A New Year
Exodus 12:1-2: "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 'This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.'"
In the nine plagues leading up to this point, the Great "I Am" had certainly been making himself known to the nations of Israel and Egypt. He was truly the God who made heaven and earth, who controlled heaven and earth, who heard his people, and who would set his people free from their bondage.
In chapter twelve, the Lord provided very detailed instructions for the Passover meal, the blood on the door, and the preparations needed to leave Egypt. The responsibility of the Israelites was to adhere to each detail. Their obedience would lead to the angel of death passing over them and sparing their firstborn sons, and they would be ready when it was time to flee Egypt. The Israelites would see the Lord's judgment on the nation of Egypt and his grace for the nation of Israel.
This was a new beginning for the nation of Israel. Thus, the Lord marked it as the beginning of their calendar year. They would be transformed people as they left the land of Egypt - not as slaves but as God's people, his firstborn son. As transformed people, they were called to celebrate this day of deliverance and to tell the story of that deliverance. Each time they begin a new calendar year, the Israelites re-enact the Passover meal and remember what God has done for his people.
As Christians, we are called to celebrate the transformation that God has done in us, how he has called us by name, set us free from the tyranny of sin and death, and led us from our places of bondage into a new life.
Reflection:
How do you celebrate God's saving work in your life? Do you remember the day that your new life began? Would you be willing to share your salvation story with someone today?
In the nine plagues leading up to this point, the Great "I Am" had certainly been making himself known to the nations of Israel and Egypt. He was truly the God who made heaven and earth, who controlled heaven and earth, who heard his people, and who would set his people free from their bondage.
In chapter twelve, the Lord provided very detailed instructions for the Passover meal, the blood on the door, and the preparations needed to leave Egypt. The responsibility of the Israelites was to adhere to each detail. Their obedience would lead to the angel of death passing over them and sparing their firstborn sons, and they would be ready when it was time to flee Egypt. The Israelites would see the Lord's judgment on the nation of Egypt and his grace for the nation of Israel.
This was a new beginning for the nation of Israel. Thus, the Lord marked it as the beginning of their calendar year. They would be transformed people as they left the land of Egypt - not as slaves but as God's people, his firstborn son. As transformed people, they were called to celebrate this day of deliverance and to tell the story of that deliverance. Each time they begin a new calendar year, the Israelites re-enact the Passover meal and remember what God has done for his people.
As Christians, we are called to celebrate the transformation that God has done in us, how he has called us by name, set us free from the tyranny of sin and death, and led us from our places of bondage into a new life.
Reflection:
How do you celebrate God's saving work in your life? Do you remember the day that your new life began? Would you be willing to share your salvation story with someone today?
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