The Passover: The Angel of Death and the Blood of the Lamb
The Passover stands as one of the most profound and pivotal events in the Old Testament, a divine drama unfolding against the backdrop of Egyptian tyranny. It is a narrative steeped in judgment and mercy, death and deliverance, all centered on the terrifying visitation of the Angel of Death and the saving power of the blood of a spotless lamb. This event not only marked the birth of Israel as a free nation but also served as a powerful prophetic shadow, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
The Plagues of Egypt: A Divine Confrontation
For centuries, the children of Israel had groaned under the oppressive yoke of Egyptian bondage. God, hearing their cry, raised up Moses to be His instrument of deliverance. Through Moses, God unleashed a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt, each one a direct challenge to the gods worshipped by Pharaoh and his people, demonstrating the incomparable sovereignty of the one true God. Pharaoh, however, stubbornly hardened his heart, refusing to let God's people go, despite the escalating severity of divine judgment.
The preceding nine plagues were mighty demonstrations of God's power, yet they failed to break Pharaoh's will:
Each plague was a warning, a divine ultimatum. Yet, Pharaoh remained defiant, setting the stage for the climactic tenth and final plague, a judgment so terrifying that it would finally break his resolve and secure Israel's release.
The Tenth Plague: The Angel of Death
The tenth plague was unlike any before it, a direct strike at the heart of Egyptian society and their worship of false deities, particularly Pharaoh himself, who was considered a god. God declared His intention to pass through the land of Egypt and slay every firstborn, both of man and beast.
And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
This was not a plague of inconvenience or discomfort, but of absolute death, a judgment against the spiritual blindness and oppression that had gripped Egypt. The "Angel of Death" was the divine executor of this judgment, passing through the land, bringing sorrow and devastation to every Egyptian household.
The Institution of the Passover: The Blood of the Lamb
In the midst of this impending judgment, God, in His infinite mercy, provided a way of escape for His people, Israel. He commanded Moses to instruct every Israelite family to select a lamb, without blemish, a male of the first year. This lamb was to be kept for four days, then slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the month. The instructions were precise and critical for their survival:
The blood was the key. God declared, "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:13). The Angel of Death would literally "pass over" any house marked by the blood, sparing the firstborn within. It was an act of sovereign grace, requiring faith and obedience on the part of the Israelites.
A Night of Deliverance and Remembrance
On that terrifying night, while cries of anguish filled the Egyptian air, the homes of the Israelites, marked by the blood, remained silent and safe. The Angel of Death passed over them. Pharaoh, utterly broken by this final, devastating judgment, finally relented and urged the Israelites to leave immediately. Thus began the Exodus, the miraculous liberation of God's people from 430 years of slavery.
God commanded that the Passover be observed annually throughout their generations, a perpetual ordinance. It was to be a memorial, a reminder of His mighty hand, His faithfulness, and the night He delivered them from bondage through the blood of the lamb. It underscored the principle that "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).
The Passover as a Type of Christ
The Old Testament Passover, with its Angel of Death and the saving blood of the lamb, is a profound "type" or foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ. The parallels are striking and intentional, revealing God's grand plan of salvation:
- Christ, Our Passover Lamb: Just as the Passover lamb was spotless and without blemish, so too was Jesus Christ, "a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). He lived a perfect, sinless life, making Him the only worthy sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Paul explicitly states, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).
- The Shed Blood: The blood on the doorposts in Egypt provided protection from physical death. The blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, provides deliverance from spiritual death and eternal condemnation. It is through His blood that we have "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Just as the Angel of Death passed over those covered by the lamb's blood, God's wrath against sin passes over those covered by the atoning blood of Christ.
- Deliverance from Bondage: The Passover delivered Israel from physical slavery to Pharaoh. Christ delivers us from the spiritual bondage of sin and the dominion of Satan. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
- The Meal of Remembrance: The Passover meal was to be observed annually as a remembrance. Similarly, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Communion) during His last Passover meal with His disciples, commanding them to "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). This new covenant meal commemorates His body broken and His blood shed for our sins.
- No Broken Bone: A specific instruction for the Passover lamb was that "ye shall not break a bone thereof" (Exodus 12:46). This was prophetically fulfilled in Christ, as recorded in John 19:36, when the soldiers did not break His legs on the cross, unlike the other crucified men.
The Passover narrative, therefore, is not merely an ancient historical event but a foundational theological truth. It reveals God's nature as both just and merciful, and His unwavering commitment to redeem His people. It illustrates the necessity of a substitutionary sacrifice and the saving power of shed blood.
Conclusion
The Passover, with its stark contrast between the Angel of Death and the blood of the lamb, remains a powerful testament to God's redemptive plan. In Egypt, it was a literal deliverance from physical death and slavery. In Christ, it is a spiritual deliverance from eternal death and the bondage of sin. The cry of anguish from Egyptian homes and the silent safety of Israelite dwellings underscore the profound truth that judgment is real, but mercy is available through the shedding of innocent blood.
As believers, we look back to the historical Passover with awe and gratitude, understanding that it was a prelude to the ultimate act of love on Calvary. The blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is our only hope, our only covering, and our eternal Passover, ensuring that when the final judgment comes, the Angel of Death will pass over us, and we shall live.