patriarchs and prophets-第61节

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command；　and　now　the　final　blow　was　about　to　fall。

Moses　had　been　forbidden；　on　pain　of　death；　to　appear　again　in　Pharaoh's
presence；　but　a　last　message　from　God　was　to　be　delivered　to　the　rebellious
monarch；　and　again　Moses　came　before　him；　with　the　terrible　announcement：
〃Thus　saith　the　Lord；　About　midnight　will　I　go　out　into　the　midst　of　Egypt：
and　all　the　first…born　in　the　land　of　Egypt　shall　die；　from　the　first…born
of　Pharaoh　that　sitteth　upon　his　throne；　even　unto　the　first…born　of　the
maidservant　that　is　behind　the　mill；　and　all　the　first…born　of　beasts。　And
there　shall　be　a　great　cry　throughout　all　the　land　of　Egypt；　such　as　there
was　none　like　it；　nor　shall　be　like　it　any　more。　But　against　any　of　the
children　of　Israel　shall　not　a　dog　move　his　tongue；　against　man　or　beast：
that　ye　may　know　how

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that　the　Lord　doth　put　a　difference　between　the　Egyptians　and　Israel。　And
all　these　thy　servants　shall　come　down　unto　me；　and　bow　down　themselves　unto
me；　saying；　Get　thee　out；　and　all　the　people　that　follow　thee：　and　after
that　I　will　go　out。〃

Before　the　execution　of　this　sentence　the　Lord　through　Moses　gave　direction
to　the　children　of　Israel　concerning　their　departure　from　Egypt；　and
especially　for　their　preservation　from　the　coming　judgment。　Each　family；
alone　or　in　connection　with　others；　was　to　slay　a　lamb　or　a　kid　〃without
blemish；〃　and　with　a　bunch　of　hyssop　sprinkle　its　blood　on　〃the　two　side
posts　and　on　the　upper　doorpost〃　of　the　house；　that　the　destroying　angel；
coming　at　midnight；　might　not　enter　that　dwelling。　They　were　to　eat　the
flesh　roasted；　with　unleavened　bread　and　bitter　herbs；　at　night；　as　Moses
said；　〃with　your　loins　girded；　your　shoes　on　your　feet；　and　your　staff　in
your　hand；　and　ye　shall　eat　it　in　haste：　it　is　the　Lord's　Passover。〃

The　Lord　declared：　〃I　will　pass　through　the　land　of　Egypt　this　night；　and
will　smite　all　the　first…born　in　the　land　of　Egypt；　both　man　and　beast；　and
against　all　the　gods　of　Egypt　I　will　execute　judgment。　。　。　。　And　the　blood
shall　be　to　you　for　a　token　upon　the　houses　where　ye　are：　and　when　I　see　the
blood；　I　will　pass　over　you；　and　the　plague　shall　not　be　upon　you　to　destroy
you；　when　I　smite　the　land　of　Egypt。〃

In　commemoration　of　this　great　deliverance　a　feast　was　to　be　observed　yearly
by　the　people　of　Israel　in　all　future　generations。　〃This　day　shall　be　unto
you　for　a　memorial；　and　ye　shall　keep　it　a　feast　to　the　Lord　throughout　your
generations：　ye　shall　keep　it　a　feast　by　an　ordinance　forever。〃　As　they
should　keep　the　feast　in　future　years；　they　were　to　repeat　to　their　children
the　story　of　this　great　deliverance；　as　Moses　bade　them：　〃Ye　shall　say；　It
is　the　sacrifice　of　the　Lord's　Passover；　who　passed　over　the　houses　of　the
children　of　Israel　in　Egypt；　when　He　smote　the　Egyptians；　and　delivered　our
houses。〃

