“It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD
“It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD,
who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 12:27
Monday, April 14, 2014 at sunset marks the beginning of the Jewish celebration of Passover, which extends through Sunday, April 20. This biblical feast commemorates God’s protection over the Israelites during the tenth plague in Egypt–the killing of the firstborn. God instructed each Israelite family to apply the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their homes, and as they faithfully obeyed the Lord’s command they were shielded from God’s punishment. The resulting pain and death among the Egyptians finally caused Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. God commanded that each year Passover be observed by Jews as a memorial forever in Exodus 12:14. This memorial, which incorporated the lamb, matzo (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs, was designed to raise questions in the hearts and minds of Jewish children so that reality of God’s provision and protection revealed in the Exodus account could be retold from generation to generation. ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.’ Exodus 12:14
At The Joshua Fund, we count it a privilege to steward your donations to help many impoverished Israelis celebrate Passover this year. With one in four Israelis living below the poverty level, there are far too many people who need help with the basic necessities of life. Through our ministry partners in Israel, we will be distributing matzo, fruits and pastries to Holocaust survivors, Ethiopian families, single mothers and to poor and needy Jewish individuals and families throughout the Land. Included with these gifts is a card with a picture of a lamb (pictured above) that reads “Wishing [you] a wonderful Passover! In the name of our Lord, and in His love.”
Passover carries a particularly powerful message today for believers, as this celebration forms the background for understanding the true Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. All those lambs sacrificed in Egypt, one per household, pointed to the one true Lamb of God. As is written in John 1:29 ‘The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ The apostle Paul noted for all time that “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” in 1 Corinthians 5:7. We are thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to serve in this way and ask the Lord to bless these Israeli families and individuals who receive these Passover gifts with the knowledge of His love. Thank you for partnering with The Joshua Fund, as we together bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus.
