Scriptures

Exodus 10:1 to 13:16
Jeremiah 46:13-28
Luke 2:22-24
John 19:31-37

Continued from last week…

In Hebraic understanding, everything that has happened and is yet to happen will always be explained in the beginning. According to Isaiah 46:10, “[YHVH makes] known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” The Exodus is not only an ancient historic event. For it also heralds a prophetic picture of the Messiah’s return, including the redemption He offers His people and a pattern of how to walk in His ways. Scripture says that the people who know Moses will know the Messiah (John 5:46-47); they will look forward to His return and not fear His coming; they will be encouraged because they have studied the beginning and so have an understanding of the end. Our future is held in the beginning. The book of Revelation is a reflection of the book of Exodus; the story of the exodus is an important lesson for us to study today as it holds the revelations for tomorrow. How we prepare for the Messiah’s return is modeled in the words given Moses. Egypt is a type of the world system and all that holds us in bondage. May we be a people who “leave Egypt” today and come out to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords – Melech-HaMelechim va Adon-Adonim.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Exodus 10:1-20 The Eighth Plague ~ Locusts

Moses was told to warn Pharaoh of the impending plague should he not respond to “Let My people go that they may worship Me.” Even Pharaoh’s own officials warned him saying, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship YHVH their Elohim. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”

So when Moses and Aaron were brought back yet again to Pharaoh, he asked them just who would be going if he were to give his consent to let them go worship YHVH in the wilderness. Moses said, “We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds.” Hearing this, Pharaoh flatly refused! “No! Only the men may leave.” Pharaoh’s own words invited a plague of locusts that surpassed anything they had ever seen in Egypt or ever would see again. The previous plague of hail had completely decimated the flax and barley crops, now the latter crops of wheat and spelt were totally lost as well. Every last bit of green left on the trees and plants was wiped out, all eaten by locusts.

In a National Geographic article it was reported that fifteen to thirty million adult locusts inhabit each square mile of a swarm. Depending on the wind, locust swarms can fly at some 10 to 12 miles an hour (16 to 19 kilometers an hour), traveling 80 miles (130 kilometers) or more in a single day. Another resource reported that in 1954 locusts migrated from northwest Africa to the British Isles. In 1988 they moved from West Africa to the Caribbean, covering some 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) in the period of about ten days. The insects weigh less than one tenth of an ounce (two grams) but eat their weight in food each day. In a day, one ton of locusts, a very small part of a swarm, consume enough food for 2,500 people. The locust can live between three to six months, and there is a tenfold increase in locust numbers from one generation to the next.

The locust was an attack on Anubis, the god of the fields, especially cemeteries. The locusts finished up the work done by the hail. This plague also mocked Isis, protector against locusts, and Seth, protector of crops.

Pharaoh again had to summon Moses and ask him to pray to YHVH, his God, to forgive his sin and take away the plague of locusts. Moses did so, but Pharaoh’s heart continued to harden.

Exodus 10:21-29 The Ninth Plague ~ Darkness

The next plague was given with no warning to Pharaoh at all. YHVH instructed Moses to stretch out his hand toward the sky, and thick darkness came over all Egypt. “They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days.” Darkness represented the complete removal of YHVH’s presence from the Egyptians, while the light (of His presence) continued to remain over the Children of Israel. His presence (i.e. His faithfulness) was with them.

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of YHVH illuminated it. The Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:23).

Darkness snuffed out life; without light life ceased. Scripture said that no one could move. They were paralyzed for those three days. Without the life support of light even the air around them was immobile, fire could not even burn. This plague was so terrible they could actually “feel” the darkness.

The plague of darkness was an attack on Ra or Amon-Re, the sun god. Darkness was considered a creation of Seth, evil principle destroyer of Osiris. It seemed Ra, the sun god, was dead and Seth had killed him. Ra was believed to be the physical father of all pharaohs, and pharaoh to be the king of all gods.

The early church father, Constantine, saw himself as the sun god. He believed this so much that he had YHVH’s Biblical lunar calendar changed to a solar calendar to have the people pay homage to him and take the focus off the God of Israel. Without God’s lunar calendar directing and guiding them, YHVH’s people lost their heritage and their identity. They even began to see YHVH’s celebrations as strange and foreign.

YHVH’s lunar calendar establishes the timing of His moedim/feast days called the paths of righteousness, an aspect of the walk of holiness He has called His people to. Without the celebration of the Rosh Chodesh/New Moon, which marked the beginning of each new month, how could God’s people know His ways, and follow and worship Him at His appointed times of meeting?

