HATH GOD SAID PART II Kay Keith Peebles 4/19/19 19.12
Our home sits on the side of a mountain in North Georgia near the beginning of the Appalachian Mountain range. Our lot slopes at a 60 degree angle. The main floor of our house is located at the street level but the back of our basement (bottom floor) drops off another 20 feet to ground level. The basement foundation is braced by seven cement bulwarks 20 feet tall, 8 feet deep and 2 feet wide. The back view from our main floor family room gives the feeling our house is nestled in the tops of the trees. There is another line of mountains directly behind our home and we overlook the valley with creeks and waterfalls below.
Our front yard drops 18-20 feet on each side of the driveway and front walk. Building code requires us to construct a fence at the edge of the retaining walls with rungs 3 ¾ inches apart. The fence helps to prevent an adult or a small child from falling or being injured while in the yard. It must be sturdy with 4X4 posts every few feet set in concrete for stability. The fence creates a sense of peace and safety for all who visit us and enjoy our home.
Our local and state governments require certain standards for the construction and operation of buildings and homes in order to make them completely functional for everyone who would use the properties. They are for the benefit of the people, to keep them as safe and secure as possible. In addition, they protect the property owner from liability claims.
God’s Law works the same way. In fact, there is a scripture in Deuteronomy that addresses a similar situation. “When you build a new house, you shall make a railing around your [flat] roof, so that you do not bring the guilt of [innocent] blood on your house if someone falls from it.” Deuteronomy 22:8. God’s Law was written by God through Moses to secure our safety physically, mentally and eternally. In the same manner as our national, state and local laws are supposed to ensure the safety and security of all the general public, there are consequences for ignoring or rebelling against the law. There are crimes that only require the payment of a fine but some offenses can keep one imprisoned for most of their life. Other more serious crimes require the death penalty. Violating God’s Law can cause one to be imprisoned or enslaved spiritually, physically and mentally. Rebellion of God’s law and refusing to repent of all transgression results in eternal rejection and torment.
Man’s laws are for the protection and benefit of the people. God’s Law is not only for the protection and benefit of His people; it is also for their eternal rest and peace. Believers do not keep God’s Law by their own works. Instead, they humble themselves and submit to the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit who enables them to experience victory over every area of sin in their lives.
This week we will be celebrating Passover and Easter. The celebration of Passover is required in the Law of Moses for the Israelites to remember their great deliverance from slavery. Both Passover and Easter are directly relating to one another. Passover is the “shadow” of the true deliverance of all people by the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Passover was initiated when the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt. The last plague was the death angel passing through all of Egypt killing the first born of every household. The Israelites were instructed to take an unblemished lamb and keep it in the house for 3 days. They were not only to closely inspect the lamb for purity; they would also become attached to it. The painful sacrifice of the lamb and obedience to God’s instructions enabled them to escape the same fate as Egypt.
They were also told to make unleavened bread because they would be leaving in a hurry and would not have time for the yeast to rise. Leaven symbolized the sin in man that permeates their entire being. Finally, they were instructed to put the blood of the lamb on the lentil and the door post of their home and then roast and consume all of the lamb. One lamb per household was required. The death angel would see the blood and “pass over” their houses when he came through Egypt.
Passover is a celebration of what the Lord did when He delivered the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt but it is also a solemn occasion where the people focus on removing the leaven (sin) from their lives. “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you…” Exodus 12:15-16a. It was a week of introspection, soul-searching in order to examine their hearts and allow God to remove their sin through repentance. It was also a joyous occasion to celebrate their Redeemer Deliverer who set them free from slavery (to sin, physical and spiritual).
Pharaoh is a type or picture of Satan who enslaves all people who have sinned against God’s Law. The blood of the unblemished, sinless lamb protected the Israelites from the death angel. The Passover meal and celebration was a prophetic sign of the Messiah, Jesus who was to come and deliver His people from all sin. There is an empty chair set at the Passover table affirming the prophecy that Elijah the prophet would again come, before the expected Messiah, announcing His arrival. John the Baptist came in the “spirit of Elijah”. He preached conviction of all sin and offered baptism of water as a sign of their repentance. When he baptized Jesus, Who had no sin, he declared: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. See also Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Malachi 4:1-6 and Luke 1:17.
Near the time of the feast of unleavened bread (Passover) the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Jesus (the Lamb of God). See Luke 22:1-2. Jesus gathered His disciples in the Upper Room to celebrate Passover with them before His trial, death, burial and resurrection. He began by washing His disciples’ feet. In the Passover tradition, the head of the household washed his hands on behalf of the entire family, representing the cleansing of all our sin.
Jesus lifted the cup of wine signifying the sacrificial blood of the lamb and said, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20. Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for our sins and raised us up in Christ Jesus to be seated in heavenly places! See Ephesians 2:6. He gave us victory over sin and death and left us with the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, teach us and empower us to live righteously according to His Law.
He is holy and He is coming back for a Bride who will be holy. “So that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.” See Ephesians 5:26-27. His people will be made pure in their thoughts, their conscience and in their deeds because of their holy love and devotion for their Bridegroom.
Praise be unto the Lord Jesus Christ! This week of Passover and Easter highlight the grace and mercy of God! If we will confess our sins by the true repentance of turning in the opposite direction and practicing righteousness, we will receive forgiveness of our sins and trespasses.
The power of the Blood of Jesus covered those who were in covenant with God before His coming through faith in the blood of the spotless lamb. Through the voice of the Old Testament prophets they believed in the promise of the coming Messiah, their Deliverer, and the eternal King Who would sit on David’s throne. On the day of Jesus’ death they were raised and after His resurrection and ascension they were received by God in heaven. How much richer and more powerful is our inheritance as we have believed in the blood of the sacrificial Jesus, the Lamb of God. True repentance and godly sorrow enables us to walk in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit!
“If My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
“The LORD lives, blessed be my rock; and may the God of my salvation be exalted! Psalm 18:46a. The Passover Lamb of God had come! He died to redeem His people and was resurrected so that we might spend eternity with Him. Hath God said? Yes He has!
