, a Shabatown can fall on any day during the week. By linking the Shabath and Shabatown with the Miqra'ey, Yahweh is telling us that they convey a unified plan—a plan which prevails wherever and whenever we may be.
Moreover, God is saying that He is going to accomplish the work required for us to celebrate with Him. Yahushua is the "mala'kah—the spiritual messenger" who performs this service, which is why Messiyah means "the Implement (tool) of Yah."
To appreciate my reasoning behind this conclusion, please notice the subtle differences between what you just read and what Yahuweh etched in stone in the Fourth Commandment. In the Commandment, unlike the Miqra'ey, the initial reference to "work" is rendered with 'abad, not mala'kah. "Remember and recall that the Sabbath day is set apart. Six days you shall work ('abad – labor) and do ('asah – prepare and produce, advance and accomplish, institute and celebrate) all your service of representing the heavenly Messenger (mala'kah). The seventh (shabiy'iy) day, the Sabbath (shabat) of Yahuweh your God, you shall not do ('asah –accomplish) any part of the work of God's Representative and Messenger (mala'kah – from mal'ak, the ministry and mission of the heavenly envoy and dispatch; the labor of God's corporeal manifestation), not your son, not your daughter, not your servants and employees, not your means of production, nor those visitors in your home or property." (Exodus 20:8-10)
Not only would the Miqra'ey present Yahushua's work on our behalf, and include special days set apart for rest and reflection, they would follow the same six-plus-one model established in stone. The message of both is that we cannot work for our salvation. God Himself has provided the way home.
"You are summoned to (qara' – called out and invited to read and recite at) these ('elleh) related ('asher) appointed meeting times (mow'ed) of Yahuweh's set-apart (qodesh) called-out assemblies (miqra'ey) at ('eth) the established meeting time (mow'ed)." (Leviticus 23:4) The Interlinear of the Hebrew-English Old Testament published by the NIV, provides a slightly different, and yet equally valid rendering: "These called-out assemblies of Yahweh, these set-apart Assemblies, you must proclaim them at their appointed time." This is so clear, so unambiguous, so vital, I am perplexed as to how Christendom has managed to completely disregard it.
The first Mow'ed Miqra' is Yahuweh's Passover. "In (ba) the (ha) first (ri'shown) month (chodesh – time of renewal) [Abib – the month young barley ears form and green], on the fourteenth ('arba' 'asar – four and tenth) of (la) the (ha) month (hodes or chodesh – time of renewal) at (bayin – between and within the interval of) twilight ('ereb – sunset), is Yahuweh's Passover (pesach or pesah – act of sparing and providing immunity)." (Leviticus 23:5) Passover is synonymous with the message of the Renewed Covenant. We have been spared by Yahweh's actions. He has provided immunity for us by allowing our sin to be passed over without consequence.
And should you be wondering the reason why Yahuweh didn't identify when the first month of the year would commence on this occasion, it was because He had already done so. This was not the first announcement of Passover. And that is also why nothing more about Passover is said at this time.
* * *
Fifty days before the Torah was revealed to Moseh on Mount Horeb, the Children of Yisra'el had personally experienced it. Let's pick up their story with the announcement of the first official Passover.
"Yahuweh said ('amar – spoke) to Moseh (moseh – one who draws out) and to 'Aharown ('aharown – source of light and choice) in the realm ('erets – land and nation) of the Crucible of Egypt (misrahym), saying, 'This (zeh) new moon (hodes – lunar month, the first day on which a crescent appears, a time of renewal and restoration) shall be your uppermost (ro'sh – beginning, head, top, and finest) time of renewal (hodes). This shall be the first (ri'shown – initial and foremost) month (hodes) of the year (sanah – time of change).'" (Exodus 12:1-2)
Hodes, sometimes vocalized as chadash, conveys an essential message with regard to the Mowed Miqra'ey. It means "to renew, to make anew, to repair, and to restore" in addition to designating the "first day of a new lunar month when the initial sliver of a crescent reappears." The designated purpose of the Called-Out Assemblies is to renew our souls, restoring us into fellowship with Yahuweh. And they occur at very specific times, which is why it was important to know how to establish a calendar which was in sync with the Almighty's. Prior to mechanization and mass communication, the only reliable means of achieving this was by way of the moon phases.
