RPG Adults
ISRAEL KEPT THE FIRST PASSOVER IN CANAAN
LORD’S DAY, OCTOBER 22
Joshua 5
Acts 2:22-24
“Him, being delivered
by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God…”
ISRAEL KEPT THE FIRST PASSOVER IN CANAAN
After the circumcision, the children of Israel kept the Passover. “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover… And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land…” (Josh 5:11-12). New life had started for them, and Joshua had a great task ahead of him.
The Passover was the second most important sacrament after circumcision. It was a feast ordained of God when they came out of Egypt. It was commemorative of the tenth plague in Exodus 12. It was necessary that the blood should be applied to the upper door posts and side posts of the houses of the children of Israel. It was then commanded that it should be repeated annually. It was also observed at Sinai while they were on their journey as recorded in Numbers 9:1-14. The current observation was their third.
This feast was typical of the death of Christ and is represented in the New Testament Church by the Lord’s Supper. The Lord is referred to as the Lamb without blemish (1 Pet 1:19). When the time came, He was offered by God’s appointment (Acts 2:23). Paul specifically said that “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:7).
Joshua knew the importance of the Passover. As God had commanded through Moses, Joshua commanded its observance. It was one of the top priorities when they arrived in Canaan. In that feast, every family had to kill a lamb or a kid of one year without blemish. The observance did not only fulfil what God had commanded, it was also a clear lesson for the children of Israel. In it, they looked forward to redemption that came through Christ. Then, the children of Israel were set to conquer Canaan. They waited for a directive from God.
Today, in the Christian church, we look back to the accomplished sacrifice of Christ and commemorate it in the Lord’s Supper.
THOUGHT: The Passover reveals God’s plan of redemption.
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for instituting the reminder of the sacrifice of Christ.