Constantine tried to wipe out any remembrance of YHVH by dominating God’s people and plunging them into darkness. The establishment of his solar calendar worked, and many were led astray into the worship of Babylonian celebrations like Christmas and Easter. Constantine even named the days of the week after Babylonian gods to have the people pay homage to the gods he worshipped. Thus we readily accept the days of the week as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday etc. not realizing they are so named in honor of pagan gods.

As a redeemed, betrothed people of YHVH, may we be true to the Covenant YHVH gave us. We have a Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua, who restored us back to our Maker and made a highway in the wilderness on which His redeemed Bride might walk. May we be a people who revive YHVH’s lunar calendar and observe all His feasts days, including the observance of Sabbath and the Rosh Chodesh/New Moon, and embrace our heritage in YHVH alone and not in strange gods and foreign celebrations (Leviticus 23).

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah [the goal of our salvation] (Colossians 2:16-17).

Exodus 11:1-10 The Tenth Plague ~ Death of the Firstborn

This was the last and final plague on Egypt. The death of the firstborn was an attack on Pharaoh, the god-king. Pharaoh was considered a god, as was his firstborn son who would succeed him on the throne. In fact, the firstborn of people and animals in general were often worshipped. Pharaoh was considered an incarnation of Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the giver of life. Because Pharaoh’s son was considered a god, when he died it was as if a god of Egypt had actually died.

Moses delivered this final warning of YHVH’s coming judgment to Pharaoh and left him. He then prepared the Israelites for their redemption. In judgement was their deliverance. Certain guidelines were to be followed to bring them through this night of deliverance. The guidelines were to be remembered each year at the same time throughout all generations, even in our generation today. The feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread are YHVH’s feasts. They are prophetic appointments and hold revelations for redemption by the only One that can redeem us, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, the Messiah of Israel.

Exodus 12:1-28, 43-49 Guidelines For Passover

Redemption always leads us away from the darkness (the realm of death), toward the light (the realm of life). Those who are waiting for YHVH’s hand of deliverance will receive it in His perfect timing. The Israelites came out of Egypt in the exact timing revealed to Abraham (Genesis 15:13).

In preparation for Passover, on the tenth day of that first month the Israelites were to take a male lamb, one year old, into their homes for four days. Just as a pet can have a place in our heart, bringing a lamb into our home would have a similar effect. You would become very attached to this innocent lamb and a personal relationship and bonding would grow, as this lamb would in essence become “part of the family.” It was very hard to give this animal up, knowing that their own hands must sacrifice this lamb for their sins. “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when “ALL” the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight” (Exodus 12:6).

The word house was a reference to the tabernacle/temple–our hearts. Yeshua came to be our Passover Lamb. 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!’ ” Yeshua came into Jerusalem on the tenth of the first month. He went to His Father’s house and was examined for four days, fulfilling the Exodus scriptures that the lambs come into the “houses” on the tenth of the month to be examined.

Yeshua took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again" (Luke 18:31).

The question of what people group killed Yeshua is an irrelevant one. It is not a certain people who killed Yeshua; we are all guilty of His death. He chose to lay down his own life. In John 3:16 it states: “This is how we know what love is: Yeshua the Messiah laid down His [own] life for us.”

He died because of our sinfulness. He took our sins upon Himself and died our death. He is the Passover Lamb. He is our redemption. No other sacrifice is needed for our sins. It is finished. Yeshua, from the House of Judah and the tribe of Judah, became the kinsman-redeemer for the Whole House of Israel.

They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it (Exodus 12:7; 22-23).

Yeshua said, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture" (John 10:7-9).

The Israelites were to apply the blood using the hyssop plant. This was a prophetic picture of Yeshua’s crucifixion.

A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Yeshua’s lips. When he had received the drink, Yeshua said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:29-30).