Furthermore；　the　first…born　of　both　man　and　beast　were　to　be　the　Lord's；　to
be　bought　back　only　by　a　ransom；　in　acknowledgment　that　when　the　first…born
in　Egypt　perished；　that　of　Israel；　though　graciously　preserved；　had　been
justly　exposed　to　the　same　doom　but　for　the　atoning　sacrifice。　〃All　the
first…born　are　Mine；〃　the　Lord　declared；　〃for　on　the　day　that　I　smote　all
the　first…born

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in　the　land　of　Egypt；　I　hallowed　unto　Me　all　the　first…born　in　Israel；　both
man　and　beast：　Mine　they　shall　be；〃　Numbers　3：13。　After　the　institution　of
the　tabernacle　service　the　Lord　chose　unto　Himself　the　tribe　of　Levi　for　the
work　of　the　sanctuary；　instead　of　the　first…born　of　the　people。　〃They　are
wholly　given　unto　Me　from　among　the　children　of　Israel；〃　He　said。　〃Instead
of　the　first…born　of　all　the　children　of　Israel；　have　I　taken　them　unto　Me。〃
Numbers　8：16。　All　the　people　were；　however；　still　required；　in
acknowledgment　of　God's　mercy；　to　pay　a　redemption　price　for　the　first…born
son。　Numbers　18：15；　16。

The　Passover　was　to　be　both　commemorative　and　typical；　not　only　pointing
back　to　the　deliverance　from　Egypt；　but　forward　to　the　greater　deliverance
which　Christ　was　to　accomplish　in　freeing　His　people　from　the　bondage　of
sin。　The　sacrificial　lamb　represents　〃the　Lamb　of　God；〃　in　whom　is　our　only
hope　of　salvation。　Says　the　apostle；　〃Christ　our　Passover　is　sacrificed　for
us。〃
1　Corinthians　5：7。　It　was　not　enough　that　the　paschal　lamb　be
slain；　its　blood　must　be　sprinkled　upon　the　doorposts；　so　the　merits　of
Christ's　blood　must　be　applied　to　the　soul。　We　must　believe；　not　only　that
He　died　for　the　world；　but　that　He　died　for　us　individually。　We　must
appropriate　to　ourselves　the　virtue　of　the　atoning　sacrifice。

The　hyssop　used　in　sprinkling　the　blood　was　the　symbol　of　purification；
being　thus　employed　in　the　cleansing　of　the　leper　and　of　those　defiled　by
contact　with　the　dead。　In　the　psalmist's　prayer　also　its　significance　is
seen：　〃Purge　me　with　hyssop；　and　I　shall　be　clean：　wash　me；　and　I　shall　be
whiter　than　snow。〃　Psalm　51：7。

The　lamb　was　to　be　prepared　whole；　not　a　bone　of　it　being　broken：　so　not　a
bone　was　to　be　broken　of　the　Lamb　of　God；　who　was　to　die　for　us。　John　19：36。
Thus　was　also　represented　the　completeness　of　Christ's　sacrifice。

The　flesh　was　to　be　eaten。　It　is　not　enough　even　that　we　believe　on　Christ
for　the　forgiveness　of　sin；　we　must　by　faith　be　constantly　receiving
spiritual　strength　and　nourishment　from　Him　through　His　word。　Said　Christ；
〃Except　ye　eat　the　flesh　of　the　Son　of　man；　and　drink　His　blood；　ye　have　no
life　in　you。　Whoso　eateth　My　flesh；　and　drinketh　My　blood；　hath　eternal
life。〃　John　6：53；　54。　And　to　explain　His　meaning　He　said；　〃The　words　that　I
speak　unto　you；　they　are　spirit；　and　they　are　life。〃　Verse　63。　Jesus

