#15— Parshat Bo
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The Distinction in a Distinguished Night
What is it that makes a distinction between Israel and Egypt?
In parshat Bo Moses encounters Pharaoh for the last time. Pharaoh is warned that the L-RD will strike every firstborn in Egypt but that not even a dog shall growl against the people of Israel. “That you may know that the L-RD makes a distinction between Israel and Egypt” (Exodus 11:7).
So G-d Himself is the distinction maker. But how does He do that?
We read that G-d makes this distinction between those judged and those spared His judgment in a special way. Something essential has to be done for it. What is that?
Further, what is the lasting message of this lesson for us? How do we end up among the redeemed rather than among those who are judged?
G-d marks this time of distinction as a complete new beginning. From this point forward Israel is to restart its calendar in this month. This underscores how special this event is. “This month shall be the beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:2).
Also a special divine commandment is given as a marker. For seven days Israel is to eat unleavened bread, symbolizing a radical break with the past. This new beginning starts when something happens on the evening of the fourteenth day of this month.
It is this night that is marked as the memorial day for the exodus from Egypt. Not the day of the crossing of the Red Sea, in spite of the impressiveness of that miracle. Apparently, what happens this night is of even greater importance.
What happens this night is also what must be told especially to each new generation. What happens this night is what gives the name to the holiday: Pesach – Passover. The L-RD passes over the Israelites when He passes through Egypt in judgment.
And the essential element that gets all the emphasis in preparing for this most significant event is this: a lamb had to be slaughtered by each household!
Why the Blood of the Lamb?
The blood of each lamb had to be put on the lintel and doorposts of the houses. The entire family had to partake of the sacrificial lamb that was roasted on the fire. While eating that sacrifice the Israelites had to remain inside their houses all night. Only behind the blood would Israel be safe.
The L-RD said, “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
Why is this sacrifice placed here at this important crossroad in Israel’s history? Why is this THE distinction between being redeemed or not?
We may ask further, why is Israel in this way becoming G-d’s own people instead of being judged as the Egyptians? Why is this blood on the door essential?
The book of Leviticus later answers. “For it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11).
Here we are seeing the lesson of the near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22 repeated. For the line of Israel to survive, a substitute sacrifice for Abraham’s son was needed. And now in Exodus we see that for Israel to be redeemed and made into G-d’s people a substitute sacrifice is needed.
But why is this so? In the final analysis, Pharaoh is not the greatest obstacle for Israel’s redemption. Nor is it a question whether G-d has sufficient power to save His people. Rather it is the matter of personal sinfulness. Isaiah will later summarize our “sin problem” this way: “Behold the L-RD’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save…But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your G-d” (Isaiah 59:2).
Yes, the Israelites were the victims of serious oppression. But their suffering didn’t turn them into saints who deserved G-d’s adopting them as His own.
No, redemption is all G-d’s grace. It is a miracle of grace when G-d passes over. It is a miracle of grace when G-d counts us among those He wants to redeem rather than judge.
And this is not “cheap grace”; it is serious grace. The serious price of a substitute sacrifice had to be paid for Israelites to be part of this new beginning.
The Lamb of the Ultimate Exodus
Sacrifice which makes G-d’s judgment “pass over” takes central stage in the great redemption from Egypt. It did back then, but it also does so in the even greater redemption about which the prophets speak. Substitutionary sacrifice takes central stage in the person of the Messiah Himself. We read in Isaiah 53, “As the Lamb he is led to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). [For more on this, see: Isaiah 53: the gate to shalom]
His sacrifice for our sins makes it possible for us to be part of the final exodus and homecoming in G-d’s Shalom. “The redeemed of the L-RD shall return and come to Zion with singing. Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads” (Isaiah 51:11). Talk about “Next year in Jerusalem!”
G-d instructed Israel to shelter behind the blood of the Lamb. When it comes to the Messiah, our ultimate Passover lamb, G-d’s instruction is still the same. That’s how G-d makes His distinction between those who will be judged and those He will redeem.
So where are you? Are you safely sheltering behind Messiah’s sacrifice for us?
Or are you, G-d forbid, still outside? If so, you are invited in. “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him,” Psalm 2 tells us.
We’d love to discuss with you G-d’s gracious gift of redemption. Don’t hesitate to use the chat option. Be safe in the costly grace of G-d which He freely provides through Jesus the Messiah.