Yahweh had already established the time of year, saying in Exodus 9:31 that the barley crop was 'abyb, meaning "formed in the ear and yet still green and moist." Since barley is one of the first grains to flower each year, this occurs annually in the Spring, very near the vernal equinox. By selecting the new moon which most closely corresponded to this time, the beginning of the year could be readily established. However, since a lunar year is just 12 months of 29.5 days, it had to be adjusted by adding a thirteenth month every three years on average. This procedure was remarkably accurate, making the average Hebrew year 365.2468 days long, compared to the Gregorian year of 365.2425 days duration. This was accomplished based solely upon whether the barley was 'abyb when the first crescent moon of the Spring was sighted. (Since there isn't a handy barley farmer in proximity to most of Yahuweh's children today, we can calibrate our year to God's by staring it with the first crescent closest to the vernal equinox.)
"Speak (dabar) to ('el) the entire (kol) community ('edah – assembly) of the Children (ben - sons) of Yisra'el ('ys sarah 'el – those who strive and struggle with, those who persist and endure with, those who persevere with and are empowered by God), and say ('amar) this to them, 'On (ba – in) the tenth ('ashowr) of the month (hodes – new moon and time of renewal) each man ('ysh – husband and individual) shall obtain (laqah – select, grasp hold of, and receive) a male lamb (seh) for himself and his home (bayith – household and family)—a lamb (seh) according to their father's ('ab) households (bayith – homes and family).'" (Exodus 12:1-3) ("Children of" isn't found in the MT but is written in the DSS. Likewise, the end of the 3rd verse was predicated on 4QpaleoGen-Exod rather than on the Masoretic.)
'Edah, translated "community," also means "witness," and "to provide testimony and evidence," and thus it describes the role Moseh and the Yisra'elites would play in the revelation of Yahuweh's nature and plan. More telling still, the same three Hebrew letters vocalized 'adah, conveys the purpose of the assembly, which is to "remove and take away" sin by way of the "pass over."
There are five lessons we can learn from this next passage. "And if ('im) the household (bayit – home and family) is too small (ma'at – few and impoverished) to endure (hayah – exist with) with a lamb (seh), then he and his neighbor (saken) who is near (qarowb – closely related to) the household (bayith – home and family) shall share (laqah – obtain and receive) according to (min) the number (miksah – quantity) of souls (nepesh) and according to the individual ('ysh) mouths (peh) to feed ('akal) in computing the amount (kasas – in determining and figuring out the quantity) of lamb." (Exodus 12:4)
God doesn't want us investing more than we can afford into this relationship. Second, we are asked to be neighborly and sociable, helping others out while enjoying their company. Third, Passover is to be celebrated as a family. Fourth, the benefit of Passover is the survival of our mortal soul, which is why the number of nepesh/souls was important to God. And fifth, the concern over the number of mouths to be fed tells us that Passover isn't a sacrifice in the since that we are giving something of value to God, but instead is a feast, where we enjoy a meal together.
Yahuweh said: "Your lamb (seh) shall exist as (hayah) an unblemished (tamiym – without defect, a blameless and innocent) male (zakar) son (ben), a year old (shaneh). It may be (hayah) taken (laqah – obtained and received) from (min) the sheep (kebes – rams) or from (min) the female goats ('ez – she goats)." (Exodus 12:5)
The kebes/ram, seh/male lamb, and ben/son who is "tamiym/unblemished, blameless, and innocent" is a stand in for the Son of God, the Sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, the Messiyah Yahushua. Relying upon the work that He did on our behalf during the first three Miqra'ey is the first step towards salvation.
The Hebrew word 'ez, translated "female goats" above, is symbolic of our Spiritual Mother. Vocalized 'oz, the term conveys "great power and strength," and "a reliable fortification." 'Ez and 'oz are derived from 'azaz, meaning "to be strengthened, to be empowered, to be made strong, and to prevail." These represent the benefits of being reborn by way of the Set-Apart Spirit—the second essential step in our salvation.
