And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Today’s Text: Scripture Excerpts
SEASONS: Passover

Moses leads the nation of Israel across Yam Suph (Red Sea).

The following Scriptures underscore the centrality of the Passover celebration in Israel’s national life:

Passover following departure from Egypt:

NUMBERS 9:1-5
“Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: ‘Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.’

So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.”

Passover prior to entering the Promised Land:

JOSHUA 5:10-12
“Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.

Then, the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.”

Passover during the revival of King Josiah’s day:

2 KINGS 23:21-23
“Then the king commanded all the people, saying, ‘Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.’

Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the Lord in Jerusalem.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives matzah for Passover from the rabbi of the Visznitz.

Passover after the Babylonian captivity:

EZRA 6:19-22
“And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.

And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”

 Passover is by nature a joyful celebration!

It is no coincidence, then, that on significant occasions in the history of the nation, the biblically recorded celebrations of Passover serve to not only underscore Israel’s joy, but the Jewish people’s diligence to observe God’s commandment to celebrate the feast in perpetuity.

Charles E. McCracken Biblically Authentic – Standing with Israel

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Rev. McCracken authentically communicates biblical truth making his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

© Charles E. McCracken 2016, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author via Contact Form under ABOUT. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added.)

IMAGES:
1) Moses leads the nation of Israel across Yam Suph. By Wilhelm Kotarbiński (1848 – 1921). [Public domain].
2) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives matzah for Passover from the rabbi of the Visznitz. Photo: SA’AR YA’ACOV, 04/24/1997, [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios

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