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accepted　His　Father's　law；　wrought　out　its　principles　in　His　life；
manifested　its　spirit；　and　showed　its　beneficent　power　in　the　heart。　Says
John；　〃The　Word　was　made　flesh　and　dwelt　among　us；　（and　we　beheld　His　glory；
the　glory　as　of　the　only　begotten　of　the　Father；）　full　of　grace　and　truth。〃
John　1：14。　The　followers　of　Christ　must　be　partakers　of　His　experience。　They
must　receive　and　assimilate　the　word　of　God　so　that　it　shall　become　the
motive　power　of　life　and　action。　By　the　power　of　Christ　they　must　be　changed
into　His　likeness；　and　reflect　the　divine　attributes。　They　must　eat　the
flesh　and　drink　the　blood　of　the　Son　of　God；　or　there　is　no　life　in　them。
The　spirit　and　work　of　Christ　must　become　the　spirit　and　work　of　His
disciples。

The　lamb　was　to　be　eaten　with　bitter　herbs；　as　pointing　back　to　the
bitterness　of　the　bondage　in　Egypt。　So　when　we　feed　upon　Christ；　it　should
be　with　contrition　of　heart；　because　of　our　sins。　The　use　of　unleavened
bread　also　was　significant。　It　was　expressly　enjoined　in　the　law　of　the
Passover；　and　as　strictly　observed　by　the　Jews　in　their　practice；　that　no
leaven　should　be　found　in　their　houses　during　the　feast。　In　like　manner　the
leaven　of　sin　must　be　put　away　from　all　who　would　receive　life　and
nourishment　from　Christ。　So　Paul　writes　to　the　Corinthian　church；　〃Purge　out
therefore　the　old　leaven；　that　ye　may　be　a　new　lump。　。　。　。　For　even　Christ
our　Passover　is　sacrificed　for　us：　therefore　let　us　keep　the　feast；　not　with
old　leaven；　neither　with　the　leaven　of　malice　and　wickedness；　but　with　the
unleavened　bread　of　sincerity　and　truth。〃　1　Corinthians　5：7；　8。

Before　obtaining　freedom；　the　bondmen　must　show　their　faith　in　the　great
deliverance　about　to　be　accomplished。　The　token　of　blood　must　be　placed　upon
their　houses；　and　they　must　separate　themselves　and　their　families　from　the
Egyptians；　and　gather　within　their　own　dwellings。　Had　the　Israelites
disregarded　in　any　particular　the　directions　given　them；　had　they　neglected
to　separate　their　children　from　the　Egyptians；　had　they　slain　the　lamb；　but
failed　to　strike　the　doorpost　with　blood；　or　had　any　gone　out　of　their
houses；　they　would　not　have　been　secure。　They　might　have　honestly　believed
that　they　had　done　all　that　was　necessary；　but　their　sincerity　would　not
have　saved　them。　All　who　failed　to　heed　the　Lord's　directions　would　lose
their　first…born　by　the　hand　of　the　destroyer。

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By　obedience　the　people　were　to　give　evidence　of　their　faith。　So　all　who
hope　to　be　saved　by　the　merits　of　the　blood　of　Christ　should　realize　that
they　themselves　have　something　to　do　in　securing　their　salvation。　While　it
is　Christ　only　that　can　redeem　us　from　the　penalty　of　transgression；　we　are
to　turn　from　sin　to　obedience。　Man　is　to　be　saved　by　faith；　not　by　works；
yet　his　faith　must　be　shown　by　his　works。　God　has　given　His　Son　to　die　as　a
propitiation　for　sin；　He　has　manifested　the　light　of　truth；　the　way　of　life；
He　has　given　facilities；　ordinances；　and　privileges；　and　now　man　must
co…operate　with　these　saving　agencies；　he　must　appreciate　and　use　the　helps
that　God　has　providedbelieve　and　obey　all　the　divine　requirements。

As　Moses　rehearsed　to　Israel　the　provisions　of　God　for　their　deliverance；
〃the　people　bowed　the　head　and　worshiped。〃　The　glad　hope　of　freedom；　the
awful　knowledge　of　the　impending　judgment　upon　their　oppressors；　the　cares
and　labors　incident　to　their