"And they shall be (hayah) with (la – among) you, guarding and watching them (mishmeret – keeping them responsibly, observing, caring for, and preserving them) until ('ad) the fourteenth ('asar 'arba') day (yowm) of this (zeh) month (hodes – time of renewal). And the whole (kol) assembled (qahal – gathered) community ('edah) of the Children (ben – sons) of Yisra'el (yisra'el – those who live with and are empowered by God) shall slaughter (sahat – take its life by killing) them around (bayin – near or in the vicinity of) sundown ('ereb – sunset, twilight, dusk, or early evening)." (Exodus 12:6)
God wanted His people to appreciate the sacrifice the Lamb would make for their sins. By having it arrive four days before the feast, the family would become familiar with the lamb before they slaughtered it. In the same way, Yahuweh wanted the Yahuwdym to become familiar with Yahushua before they called for His murder on Passover—four days after Daniel's prophecies and the Renewed Covenant witnesses tell us that the Sacrificial Lamb of God, the Messiyah, walked into Jerusalem for the final time.
Every word of what follows is dripping with portent. "You are to take (laqah – grasp hold of, obtain, seize, and receive) a portion of (min – from and part of) the blood (dam) and put (nathan – entrust, dedicate, exchange, devote, and give it, paying with) it on ('al) the two (sanayim – both sides of the) upright pillars of the doorway (mazuwzah – door posts, framework of the doorway, jam, or standing pedestals) and on ('al) the lintel (masaqowp – upper post or crosspiece of a doorframe; from shaqaph, meaning that which looks out, down, and overlooks) on ('al) the (ha) homes (bayith – houses, households, and families) where ('asher) you eat ('akal – feed upon) it ('eth) inside (ba)." (Exodus 12:7)
A portion of Yahushua's blood, the perfect Sacrificial Lamb of God, oozed from His wrists onto the lintel, while some of it poured from the piercings in His feet onto the upright pillar upon which He was hung. It was shed so that we might become His children, celebrating endless feasts in our Heavenly Father's home.
Along these lines, the reason Yahuweh wanted the Yahuwdym to eat the lamb, was so that they would understand that the sacrifice wasn't a gift to God, or a service to Him, but instead something for them to benefit from, to be nurtured by, and to enjoy in a family setting. "Then (wa) eat ('akal – feed upon and be nourished by) the meat (basar – flesh and body) during (ba – in) the night (laylah – time of darkness), roasting (saly – using dry heat to cook) this (zeh) over ('al) a fire ('esh – flame), and eat ('akal) him (huw' – her or it) with unleavened bread (mastah – bread without yeast) and bitter herbs (maror – an eatable plant with a bitter taste)." (Exodus 12:8) Since it takes just a tiny bit of leaven, or yeast, to permeate an entire loaf, changing the nature of the bread, leaven is equated to sin in our mortal bodies. The unleavened bread represents our sinless state in the aftermath of the atoning sacrifice. And the bitter herbs alert us to the agonizing price Yahuweh paid to render us blameless.
When meat is boiled, the water becomes polluted by the animal's fats and remnants of its blood. Drinking blood is forbidden in the Torah, and consuming fat isn't healthy. Moreover, there were many positive implications which resulted from roasting the lamb over a fire. First, the fire lights up the room, making it possible to see one another and read the Word after sunset. Second, it warms all of those around it, and creates a campout ambiance, consistent with our Heavenly Father's ultimate goal—of us camping out with Him. Third, the smoke rises, symbolically demonstrating that our souls will also rise as a result of the sacrifice. Fourth, fire is the Scriptural metaphor for judgment, from which we are passed over as a result of the lamb bearing the penalty for our sins.