The blood was to be applied to the doorposts and lintel of the entrance to their houses. The two doorposts represent the Two Houses of Israel: the House of Judah and the House of Israel. They are joined together by the lintel, Yeshua, the Lamb of God, the mediator between heaven and earth. End times unity is seen here of the restoration of all Twelve Tribes. The one gate can also reflect the future “twelve gates” unified in Yeshua that lead into the New Jerusalem. The house represents the house of YHVH and His covering, which we choose to remain in as we walk in obedience to Him. It also represents how when Yeshua Ha Mashiach lives in our hearts and is Master and Savior of our souls, we are safe from our enemies. (Ezekiel 37:15-28; Ephesians 2:14-22; Ezekiel 48:31; Revelation 21:12-13)

Not one bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken (Exodus 12:46). This was prophetic of Yeshua’s body, in that not one bone of His body was broken at His death. It was also prophetic of the Twelve Tribes of Israel who make up the “whole” body of Yeshua; not one “Tribe” will be missing, broken or split off from the main body. All twelve tribes are complete in Him. Yeshua’s death was for the restoration of the Twelve Tribes of Israel; thus not one bone in His body was broken upon His death.

The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Yeshua, and then those of the other. But when they came to Yeshua and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs (John 19:32-33).

The angel of death spared the “houses” that had the blood of the lamb. “The blood is a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).

That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is YHVH’s Passover (Exodus 12:8-11).

The Passover is a prophetic picture revealing end-times truth. We are to celebrate the remembrance of this night throughout ALL generations. Early Church ruling removed the observance of YHVH’s Passover by its leaders in 325 CE when they met at the Council of Nicea under Constantine’s leadership. At such time they chose to replace YHVH’s set-apart day with the invention of their own “paganized” Passover, commonly known as Easter. Today, more and more people are returning and embracing the prophetic words of Moses and the truth that is held there. One way they are returning is by restoring YHVH’s true Passover.

Passover was not only the night the angel of death passed over the Israelites but also it was to be a feast. The Israelites were told to eat roasted lamb with bitter herbs–like onions and horseradish–along with unleavened bread. Today many people celebrate Passover using a Seder plate to place the bitter herbs on. Through the generations folklore has been added to the truth, and items such as an egg and shank bone have found their way into the Passover celebration. When asked why, many people respond, “It is tradition."

After the temple was destroyed, during the time of exile in Babylon, the rabbis replaced YHVH’s commandment to eat roast lamb with a man-made command to symbolize the lamb by placing a shank bone on a seder plate. Today, many Jewish homes serve turkey or some other meat instead of lamb. Their argument is the commandment of sacrificing a lamb no longer applies since the temple was destroyed. What they miss is that this commandment was given long before anything was built; tabernacle or temple. Scripture also speaks of YHVH’s temple now being in those who accept Yeshua’s salvation and enter into covenant relationship with Him. One of the promises of this marriage covenant is that YHVH will place the Torah on the hearts of His Bride.

Early rabbinic authorities diminished the focus of Passover and the representation of the Messiah by replacing the lamb. YHVH’s commandment of eating roast lamb came as the Israelites were about to leave Egypt, before a tabernacle, temple or rabbinic authority ever existed. The Lamb of God, Yeshua, was always with His people, whether a physical temple was present or not. Without the lamb at Passover, the revelation of a Savior, salvation and redemption is lost to a people who will still be looking for their Messiah. The commandment to eat the lamb, therefore, applies to all who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as their Elohim, as Passover always (both before and after He came to earth), pointed to Yeshua as the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world as propitiation for our sins (Revelation 13:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

It was during the Babylonian exile that the egg became a popular addition in the celebration of both Passover and Easter for the Houses of Judah and Israel respectively. The House of Judah placed the egg on the Seder plate at Passover. After searching the scriptures, no mention of the commandment for a roasted egg at Passover is to be found. When asked the reason for their observance, they say it is a symbol of life, but Scripture, specifically the Shema, says we are to have only one symbol for life. The presence of an egg represents a Babylonian influence in connection with the belief of a pagan goddess of fertility. Today, with a renewed understanding of YHVH’s Word, especially what we have learned in the last two studies about the influence of Egyptian gods, many people are declining the traditions that have been added to the celebration of Passover.

Bitter herbs represent the bitterness of our slavery and bondage. Matzo, flat unleavened bread, represents YHVH’s pure Word pointing to our redemption and freedom from our sin. Roasted lamb represents the Messiah Yeshua, the Savior of the World who took our death upon Himself.

Early Church fathers eliminated the Passover celebration altogether, leaving the people without a vision or heart for their Hebraic Messiah and His ways. This left them without an identity as part of Israel or the knowledge of their inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Man imposed Easter (by threat of death) on the people three hundred and twenty five years after Yeshua died. Yeshua never taught Easter or the celebration of it. Easter originated and was celebrated in Babylon hundreds of years before Yeshua was born. Easter is the celebration of Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of fertility at the spring equinox. Eggs are a symbol of Ishtar, and were dipped in the blood of human sacrifices made to pay homage to her. Today’s practice of decorating Easter eggs originated from this tradition.

