The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 277

truth because it is true; but we must receive it and believe it, not because in our natural reason we cnn see it as true, but because of the ascertained and well-accreditoo. character of him who speaks it. And we must show our faith by our works, as these Israelites did. It was not required of them to understand how this sprinkled blood operated. They acted e.s believing that it would operate, and the indisputable fa.et is that they were saved. It is a great deal more important to have a thing done, than to be able to understand ell the ins and outs by which it is done. A man does not refuse to wind up his watch, because he cannot underst.'l.nd its intricate mechanism. His purposes are served, if he understands enough to turn the key. And so our purposes are served, if we have enough practical faith in Jesus to gain actual salvation through him. Exactly bow Jesus saves, is a question which we may ask again and again, and vainly ask. Let us not, in asking it, waste time and risk eternity, when by the prompt and full obedience of faith, we may know in our experience, that however obscure the process may be, the result itself is a real and abiding one. Ill. Looking back on this passover lamb in the light of the finished work of Jesus, we see HOW AMPLE A TYPE lT IS OF HIM WHO WAS TO COME AFTER AND STAND BETWEEN THE BELIEVING STh'l."ER ..U."D THE AVENGING Gon. 1. The lamb was taken so as to bind famil:i& and neighbours together. This reminds us of Him, who gathers round himself, in every place, those who form the true family, the new family; joined together not after the temporary, dissolving order of nature, but after the abiding, ever- consolidating order of graa. \Vheresoever two or three are gathered together in tho name of Jesus, there the true Lamb of God is present in all those relations of which the passover lamb gave but a foreshadowing. The true families a.re made by the coalescence of those who, living in one neighbourhood, have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. 2. The passover lamb was without blemish. Consider what is 61Lid in this respect of Jesus (Matt. iii. 17; :Mark i. 11; Luke iii. 22; xx.iii. 4-14; John ::rix. 4-6; 2 Cor. v. 21; Eph. iv. 13 ; Col. i. 19; Heb. ix. 14; 1 Pet. ii. 22). 3. It was a male of the.first year. So Jesus was ta.ken in the freshness and strength of his manhood (Luke iii. 23). 4. The flesh of the lamb was eaten in the company for whi,eh i,t l;ad been slain. It is only when we bear in mind the first passover in Egypt, that we reach the significance of all that was said and done on the night when Jesus sat down for the last passover feast with his disciples. Jesus took the bread and said: "Take, eat; this is my body." There was to be no more killing of the lamb; the bread, easily made and easily portioned out, took its place. But still the Lord had to say "this is my body." .A. body had to be thought of as eaten, and not mere bread. Really, when we look into the matter, we find that the sprinkling of the blood was only part of the protection; the eating was protective also. Assuredly the sprinkling by itself would have counted for nothing, if the eating had been omitted. When the blood was sprinkled, it illustrated faith in him who comes between God and the sinner. When the flesh Wll.6 eaten, it illustrated faith in him whose life becomes our life. Being unblemished, he ma.k.es us unblemished, and being ac,-,epta.ble to God, he makes us acceptable wo. IV. We observe that even before the event to be commemorated was accomplished JEHOVAH MADE CA.B.EP'UL PROVISION FOB A MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE. Thus another indication is given to us, as to the completeness and order with which his plans were laid. Directions are given for the present need, and along with them are combined directions by which the record of this great liberating event may be transmitted to the remotest generations. Henceforth, the ~"llllling of the year is to date from the month of these dealings with the first-born. Then there was also the appointment of the feast of un.:.eavened bread. So crushing was the blow of Jehovah, and so precipitate the con.sequent action of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, that the Israelites were hurried out of the land with their dough before it was leavened. Here then in this domestic operation of preparing the daily bread was an opportunity given of setting forth once a ye.ar the complete separation which God had effected between the Israelites and the Egyptians. When for seven days no leaven was put in the bread, the great fact to be r.,iled up was this: that the Egyptians had hastened the Israelites out of the land. Thls memorial act called up at once the great change which God had produced, and In a comparatively short time. But a little _while ~efore and the Egyptians were ~poiling the Isradites, demanding from them lmcks without straw ; now the Israelites aro OB. XII. 1-13.] TIIE BOOK OF I~XODUS. 271