From His Heart

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Today on From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve, we continue our study of the book of Exodus.

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The Lord was going to bring death to the firstborn. This is not God sending gnats. This is not God sending swarms. This is not God sending frogs.

God is going with his band of destroying angels. They're going to go into the land of Egypt and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die. From Pharaoh on down, they are going to die.

In this last plague, every scar from his heart.

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Do you understand the significance and correlation between the final plague and the Passover Lamb? This is From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve. Thank you for joining us today as we discover what the last plague teaches us about the heart of God, the power of God, and the plan of God to send His Son to redeem us.

The lesson is from Pastor Jeff's series, Faithful and True. It's called the Passover Lamb. If you'd like more information about today's message or any we've aired from this series, go to fromhisheart.org and click the Listen link.

Now, though, open your Bible to Exodus, chapter 11, as Pastor Jeff begins teaching us about the Passover Lamb.

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Israel has been in Egypt for 430 years. Joseph was sent before, and Joseph was sold into slavery when he was 17 years old from the land of Canaan, going down into Egypt. He was a slave in Egypt and then a prisoner in Egypt for 13 years. We don't know the exact breakdown in terms of how many years he spent as a prisoner and how many years as a slave. However, we know that when he was 30 years old, God elevated him to the number two man in all of Egypt. He was the one who interpreted Pharaoh's dream, foreseeing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He advised Pharaoh on what needed to be done to survive the famine, and Pharaoh recognized his wisdom, elevating him to a high position.

As time passed, Joseph's brothers, who were starving in Canaan, came to Egypt seeking help. Eventually, Joseph revealed his identity to them, saying, "I am Joseph, the brother you sold into slavery." Their father, Jacob, whose name had been changed to Israel, came with the entire family to live in Egypt, specifically in the land of Goshen. Everything went well until Joseph died, and a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph. This Pharaoh saw how the Israelites were multiplying rapidly and decided to subjugate them, putting them into slavery for many years—estimates suggest around 350 years or at least 300 years. During this time, the Israelites were mistreated, longing for the day they could be set free, but it seemed that day would never come.

God intervened by coming to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3, telling him that he would send him to deliver His people. Initially, Moses was reluctant, presenting various objections, but eventually agreed to go with his brother Aaron's help. God sent Moses to Pharaoh with the command, "Let my people go." Pharaoh responded defiantly, asking, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?" He refused to let them go, prompting God to unleash a series of plagues upon Egypt, aimed at demonstrating His power and dismantling the Egyptian pantheon of gods.

The plagues came in triplets, starting with the irritating ones: the water turning to blood, followed by frogs and gnats. After these, more severe plagues followed, including swarms of flies, pestilence that killed livestock, and painful boils. The next plagues were devastating: hail mixed with fire destroyed crops and killed livestock, followed by locusts that consumed what remained. Darkness covered the land for three days, targeting the sun god Ra, whom the Egyptians worshipped. Despite the severity of these plagues, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he continued to refuse to let the Israelites go.

God had warned Moses that the king of Egypt would not permit their departure except under compulsion. He promised to stretch out His hand and strike Egypt with miracles, leading to their eventual release. The final plague, however, was distinct from the previous ones. It was a direct confrontation between God and Pharaoh, who considered himself a god. This last plague would teach profound lessons about God's heart, power, and plan.

In Exodus chapter 11, the Lord told Moses that He would bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and Egypt, after which Pharaoh would drive the Israelites out completely. God instructed Moses to tell the people to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold articles, granting them favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moses was highly esteemed in Egypt, both by Pharaoh's servants and the people. He then conveyed God's message to Pharaoh: at midnight, the Lord would go through Egypt, and all the firstborn would die—from Pharaoh's firstborn to the firstborn of the slave girl, including the firstborn of the cattle. A great cry would arise in Egypt, unlike anything ever heard before, while no harm would come to the Israelites.

Pharaoh's response was one of anger and defiance. He told Moses to get away from him, warning that if he saw his face again, he would die. Moses acknowledged this and left Pharaoh in hot anger. This final plague raises an important question: do we understand the significance of the final plague and the Passover lamb? These two elements reveal crucial truths about God's nature and His plan for salvation.

The first discovery is that the Lord was going to bring death as the final plague. This was not just another plague; it was a direct act of divine judgment. God was sending His destroying angels to execute this judgment, and every firstborn in Egypt would die. The magnitude of this plague is unimaginable—every household in Egypt would experience death, while in Goshen, where the Israelites lived, not even a dog would bark.

Some may question why God would do such a thing, but it is essential to remember that God is the giver of life. He does not take life arbitrarily; He simply stops giving it. Life itself is a gift from God, and when He decides that a person's time is up, they will die. The death of the firstborn was a just response to Pharaoh's oppression of God's people. Pharaoh had previously sought to kill the Hebrew boys, and now God was delivering judgment in kind.

The second discovery is that the Lord was going to provide escape through the Passover lamb. This last plague foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. God provided a way for the Israelites to escape death through the blood of the lamb. In Exodus 12, God instructed Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites to select a lamb on the 10th of Nisan, which would be killed on the 14th. This lamb had to be unblemished, symbolizing the purity of Christ.

The timing of the Passover lamb's sacrifice is significant. The lamb was killed at twilight, between the evenings, which corresponds to the time when Jesus breathed His last on the cross. Just as the Israelites were instructed to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts, ensuring their safety from death, so too does the blood of Christ provide salvation for those who believe in Him. The Passover lamb serves as a powerful symbol of God's provision for His people, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb, who has been sacrificed for our sins.

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You're listening to From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve and today's lesson, the Passover Lamb. From the eight-message series, Faithful and True, introducing the one and only God. Do you understand the significance and the correlation of the final plague and the Passover lamb? As we've begun to learn today, the Passover lamb is a picture of Jesus Christ. In this message, we're discovering what the last plague teaches us about the heart of God, the power of God, and the plan of God to send his Son to redeem us.

Now, we've just heard part one of this lesson today. We'll have part two tomorrow. We hope you'll be with us then for a short review, and then we'll continue with this vitally important message that is essential to understand for all Christians who want to be rescued from their sin for eternity. You see, the book of Exodus is a book of rescue—God coming to deliver his people enslaved in Egypt for centuries. In this great and miraculous deliverance, God reveals himself as faithful and true, the one and only God.

In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh asked the question, "Who is the Lord Yahweh, that I should obey his voice?" And God answers that question in a resounding, unforgettable fashion. This powerful series on the exodus from Egypt reminds us afresh that we serve a God who is able and who always, always keeps his word. The series is also our special gift of thanks to you for your support to From His Heart this month of any amount.

Eight messages when you make your gift today, and to get your copy of Faithful and True, go online to fromhisheart.org or call 866-40-BIBLE (866-40-BIBLE). When you make that gift, we'll send it to you on CDs, DVDs, a USB flash drive, or an immediate MP3 download. God bless you for standing with us.

Hey, our time is up for today, but we are very thankful that you joined us. We pray that the lesson was a blessing to you and that you'll return next time for part two of the Passover Lamb. That's on Tuesday when Pastor Jeff Shreve will again open up God's Word and share real truth, real love, and real hope from God's heart here on From His Heart.

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There is treasure, there is love, there is hope that you always dream of. He can heal, he is every scar.

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From his heart is the listener Supported Broadcast Ministry of Dr. Jeff Shreve speaking the truth in love to a lost and a hurting world.

Remember, no matter what, God loves you and he has a wonderful plan for your life.

Find out about that when you go to promisheart.org.