May we not be a people who “replace” the Lamb of God with pagan idolatry but rather worship and obey YHVH, remembering that Passover is a prophetic celebration of the Lamb of God, Yeshua, with future events and blessings still to unfold.

The Israelites obeyed YHVH’s command and put blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, then ate the roasted lamb with bitter herbs and bread without yeast. While the Israelites were safe in their homes, the angel of death passed through the land. Loud wails of mourning and weeping were heard as the firstborn of the Egyptians died. True to YHVH’s word, Pharaoh gave Moses and Aaron permission to leave. The Egyptians were favorable toward the Israelites and handed over articles of gold, silver and clothing to the Israelites, who plundered Egypt as they left (Exodus 12:33-36).

In reference to the angel of death who passed over the Israelites’ homes that had the blood covering, we note that the law of sin and death was destroyed and has no hold over us if we come under the authority of the Messiah. What follows is a life of learning His ways and laws that bring redemption and life abundantly.

Leaving in such a hurry, they had to carry the bread without yeast covered in their kneading troughs on their shoulders (Exodus 12:34). This bread became their life source. It was a prophetic picture of Yeshua dying for our sins, His temporary burial, and His resurrection to life.

The realm of death had no hold on the Children of Israel when they obeyed YHVH. This will be the same for us as we, His people, seek to obey Him, for we are not of this world (Egypt) but are of a heavenly, spiritual realm. Yeshua was the Light, the Lamb, and the Unleavened Bread who redeemed the Israelites from all of their bitterness. In effect, they had taken Him into their lives and partaken IN HIM that night. When they left Egypt they took the very symbol of the Messiah with them on their shoulders.

Another prophetic picture appears. The troughs were like a manger. Upon His birth, Yeshua was wrapped in swaddling clothes as His covering. Swaddling clothes were worn priestly garments used to light the menorahs in the temple. Yeshua is our High Priest and is the Light of the world. All power and authority rests on His shoulders, and His gift of salvation is to all who choose to accept and partake in the Lamb of YHVH. Through the feast of Passover we are given a picture of the end times Feast of YHVH called the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, when Yeshua was born (Luke 1:26-2:20; Matthew 28:18).

"For the bread of YHVH is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Yeshua declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:33-35).

Yeast represents sin. At Passover they were to remove ALL the yeast from their homes and not consume it for seven days. The bread they carried on their shoulders represented Yeshua, the spotless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7).

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Yeshua, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

They were commanded to eat only unleavened bread for seven days. YHVH repeats this over and over again in Scripture. The Passover is a night to remember, but the eating of the unleavened bread was for seven days and is a feast where the first day and the last days are holy to YHVH (Exodus 12:15-20). It was so important to YHVH that anyone who did not obey this was cut off from Israel.

Seven days represents a personal consecration period for believers. The Israelites came from living in the realm of death (world system), they needed consecrating or a status change from the realm of death to the realm of life. In the obedience of eating unleavened bread (bread with no yeast) for seven days comes a cleansing of not only the physical body but, more importantly, of the soul and spirit also. (The cleansing process of the Israelites continues, as we will see in next week’s lesson.) Again, it was imperative everyone ate only unleavened bread for those seven days, according to YHVH’s command. This is true for us today as well, and is prophetic of the end times preparation the Bride of Yeshua participates in by celebrating the feast. She is seeking to ensure her wedding gown is pure and white, without spot or wrinkle, as she eagerly awaits her Bridegroom’s return. It is not for salvation purposes but the pursuit of holiness and sanctification.

Yeshua gave Himself up for His Bride “to make her holy, having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant assembly [ekklesia], without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:26-27).

This commandment is still in place today as the scripture says, “Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come” (Exodus 12:15-17).

May we be a people who obey YHVH’s Word and enter into His consecration time for preparing a Bride without spot or wrinkle. Yeshua’s blood redeems the Bride, but it is up to the Bride to prepare herself. While the Passover was for a physical deliverance, the seven-day period was for a cleansing. “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). The seven-day feast is the first step in the preparation of the Bride for her wedding. Of YHVH’s moedim, the spring feasts are the prophetic steps that bring the Bride into a betrothal to her Bridegroom. This is why we continue to do them each year today; they are rehearsals for the Bride in preparation of her wedding day.