"Do no ('al) eat ('akal) any part of (min) him/it (huw') raw (na' – uncooked) or (wa) boiled (basel), cooking (basal) it in water (mayim), but instead ('im – as a condition) roasting (saly) it (huw') on a fire ('esh), its head (ro'sh) and legs (kera' – lower legs or shank) on ('al) him (huw') and his inner parts (qereb) close by ('al – among them)." (Exodus 12:9) While the lamb shank is edible, God isn't suggesting that we consume any of the internal organs. The head, heart, and legs are there to help us visualize the price our Savior paid on Golgotha's upright pole.
Yahushua's sacrifice alone is sufficient to atone for all of our sins. There would be nothing left to do, and thus no sin remaining. "And you shall not (lo') have any leftovers (yatar – nothing remaining) from (min) him (huw' – or it) come ('ad – until) morning (boqer). The remainder (yatar) of him upon the approach of ('ad) morning (boqer) shall be burned up (sarap) in (ba) the fire ('esh)." (Exodus 12:10) On the eve of Passover, Yahushua's body was removed from the pole, and placed in a grave. In the morning, His soul was sent to hell to endure our punishment in the place of separation.
While God did all the work required to redeem us, if we want to be rescued, we have to be ready to go. The Familial Covenant Relationship is predicated on walking out of man's realm and walking home with God. "And this is how (kakah – the manner in which) you shall eat ('akal) him/it (huw'), with ('eth) the tie fastened around your waste (hagar matanaym – fully dressed and girded), with your sandals (na'al – shoes) on your feet (regel), and with your staff (maqqel – walking stick and branch) in your hand (yad). You shall eat it quickly (hipazown – in haste, in a hurry as if ready for a flight)." (Exodus 12:11)
"This is (huw' – he is or it is) Passover (pesach – to pass over) according to (la) Yahuweh." (Exodus 12:11) Speaking of the Lamb, this passage literally reads: He is Passover according to Yahuweh," or "He is in accord with Yahuweh's Passover." It is an allusion to the role Yahushua would play in our salvation.
In Exodus 1:16, we heard pharaoh tell those responsible for delivering Hebrew children: "If a son is born, you shall kill him." Yahuweh has a long memory and is prone to reciprocation. Love Him and He will love you in return—giving you the gift of life. Reject Him, and He will reject you, the consequence is: you will die. Therefore…"I will pass over ('abar) the realm ('erets – land and nation) of the Crucible (misraym) during this (zeh – particular) night (laylah) and strike (nakah – kill) every (kol) firstborn son (bakor – oldest son) in the land ('erets) of Egypt (misraym), including (min) man ('adam) and animal (behemah). And upon (ba) all of (kol) the gods ('elohym) of Egypt, I will execute judgment and render punishment ('asah sepet)." (Exodus 12:12) Passover, like each and every Miqra'ey, is both symbolic and prophetic. Yahuweh would sacrifice His only begotten son as the Passover Lamb to save His family.
By saying that He is going to "judge and punish" the "gods of Egypt," Yahuweh is telling us that there is more to them than celestial identifications and graven images. False gods live in the minds of the men who created them and who serve them, and in the institutions which promote them—both of whom were inspired by Satan. False gods embody a very real spirit—that of darkness, deceit, death, and damnation. There would be a consequence of the role Satan and his fellow demons played in promoting them.
When we are washed in the blood of the perfect Passover Lamb, our lives are spared on that account. God said so during the Exodus. "I am ('any) Yahuweh. The blood (dam) will exist (hayah) as a sign (owth – a token, a miraculous signal, an illustration, a nonverbal symbol conveying important information) for you on your homes (bayith – households and families) where you ('attah) by way of relationship ('asher) are at that time (sham/shem – are known by name). And when I see (ra'ah – when I view and consider) the blood (dam) I will pass over (pesach) you on that account ('al – on that basis and for that reason)." (Exodus 12:13) It is so subtle it is usually missed. The sign was for us, not for Him. Passover is a sign of things to come—the universal redemption of the Renewed Covenant.
There is more to Passover than simply sparing a mortal life. The plague of sin, which leads to the death and destruction of...
Edited by user Monday, December 22, 2008 10:13:27 AM(UTC)
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