We are fitting and clothing ourselves with the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:53 says, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Seven days represents a “cleansing” or consecration ceremony. As a royal priesthood of Yeshua, may we “desire” to participate in this Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 8:33; 1 Peter 1:9-16; 1Peter 2:9: Exodus 19:5-6).

Exodus 12:37-42, 51 The Exodus

After plundering Egypt, the Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all YHVH’s divisions (all twelve tribes) left Egypt. Because YHVH kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night may all the Israelites keep vigil to honor YHVH for the generations to come.

Exodus 12:43-49 Who May Eat the Passover?

YHVH lists the people who may eat the Passover meal. He alone knows the hearts of the people and not all were eligible to partake in the Passover meal. The first category mentioned is the people who may not eat the Passover. They are: a foreigner, a temporary resident or a hired worker. Those people reflect hearts not interested in serving the God of Israel. The second category is the people who may eat the Passover. They are: all slaves, aliens and native born who desire to serve and walk in the ways of YHVH. They are those with circumcised hearts, who put aside their own desires to embrace and follow after the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and have entered into a Covenant relationship with YHVH by faith. Circumcision is not the actual Covenant itself; it is the sign of the Covenant as we see in Genesis 15 and 17. Circumcision was given thirteen years after Abraham received the Covenant of God by faith.

There is a great debate among some believers today whether to allow an uncircumcised believer to come to the Passover Seder. Rabbi Shaul/Paul, one of Yeshua’s top spokes persons, settled the argument for us. Of the great Messianic leaders among Paul, Timothy was circumcised and Titus, Paul’s partner and fellow worker, was uncircumcised (Gal 2:3). Each year they would have celebrated the Passover. If Titus were alive today, would he be welcome at your Passover table?

The story of Hezekiah, in 2 Chronicles 30-31:1, sets the example for us to follow when considering Passover guests. The king of Judah sent invitations to the House of Judah and to the House of Israel inviting all twelve tribes to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Since many of the priests had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to YHVH. Many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves (they were uncircumcised), yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. Hezekiah prayed on their behalf: “ ‘May YHVH, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God – YHVH, the God of his fathers – even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.’ And YHVH heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”

Abraham is the father of the circumcised and the uncircumcised, and those who are of the law and those who are of faith (Galatians 3:7, 29; Hebrews 2:2:10-3:6; Romans 4:9-18).

Exodus 13:1-16 Consecration of the Firstborn

It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that YHVH’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand YHVH has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

You shall set apart to YHVH all that open the womb, every firstborn that comes from an animal; the males shall be YHVH’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, "What is this?" that you shall say to him, "By strength of hand YHVH brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that YHVH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to YHVH all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand YHVH brought us out of Egypt."

The Exodus then is a shadow of our Exodus today. Their delivery speaks of our delivery. The Deliverer and Redeemer, Yeshua, will come. Yeshua is returning for a bride. Will we be a bride “in-waiting” or a bride not ready because she has not known the ways and celebration of her Bridegroom or known of the season of His return? The full redemption of His Bride not only results in a Wedding, but also ushers in the Millennial Kingdom. Will we be found to have obeyed and taken the steps laid out in YHVH’s Word? Will we keep the Passover Feast and enter into His seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread eating matzos (unleavened bread) for the seven days? As mentioned earlier, the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread is for our cleansing. The Passover physically delivered us, now this seven-day period is a cleansing for our soul and mind. It literally cleanses our minds and gives us a change of status and elevates us. We are clothing ourselves with the imperishable and being fitted with the imperishable. Part of the priestly garments was the mitre, a gold plate on the High Priest’s forehead that read “Holy unto YHVH.” This is the “sign” that distinguishes the Bride in the end days; we are being prepared to be the Bride and the priesthood, and are called Holy unto YHVH when we walk in His ways and keep His feasts! (Exodus 28:36; Revelation 20:4)

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53).

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1 22-23).

Shabbat Shalom
Carl and Julie Parker

References:

National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0107_050107_tv_locust_plague.html

Israel’s Feasts and their Fullness by Batya Wootten

A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Scarlata and Pierce

Plague quotes: Internet source.

Torah 301 by R. Ralph Messer

Studies in the Five Books of Moses by Ben and Catherine Dixon

Past Parshot: www.messianicisrael.com/sheepfold-gleanings/
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